Unit 9: Lecture 5 Significant Slavery Legislation Part II Mr. Smith 8 th grade U.S. History January 22 nd, 2012

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852 Painted a picture for the North of the cruelties and moral issues of slavery. Became widely popular in the North and fueled the abolitionist movement Southerners claimed it painted an inaccurate picture of the South and slavery.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act Stephen A. Douglas proposes a bill in 1854 to organize the Nebraska Territory –He proposes it is to be divided into 2 territories: Nebraska and Kansas –He also suggests slavery should be up to popular sovereignty Residents vote on an issue with majority winning the decision The problem with this bill is, if it passed, it would allow slavery where the Missouri Compromise had banned it. The bill passed and would turn Kansas into a seen of incredible violence

“Bleeding Kansas” Both pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers rushed into the Kansas Territory to vote Pro-slavery settlers outnumbered the anti- slavery settlers, but 5,000 Missourians came to vote illegally. Anti-slavery settlers boycotted the vote and formed their own government May 1855 – proslavery mob attack Lawrence, Kansas destroying the office of the governor of the anti-slavery government –Referred to as the Sack of Lawrence

“Bleeding Kansas” (CONT) John Brown emerges for the anti-slavery side. –An extreme abolitionist Brown and 7 other men went and killed 5 pro-slavery neighbors of his Word spread and for over three years, civil war ensued making this area “Bleeding Kansas”

The Case of Dred Scott To make the pro/anti slavery division in this country worse, a Supreme Court case would come up Dred Scott –Was a slave in Missouri –His owner took him to a territory where slavery was illegal –Then they returned to Missouri –His owner died and he sued for his freedom –His argument was he was a free man because he lived in a territory where slavery was illegal

The Case of Dred Scott (CONT) Dred Scott v. Sanford –Because Scott was not a citizen, he could not sue in U.S. courts –Also ruled that Scott was bound to Missouri’s slave code and his time in free territory was irrelevant Essentially the Supreme Court declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.