The Terrible Decade, Part 2 (1856-1858)

Unit 13: The Gathering Storm - The Terrible 1850s

Overview

This unit explores significant events leading up to the American Civil War during the 1850s, focusing on the growing tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. Part One covered Uncle Tom's Cabin, a groundbreaking novel highlighting the brutal realities of slavery, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which led to violent conflict in Kansas, and the broader phenomenon known as Bleeding Kansas. Part Two delves into pivotal incidents such as the Brooks-Sumner Affair, the Dred Scott decision, and the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Part Three will address more events that shaped this turbulent decade.

The Brooks-Sumner Affair (1856)

Background:

This incident was a violent consequence of escalating tensions over slavery, stemming from the Kansas-Nebraska Act's failure to adequately address the issue of popular sovereignty. While the act was intended to provide a framework for determining the fate of slavery in the territories, it led instead to violent clashes, known collectively as Bleeding Kansas, as pro-slavery and anti-slavery advocates fought for control of the territory.

Key Figures:

  • Charles Sumner: A prominent abolitionist and U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, known for his oratory skills. His speech critically targeted Southern senators, particularly Andrew Butler.

  • Andrew Butler: A South Carolina senator, co-author of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, who became the subject of Sumner’s vehement criticism.

  • Preston Brooks: Butler's cousin and a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, who violently assaulted Sumner, epitomizing the physical manifestation of political conflict.

Incident:

Sumner delivered a scathing speech titled "The Crime Against Kansas," where he likened the Kansas territory being subjugated to a violated woman. His caustic rhetoric personally implicated Butler. In retaliation, Brooks invaded the Senate chamber, brutally beating Sumner with a cane, leading to severe injuries that incapacitated him for four years.

Consequences:

Sumner's long absence from the Senate highlighted the dangerous environment for free speech and dissent. His subsequent health decline and eventual death were attributed to complications from the attack. Brooks faced censure but was hailed as a hero in the South, reinforcing sectional divides. The North interpreted this event as a blatant assault on the principles of free speech and democratic debate, while the South viewed it as a justified defense of its honor. This incident encapsulated the deepening national divide over the issue of slavery.

The Dred Scott Decision (1857)

Background:

Dred Scott, an enslaved African American, accompanied his owner, an army physician, to the Minnesota Territory which was designated as free land under the Missouri Compromise. Upon returning to Missouri, abolitionists encouraged Scott to file a lawsuit seeking his freedom, arguing that he had lived in free territory.

Case Path:

The case of Dred Scott v. Sanford began in the St. Louis District Court and was appealed multiple times, ultimately reaching the U.S. Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who held pro-slavery views.

Supreme Court Findings:

  1. Right to Sue: The Court ruled that Scott had no legal standing to sue in federal court as he was not considered a citizen, underscoring the lack of rights for individuals of African descent.

  2. Residency in Free Territory: The Court declared that living in a free state did not grant Scott his freedom, defending the property rights of slaveholders under the Fifth Amendment.

  3. Congressional Role: The ruling proclaimed that Congress lacked the authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories, rendering the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

Significance:

The Dred Scott decision not only invalidated the legal rights of free blacks but also vindicated the claims of Southern slaveholders. The ruling incited widespread outrage in the North, galvanizing anti-slavery sentiments and escalating support for the nascent Republican Party, which was firmly opposed to the expansion of slavery into the territories. Furthermore, it exacerbated sectional tensions, as many in the South began to perceive the potential rise of the Republican Party as a direct threat to their way of life.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)

Context:

This series of seven debates were held as part of the campaign for the U.S. Senate seat from Illinois between Abraham Lincoln, then a relatively unknown politician of the Republican Party, and incumbent Democrat Stephen A. Douglas, an established figure defending the idea of popular sovereignty.

Debate Setup:

Initially, Douglas largely ignored Lincoln, who challenged him on various issues. However, as the campaign progressed, Lincoln's articulate arguments drew more attention, leading to organized debates that became a focal point of public discourse.

Debate Topics:

The central theme of the debates revolved around the Dred Scott decision, with Lincoln arguing that it effectively endangered free states by expanding the reach of slavery. In his famous “House Divided” speech, he asserted that “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” warning that the nation could not endure permanently half slave and half free.

Douglas's Response:

In response to Lincoln’s critiques, Douglas introduced the Freeport Doctrine, which asserted that despite the Supreme Court's ruling, local laws could be enacted to restrict slavery, aiming to maintain popular sovereignty while trying to appease both Northern Democrats and the Southern base.

Outcome and Significance:

Although Douglas won the Senate election, his refusal to take a strong stance on the Dred Scott decision alienated many Southern supporters. Conversely, Lincoln emerged from the debates with heightened national visibility, which positioned him as a leading figure in the Republican Party and a significant contender for the presidency. The debates illuminated the increasing fractures in American politics over slavery and the ideological battle lines being drawn across the nation.

Conclusion

The events of the Brooks-Sumner Affair and the Dred Scott decision served as catalysts for heightened sectional conflict, leading to critical debates that shaped the national discourse on slavery. The rising tensions provoked by these confrontations foreshadowed the greater violence and upheavals that were soon to unfold, setting the stage for the impending Civil War.