NOTES: POLITICAL DIVISIONS IN THE 1850S Context: The slavery question continued to divide the country and lead to violence. A controversial Supreme Court ruling on one side, and on the other a new Political Party with an emerging leader brought the US that much closer to erupting into Civil War.

DRED SCOTT DECISION Lower Court Ruling Dred Scott won

Dred Scott’s Background • Missouri slave who traveled w/owner to free territory. • After returning to Missouri, owner died. • In 1846 Scott sued for freedom arguing that he had become free when he lived in free territory.

Missouri Supreme Court Ruling Overturned lower court ruling (Dred Scott remained a slave)

Case goes to US Supreme Court… Issues before the Supreme Court • To decide whether Scott was a US

citizen (only citizens are allowed to sue in federal court in the first place)

Supreme Court Ruling (1857) • All African Americans – slave or free – were not citizens. Thus, Scott did not have the right to sue in a federal court.

• To decide if his time living in free

• Scott’s time in free territory had not made him free.

territory made him free. • To determine if Congress had the power to prohibit slavery in Territories at all.

• Congress’ Missouri Compromise restriction on slavery north of the 36o30’ line was unconstitutional because it violated 5th Amendment property rights of slaveholders. (In other words, Congress does not have the power to prohibit slavery in any territory).

NEW POLITICAL PARTY: In response to the violence that occurred as a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, some Whigs, Democrats, Free-Soilers, and Abolitionists joined together in 1854 to form a new political party – the Republican Party that was against the spread of slavery to the West.

US SENATE ELECTION IN ILLINOIS: LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES (1858) Republican Abraham Lincoln vs. Democrat Stephen Douglas. They debated seven times in various locations around the state, the famous “Lincoln-Douglas Debates.” Lincoln’s Views (Republican) • Against the spread of Slavery to the West • Argued African Ams were “entitled to all the natural rights” in the Decl of Ind (however, he didn’t believe in full social or political equality)

Douglas’ Views (Democrat) • Warned that Republicans/Lincoln wanted to make every state a free state, leading to destruction of the country and war. • Re: Slavery in the West – Argued that people should “introduce it or exclude it as they please...” (Popular Sovereignty)

Outcome of 1858 Senate Election Stephen Douglas won the Senate seat. But, Lincoln emerged as an important leader of the Republican Party and gained national attention.

NOTES: POLITICAL DIVISION IN THE 1850S Context: The slavery question continued to divide the country and lead to violence. A controversial Supreme Court ruling on one side, and on the other a new Political Party with an emerging leader brought the US that much closer to erupting into Civil War.

DRED SCOTT DECISION

Lower Court Ruling Dred Scott __________

Dred Scott’s Background • Missouri __________ who traveled w/owner to __________________________. • After returning to Missouri, owner died. • In ______ Scott sued for ____________ arguing that he had become free when he lived in free territory.

Issues to be decided… • To decide whether Scott was a US ____________ (only citizens are allowed to ________ in federal court in the first place)

• To decide if his time living in free territory made him _________. • To determine if _____________ had the power to _______________ slavery in _______________ at all.

Missouri Supreme Court Ruling ______________ lower court ruling (Dred Scott _______________ a slave)

Case goes to U.S. Supreme Court…

Supreme Court Ruling (_________) • All African Americans – slave or free – were not ______________. Thus, Scott did not have the ________ to ______ in a federal court. • Scott’s time in free territory had ______ made him _________. • Congress’ Missouri Compromise restriction on slavery north of the 36o30’ line was ____________________ because it violated ____ Amendment property rights of slaveholders. (In other words, Congress did _______ have the power to prohibit slavery in______ Territory).

NEW POLITICAL PARTY: In response to the violence that occurred as a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, some Whigs, Democrats, Free-Soilers, and Abolitionists joined together in _________ to form a new political party – the ________________ party that was against the __________________ of slavery to the ___________.

US SENATE ELECTION IN ILLINOIS: LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES (1858) Republican Abraham Lincoln vs. Democrat Stephen Douglas. They debated seven times in various locations around the state, the famous “Lincoln-Douglas Debates.” Lincoln’s Views (Republican)

Douglas’ Views (Democrat)

• Against the _____________of slavery to the _____________.

• Warned that Republicans/Lincoln wanted to make every state a __________ state, leading to destruction of the country and __________.

• Argued African Americans were “entitled to all the _________________________” in the Declaration of Independence (however, he didn’t believe in full social or political equality)

• Re: Slavery in the West – Argued that people should “introduce it or exclude it as they please...” (______________ ______________)

Outcome of 1858 Senate Election ________________________ won the Senate seat. But, ________________ emerged as an important leader of the ____________________ Party and gained national attention.