Dred Scott case and Lincoln Douglas debates

Why did Dred Scott claim before Missouri courts that he deserved to be a free man?

He had resided in a free state and in free territory

What three issues did Chief Justice Roger Taney reveal when the Justices made their final decision?

Scott could not sue for his freedom, his stay in Illinois did not make him free and Scott’s stay in Wisconsin made no difference

How many of the 9 justices were North and how many south?

4 north and 5 south

What were the 3 key questions under scrutiny in the Supreme court?

Whether Scott had the rights to sue, did prolonged residence in a free state make Scott free and was the missouri compromise a constitutional law

What other 4 key events had added to the ‘Slave Power’ conspiracy?

Polk’s war, Brooks violence in congress, Douglas FSA and Kansas Lecompton constitution

When did Dred Scott first sue for his freedom and when was it decided by the Supreme Court?

11th February 1546 and 6th march 1857

What eventually happened to Scott and which case in 1854 was this similar to (Boston)?

He was bought and set free by the sons of his previous owner and Anthony Burns

Why was Taney’s ruling seen as an attack on the Republican Party?

The party was committed to slavery’s exclusion form the territories and it was an attempt to undermine popular sovereignty

What further concerned northerners about the balance of the Supreme Court?

2 of the 4 northerners were Democrats

How did James Buchanan influence the court’s decision? (**To avoid appearance of sectional division and sympathetic to proslavery)**

He influenced Robert grier of Pennsylvania to concur with the majority

How did Randy rule that Scott’s time in Illinois and Wisconsin couldn’t free him?

Congress had no power to exclude slavery from a territory and the Missouri compromise was unconstitutional

How did Taney use the constitution to claim that any outlawing of slavery was unconstitutional?

Used fifth amendment clause saying federal government could not deprive any person of life, liberty or property and Calhoun’s ideas on property

How did a northern democratic newspaper gloat about taney’s ruling? QUOTE

‘The funeral sermon of black republicanism’

How did the dred scott case strengthen the Republican Party?

It lended credence to republican charges of a conspiracy to nationalise slavery

What did republicans label the dred Scott decision? 2 Quotes

‘A wicked and false judgement’ and ‘an atrocious doctrine’

Which justices from Ohio and Massachusetts submitted an indictment arguing that Scott should be freed and the Missouri compromise upheld

John McLean and Benjamin Curtis

Why did the dred scott decision set off alarm bells in Northern free states? (If 2 years didn’t count, what did?)

The decision meant that there was potential for slavery to be allowed everywhere

What did the justices decide? Ratio

7 to 2

Why was the ruling of the missouri compromise as unconstutional so important to northeners?

The 3rd branch of government that protects the constitution was now part of slave power and corrupt

How did Douglas alienate southern democrats?

By criticising the Lecompton constitution and making the Free port doctrine

How did Lincoln become the unmistakable enemy of slavery?

Comments against slavery, rejecting Taney’s ruling and the Lecompton constitution and failing to see a future with free and slave states.

How many people were estimated to attend over the course of the debates?

72,000

Although Lincoln lost the debate by not gaining the seat in the senate, what did he gain?

Secured his election as president candidate and becomes much more public

What were the Lincoln Douglas debates a part of?

The 1858 Illinois senate race

How many miles of Illinois were covered and how many speeches given?

4,000 and hundreds

What were swiftly distributed throughout the country after debates?

Transcripts

What was Lincoln’s platform constructed on? QUOTE

‘Unalienable rights - life liberty and the pursuit of happiness’

What did Lincoln fight for in regard to Black Americans?

Advocated for full social and political equality

Who chose Douglas as the next senator for Illinois? (**Democrats retained control over)**

the state legislature

What did Lincoln win in the Illinois senate race?

The popular vote of the people

What was Lincoln’s Chicago constitution?

Equality for blacks and whites in the constitution

Douglas view on equality? QUOTE

‘I am opposed to negro citizenship in any and every form’

What was Douglas’ Freeport doctrine? (Pop. Sovereignty)

Allowed any state to outlaw slavery by refusing to protect slave holders

What did Lincoln complain about in the popular sovereignty of Kansas-Nebraska?

It did not follow the 1850 compromise popular sovereignty at all

Lincoln on Dred scott: Case would only ever have been passed if … are in power and judges were nominated by them. Therefore, they are … slavery upon everyone.

Democrats, forcing

What did Lincoln say about taney’s ruling? 2 QUOTES

‘the court has nowhere in its opinions stated that the states have the power to exclude slavery’ and ‘it lays the foundation for spreading that evil into the states themselves’