1. Slavery Dominates Politics
(Beginning of the Civil War Notes Part 1)

2. Slavery Dominated Politics
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott was a slave
F.A. Sanford was his owner
Sanford took Scott to a free territory and then back to Missouri
Scott sued Sanford for his freedom saying that he was taken to a free state, which made him free
Supreme court ruled in favor of Sanford saying that African Americans were “a subordinate and inferior class of beings,” and, “[Africans had] no rights which the white man was bound to respect”
Africans Americans were not citizens and therefore could not sue

3. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Lincoln challenged Douglas to 7 debates in Illinois
Douglas accepted the Challenge
Both skirted the line of the slavery issue

4. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Stephen Douglas
Nickname: Little Giant
Height: 4’6”
Went to College in New York and became a Lawyer
Demeanor: Short stocky man who spoke with enthusiasm
Slavery Stance: Popular Sovereignty
Popular Sovereignty would allow slavery to go away on its own
Abraham Lincoln
Nickname: Honest Abe
Height: 6’4”
Self-educated
Demeanor: tall and gangly man who spoke and dressed plainly
Slavery Stance: “The Union can not survive half slave and half free”
Slavery was immoral
Alton, Illinois

5. Passions Erupt Panic of 1857 1858 the year of talk
1859 the year of action
Harpers Ferry
John Brown and 18 men tried to seize the federal arsenal in the town of Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and this distribute those weapons to the slaves in Virginia and start a slave revolt
Colonel Robert E. Lee stopped the rebellion, captured John Brown, and killed 10 of his men in the battle
2 months later John Brown hanged for treason
What other event did John Brown lead?

6. Election of 1860 – 4 Canindates
Democratic Party Split between the Northern Democrats and the Southern Democrats
Northern: Stephen a Douglas – Popular Sovereignty
Southern: John C. Brekinridge – upheld slavery
Republican Party
Abraham Lincoln – all territories be free
Constitutional Union Party
John Bell – constitution reform platform

7. Lincoln becomes President
Lincoln did not win a single southern or border state
Because the Democrats split, Lincoln was able to receive all the republican votes and win

8. Southern Secession
Since an abolitionist won, the south felt like it has lost its power to influence politics
What is an abolitionist?
On December 1860, South Carolina was the first state to withdraw from the Union and other southern states follow
Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas

9. Confederate States of America
Confederate Constitution stressed that each state was “sovereign and independent”
Elected Jefferson Davis as President of the Confederacy

10. Calm Before the Storm
President Buchanan said it was illegal for the south to secede and it was illegal for him to do anything about it.
President’s cabinet resigned
Government officials in Washington DC resigned
Union appeared to be dissolving
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President in March of 1861 and reunified the North