Chapter 15 A Divided Nation – Section 3 (pgs 488-489)
Political Divisions
Key Terms & People
Republican Party
Roger B Taney
James Buchanan
Abraham Lincoln
John C Fremont
Lincoln-Douglas
Debates
Political Parties Undergo Change * Kansas/Nebraska Act brought the
issue of
back into the
national spotlight (& added to growing
slavery
division & sectionalism in the US!)
* Republican Party- new political party
dedicated to ending slavery in the west
-Some Whigs, Democrats, Free-Soilers
& abolitionists joined in 1854 to form
> these parties were falling apart when
sectionalism led to party members
refusing to work together (everyone out for their personal agenda!
* 1856 National Convention (for Presidential Election)
- American Party (aka Know Nothing Party delegates argued over slavery
then chose former-president Millard Filmore as their candidate
- Democrats chose James Buchanan (Pennsylvania- former secretary of
state under president James K Polk (lots of gvmt experience!)
- Buchanan was ambassador & in GB during Kansas-Nebraska Act
dispute so he didn’t have a strong
opinion/affiliation with it (they wanted
a candidate who was NOT a strong
supporter of the super controversial
KS-NB Act > more votes!)
- Republican Party chose explorer John C
Fremont (had very little government experience but stood against spread of slavery!)
*public saw Republican Party as 1-issue
party (slavery) > they had few supporters outside free states
and the winner is… Dred Scott Decision
* US Supreme Court rules in case 2 days after Buchanan became president
Dred Scott Sues for Freedom
* Dred Scott- slave of Dr. John Emerson (army surgeon in St. Louis, Missouri)
- when Dr. Emerson died, Dred Scott belonged to his widow
-1846- Dred Scott sued for his freedom in Missouri state court:
said he had lived in free territory so he should be free
>lower court ruled in his favor, but the ruling was overturned
>Scott’s case went to US Supreme Court: 1857 (11 years later)
*Supreme Court justices had 3 issues to decide on:
1. Was Dred Scott a citizen? (Only citizens could sue
in federal court)
2. Did his time living in a free territory make him free?
3. Had to determine constitutionality of prohibiting
slavery in Louisiana Purchase lands
The Supreme Court’s Ruling (March 1857)
*Chief Justice Roger B Taney (from slave-holding family in Maryland) wrote
majority of the {explanation of} decision:
1. citizenship? No- Dred Scott was NOT a citizen so he did NOT have the
right to file suit in a federal court
-said nation’s founders believed African Americans had no rights
which a white man was bound to respect SO all African Americans
(free or slave) were NOT citizens under US Constitution
2. Did Scott’s residency on free land make him free? No- when he
returned to Missouri (slave state) his status (slave or free) depended on
law in Missouri
3. decided Missouri Compromise line (36 30’) was unconstitutional
- referred to 5th amendment: No one can be deprived of life, liberty, or
property without due process of law > slaves = property, so Congress
cannot prohibit someone from taking their slaves into a federal
territory
*most white southerners were thrilled with the ruling, said it settled everything
*northerners stunned > Republicans angry because their platform in 1856
election argued that Congress did have the right to ban slavery in federal
territories > now the Supreme Court said Congress did not have this right
-Illinois lawyer, Abraham Lincoln warned: future court rulings (the next
Dred Scott decision) would prohibit states from banning slavery
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
* 1858- Republican, Abraham Lincoln
nominated for US Senate to run
against Democrat, Stephen Douglas
(Illinois senator since 1847)
*Lincoln-Douglas debatesLincoln challenged Douglas to
debate most important issue:
slavery spreading to the west
(Lincoln accused Democrats of
spreading slavery to the west)
-Lincoln talked about Dred Scott Decision, saying African Americans
were entitled to all natural rights listed in Declaration of Independence
(He said this but didn’t believe African Americans were equal to whites!)
-Douglas countered saying: *Lincoln:US couldn’t remain ½ slave & ½ free
*Lincoln wanted the US to all be free states,
warning this’ll cause north & south > war
-2nd Debate: Freeport, Illinois- Lincoln said If democrats support popular
sovereignty (letting voters decide issues) but said (in Dred Scott decision) if
Congress cannot ban slavery in a federal territory, how can the voters?
-Douglas answered: doesn’t matter what Supreme Court says, “people have
the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as they please, for the
reason that slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere, unless it is
supported by local police regulations”
*Freeport Doctrine- the notion that police would enforce voters’
decision {even} if it contradicted the Supreme Court’s decision
in the Dred Scott case
-put slavery question back in hands of the voters!
-helped Stephen Douglas win the Senate election
-gave Abraham Lincoln national recognition & made him a
strong Republican Party leader
Why is this so important!?!
What does it even mean!?!
Well that helps! Thanks!