FIRST THINGS FIRST Why is slavery wrong?

Toward Civil War

Who are the “Democrats”? The Democratic Party was formed in the 1830’s around President Andrew Jackson Primary domestic issues = banking Democrats strongly favored American expansion to new farm lands and the acquisition of new territories Democrats also opposed the Bank of the United States, which they believed would build up industry at the expense of the yeoman farmer Pro farming = indirectly means pro slavery Yet, Democrats were divided on the slavery issue

Who are the “Democrats”? Pro-slavery FOR THE MOST PART

Who are the “Republicans”? Republican Party born in the early 1850’s by anti-slavery activists The name “Republican” was chosen because it alluded to equality and reminded individuals of Thomas Jefferson Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican to win the White House The Republicans of the day worked to pass the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed slavery, the Fourteenth, which guaranteed equal protection under the laws, and the Fifteenth, which helped secure voting rights for African-Americans

Who are the “Republicans”? ANTI-SLAVERY

Who are the “Whigs”? The Whig Party was a reaction to Andrew Jackson’s dictator policies (“King Andrew”) regarding the Bank of the United States, Native Americans, the Supreme Court and his use of presidential war powers The term Whig was taken from English politics, the name of a group that opposed royal tyranny Opponents who gravitated to the Whig Party included Jackson critics and states’ rights advocates 

STATE’S RIGHTS ACTIVISTS Who are the “Whigs”? STATE’S RIGHTS ACTIVISTS (SOME ANTI-SLAVERY)

Who are the “Free Soilers”? Short-lived political party between 1848 & 1852 Founded in NY & drew greatest strength from NY Third party AND a single-issue party Main purpose: Stop the expansion of slavery “Free Soil” – All African Americans “free” in US Most “Free Soilers” eventually joined the Republican Party

Who are the “Free Soilers”? ANTI-SLAVERY

1854 Congressional Elections Kansas-Nebraska Act divides the Democratic Party Northern Democrats leave the party Whig Party also splits Antislavery Whigs and Democrats join the Free Soil Party to form the Republican Party Major goal of Republican Party: ban slavery in the new territories

Political Parties (1850) Democrats divided over slavery Anti-slavery Democrats leave party Whigs & Democrats make Republican Party Whig Party divided over slavery Anti-slavery Whigs leave party Whigs & Democrats make Republican Party

1854 Congressional Elections Republicans quickly develop strength in North Most Republican candidates from free states lost, but Democrats began to lose support in the South Democratic party was becoming a Southern party

Presidential Election of 1856 Whig party candidate was John C. Fremont Democratic candidate was James Buchanan (PA) American Party (Know-Nothing) candidate was Millard Fillmore

Presidential Election of 1856 The vote in 1856 was divided along rigid (firm and inflexible) sectional lines Buchanan (Democrat) had votes from all southern states except Maryland Fremont (Whig) won 11 of 16 free states, but did not get any electoral votes from south of the Mason-Dixon line Buchanan 174 electoral votes, Fremont 114, Fillmore 8… Buchanan (Democrat) wins

What does this mean? Buchanan (Democrat) wins over Whigs Slavery proves to still have support from the country – slavery is still strong in the eyes of the law

Dred Scott Decision The Dred Scott decision by Chief Justice Taney was a polarizing (causing people to separate into two opposing groups) one

Dred Scott Versus Sanford Dred Scott was an enslaved African American owned by a doctor in Missouri (slave state) 1830’s - Scott is brought by his owner to Illinois (free state) then to Wisconsin territory (slavery banned) Later, he moved back to Missouri with his owner 1834 - Antislavery lawyers helped Scott sue for his freedom—Scott says he should be free because he was taken to an area where slavery was illegal

Dred Scott Versus Sanford Case reaches Supreme Court with Chief Justice Roger B. Taney Taney rules that Scott is still a slave AND because of that, he is not a citizen AND therefore has no right to file a lawsuit Taney rules that just because Scott lived in free land doesn’t make him free—slaves were permanent property

Dred Scott Versus Sanford Reaction in the South—nothing can legally stop slavery and limiting the spread of slavery is unconstitutional Reaction in the North—Republican groups were outraged. They called the decision “wicked” and “a false judgment” and “the greatest crime” ever committed in the nation’s courts

Lincoln and Douglas Illinois Senate race of 1858 Democratic Senator Stephen Douglas vs. Republican Abraham Lincoln Lincoln & Douglas debate 7 times from August – October 1858 Main topic of debate = slavery Douglas said Lincoln wanted full equality for slaves (Lincoln denied this) Douglas wins narrow victory but Lincoln gains attention as a clear thinker who argued with force and passion