5.6 Failure to Compromise

what 3 issues divided the north and south

1. morality of slavery

2. views on constitutional rights of states, mainly the right to protect slavery

3. differences over economic policies in the free-labor north and the slave-labor south

Kansas Nebraska Act

Senator Stephen A. Douglas proposed building a transcontinental railroad through the center of the country, with a major terminus in Chicago. Southerners preferred a more southerly route. Douglas suggests that they divided the Kansas territory into two parts, Kansas and Nebraska, and allow the people of those territories to decide on slavery via popular sovereignty. This was controversial as those lands were above the 36’ 30 line, and as stated in the Missouri Compromise, slavery should be outlawed. SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT PIERCE

how did the Kansas Nebraska Act increase tensions

The Kansas Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise which had for so long eased tensions between the North and South. Now that Kansas and Nebraska were able to use popular sovereignty, tensions arose and led to BLEEDING KANSAS

How did Douglas expect the slavery issue to be handled in Kansas

He expected the slavery issue to be settled peacefully by the antislavery midwestern farmers who migrated to kansas and were the majority

what did slave owners from the neighboring Missouri do

migrate to Kansas to help win control for the south

New England Emigrant Aid Company

paid for transportation of antislavery settlers into Kansas

Bleeding Kansas

fighting breaks out between the pro slavery and antislavery groups residing in Kansas (many businesses and homes were destroyed)

Caning of Charles Sumner

The violence in Kansas spilled over in the congress when Senator Charles Sumner attacked the Democratic party in a vitriolic speech and was then beat over the head with a cane by congressman preston brooks: this action enraged the north, while southerners applauded preston

EXAMPLE OF TENSIONS RISING

former whigs that opposed slavery expansion formed what

Republican party

Lecompton Constitution

proslavery state constitution for Kansas submitted by southern legislature at Lecompton

REJECTED BY KANSAS SETTLERS WHO WERE ANTISLAVERY REPUBLICANS

Dred Scott V Sandford

Dred Scott was held in slavery in Missouri and then taken to the free territory of Wisconsin where he lived for a couple years before returning to Missouri. He argued that his residence on free soil made him a free citizen and sued for his freedom in Missouri

Results of Dred Scott Decision

Justice Roger Taney stated,

1. Dred Scott had no right to sue in federal court as he was not a citizen according to the constitution

2. congress did not have the power to deprive someone of property

3. The Missouri compromise was unconstitutional because it barred slavery from Northern States

How did the north and south react to the dred scott results

the Northerners are upset and think that the decision was a crime against the republic, while Southerners are happy they can have slavery in western lands

Freeport Doctrine

Stephen Douglas states that slavery could not exist in a community if local citizens didnt pass slave codes maintaining it