1. The Crisis Deepens: The Union (Marriage) is Destroyed
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free…It will become all of one thing, or all the other.”
The Crisis Deepens: The Union (Marriage) is Destroyed

2. Political Changes
The Whig Party dies because they supported the Compromise of 1850
The Know-Nothings/American Party formed under the platform of anti-immigration (nativists)
Republican Party: opposed the spread of slavery
Democrats: support popular sovereignty

6. More Sectionalism The Election of 1856:
Republicans oppose popular sovereignty
Democrats promise to not talk about the issue
The Dred Scott Decision (1857): Scott had been taken to a free state and sued for his freedom, the Supreme Court ruled against him saying that because slaves were not citizens (property) they could not even sue
Also ruled that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the US territories
Undermined the Missouri Compromise

7. The Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln and Douglas were battling for a seat in the Senate, each had opposing views on slavery
***Lincoln: opposed slavery but took the middle road…don’t let it expand because he wanted to save the union***
Douglas: supported popular sovereignty
Douglas wins the debate but Lincoln wins lots of followers and a reputation

8. Freeport Doctrine
Lincoln cornered Douglas by asking him if a state could legally exclude slavery before entering statehood
If he said yes then he supported popular sovereignty
If he said no then he opposed popular sovereignty
In the end Douglas said that he supported the Dred Scott Decision and that states could keep slavery out by refusing to pass laws needed to regulate it

9. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry, 1859
Brown believed he was an angel of God, avenging the evils of slavery
Brown and his followers set out to seize the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry
Wanted to use violence to end slavery but this was not supported by the abolitionists
Was cornered, captured and executed

11. “I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think vainly, flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done.” -John Brown, 1859 handed to the jailer on his way to execution

12. The Election of 1860
Big Issue: slavery was an issue of states rights not the business of the federal government
Significance: pitted North against South (sectionalism)
Republicans nominate Lincoln, keep slavery contained where it is but don’t let it expand
Lincoln wins but carried no Southern States…South is not happy
Causes Southern states to secede

14. Secession
After Lincoln’s election, South Carolina seceded (left) the Union
If a president can be elected without their support what does that mean for slavery?
Six other states followed
Felt that Lincoln threatened slavery
The 7 states form the Confederate States of America
Wrote a Constitution that gave all the power to the states and protected slavery
Elect Jefferson Davis as President

16. Lincoln Takes Office
Said he would not interfere with slavery where it already existed because he wanted to preserve the Union
Did not recognize the new Confederacy but South was looking for a fight
Lincoln wanted to maintain control of Fort Sumter
South Carolina was watching the Fort
Lincoln let them know he was sending food not troops to Fort but SC is suspicious and attacked Fort Sumter (1st battle of Civil War)