1. Drifting Toward Disunion, 1854-1861
Chapter 19

2. The Kansas-Nebraska Act
Transcontinental Railroad required land
Stephen A. Douglas proposed this plan to allow slavery in the new territory in exchange for the railroad being built in the north
Despite outcry and controversy, the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed Nebraska and Kansas to enter the union together, which would seemingly mean that Nebraska would become a free state and Kansas a slave state
This would repeal the Missouri Compromise
Northerners tried to move to Kansas to create an antislavery majority
Pro-slavery Missourians voted illegally in Kansas to elect a pro-slavery legislature while antislavery settlers held a convention and drafted a constitution that excluded slavery
By March 1856 Kansas had 2 governments

3. Bleeding Kansas… and Senators
When pro-slavery Missourians attacked anti-slavery settlers and began a territorial civil war, newspapers called it “Bleeding Kansas”
Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, an abolitionist, delivered a speech accusing pro-slavery senators of forcing Kansas into the ranks of slave states and singled out Andrew P. Butler of South Carolina stating that he had “chosen a mistress… the harlot, Slavery.”
Several days later Butler’s second cousin Representative Preston Brooks approached Sumner at his desk, shouted at him, and beat him with a gold-handled cane leaving Sumner severely injured and bleeding on the floor

4. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852 and changed the Northern view of slavery
Southerners tried to have the novel banned, but were unsuccessful
The book eventually sold millions of copies and many historians consider it one of the causes of the Civil War

5. The Southern Argument for Slavery
Southerners believed that Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a book of insulting lies
They thought that they treated their slaves well because they depended on them being able to work for their entire lives
Southerners argued that Northerners treated their paid workers much worse because there was such an ample work force that it didn’t matter if one died or was maimed or became ill

6. Dred Scott Decision
Slave from Missouri traveled with his owner to Illinois & Minnesota both free states.
His master died and Scott wanted to move back to Missouri---Missouri still recognized him as a slave.
He sued his master’s widow for his freedom since he had lived in a free state for a period of time.
Court case went to the Supreme Court for a decision-----National issue
Can a slave sue for his freedom?
Is a slave property?
Is slavery legal?

7. Dred Scott Decision Supreme Court hands down the Dred Scott decision
Slaves cannot sue the U.S. for their freedom because they are property.
They are not citizens and have no legal right under the Constitution.
Supreme Court legalized slavery by saying that
Congress could not stop a slaveowner from moving his slaves to a new territory
Missouri Compromise and all other compromises were unconstitutional
North refused to enforce Fugitive Slave Law
Free states pass personal liberty laws.
Republicans claim the decision is not binding
Southerners call on the North to accept the decision if the South is to remain in the Union.

8. John Brown Violent abolitionist Involved in the Bleeding Kansas
Murdered 5 pro-slavery men in Kansas
Wanted to lead a slave revolt throughout the South by raising an army of freed slaves and destroying the South
Attacked a U.S. Ammunition depot in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia in Oct. of 1859 to capture weapons and begin his slave revolt.
Unsuccessful and captured by USMC under the leadership of Robert E. Lee
Put on trial for treason.

9. John Brown (cont.)
He was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death.
His last words were to this effect: “I believe that the issue of slavery will never be solved unless through the shedding of blood.”
Northerners thought of John Brown as a martyr to the abolitionist cause.
Southerners were terrified that if John Brown almost got away with this, there must be others like him in the North who are willing to die to end slavery.
South’s outcome: To leave the U.S. and start their own country.

14. REPUBLICAN PARTY Free Soil Party against the expansion of slavery
Formed to stop the expansion of slavery
REPUBLICAN PARTY
Democrats opposed the expansion of slavery
Abolitionists
National Republican which become the Whigs.
Know Nothing Party
against immigration

15. Lincoln – Douglas Debates
Lincoln and Douglas both running for the U.S. Senate in Illinois
The debates were followed by the country because both candidates were interested in running for the Presidency in 1860
Slavery was the issue
Lincoln stated: A House Divided against itself cannot stand. Either we become one or the other.
was against the expansion of slavery
Douglas believed that slavery should be decided by the people.
Lincoln got Douglas to admit that Popular Sovereignty could work against the expansion of slavery
Southerners would not support Douglas for the presidency in 1860

16. Popular Sovereignty Allow the people in a territory to vote on whether they want slavery to exist or not in their state.
Map Kan/Neb Act

17. Reading/Lincoln on slavery

18. 303 total electoral votes and 152 to win.
Election of 1860
303 total electoral votes and 152 to win.

20. Secession