Slavery & Secession
Ch 10 Sect 4
Pg 324
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott , a slave from Missouri
Scott’s owner had taken him north of
the Missouri Compromise line.
Lived in free territory for 4 years.
Later returned to Missouri
After Scott’s owner died Scott began a
law-suit arguing that he had become
free while living north of the Missouri
Compromise line.
Dred Scott Decision
Roger Taney the Supreme Court Justice
handed down the decision.
Ruled that slaves did not have the rights of
citizens.
Scott had no claim to freedom b/c he was
living in a slave state when he began his law
suit.
Court ruled that the Missouri Compromise
was unconstitutional.
Supreme Court had cleared the way for the
extension of slavery.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
U.S. Senate race b/w Democratic incumbent
Douglas & Republican Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln – self-educated, known as a
successful lawyer & politician.
Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of
debates on the issue of slavery.
Douglas was self-confident
Lincoln was mild mannered using plain direct
language.
Positions & Arguments
Douglas believed in …
Popular sovereignty
Did not think slavery was immoral
Slavery was a backward labor system
Lincoln believed in …
Slavery was immoral
Slavery would not stop w/o an amendment
Freeport Doctrine
“Slavery cannot exist a day or an hour
anywhere, unless it is supported by
local police regulations.”
Douglass won the Senate seat, but his
response had split the Democratic
further.
Harpers Ferry
John Brown obtained financial backing
from northerners to lead a band of 21
men into Harpers Ferry.
His aim was to seize the federal arsenal
there, distribute the captured arms to
slaves in the area, & start a slave
uprising.
John Brown’s Hanging
Brown was hanged for high treason in
the presence of federal troops & a
crowd of observers.
Northerners expressed admiration for
he & his cause.
Began to call Brown a martyr for the
sacred cause of freedom.
Seward v. Lincoln
William Seward
Led antislavery forces in Congress
Financial support of New York political
organizations.
A desire to be the center of attention
Abraham Lincoln
Relatively unknown
Had not offended his fellow Republicans
Election of 1860
Lincoln emerged as the winner
Received less than half of the popular
vote.
Lincoln had sectional rather than
national support.
Carried very free state but did not even
appear on the ballots in southern
states.
Southern Secession
Lincoln’s victory convinced Southerners
that they had lost their political voice.
South Carolina led the way, seceding
from the Union.
Southerner planters cried “States rights”
Feared the end of their way of life.
Mississippi followed SC followed by FL
Shaping the Confederacy
Delegates met in Montgomery, AL to
form the Confederacy.
Confederate States of America
Constitution resembled the U.S.
constitution.
Biggest difference was the
acknowledgment of slavery as legal.
Jefferson Davis of Mississippi became
president
Calm before the Storm
Mass resignation took place in
Congress.
It seemed that the federal government
was melting away.
***Would the North allow the South to
leave the Union without a fight????
Answer these questions
1. What was the effect of the Dred Scott decision on the North?
2. What event made Douglass a hero in the North?
3. What were the issues that divided Lincoln and Douglass?
4. What was the Freeport Doctrine?
5. What was the response to John Brown’s raid in the North and
the South?
6. How did John Brown’s execution further divide the country?
7. How did Lincoln come to be nominated for president?
8. How did Lincoln win the election of 1860?
9. Why did South Carolina and other states secede from the
Union?
10. What was the Confederacy?
11. What did Buchanan do about secession?