Chapter 3: Slavery Dominates Politics

A. The Republican Party Forms

Notes:

  • Republican Party formed as a result of the problems caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

  • Southern Whigs supported the Act for the same reason that the Northern Whigs opposed it: the bill proposed to open new territories to slavery

  • Northern Whigs joined the Republican Party, also opponents of slavery

  • Some Southern Whigs joined the Democratic Party, but typically searched for leaders who were pro slavery

  • John C. Fremont was nominated as a representative for the Republicans; was nicknamed the “Pathfinder”

  • Republicans liked Fremont because he was in favor of admitting California and Kansas as free states, had little political experience and didn’t have a controversial record to defend

Questions/Vocab:

  • What political party emerged as a result of the conflicts with the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854?

  • Who represented the Republican Party and why was he favored?

Summary:

The conflict caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 caused tensions between political parties and resulted in the rise of the Republican Party. 

B. The Election of 1856

Notes:

  • Democrats nominated James Buchanan to run for president in 1856

  • Buchanan was the minister of Great Britain; he took advantage of his absence from the country; did not speak about slavery and claimed that his goal was to maintain the Union

  • The Know-Nothing Party, or American Party, nominated Millard Filmore, who was president after Zachary Taylor from 1850 until 1853

  • North: Buchanan against Fremont

  • South: Buchanan against Filmore

  • Buchanan won the election

  • Two effects of the election:

  • Nation was split over slavery

  • Republican Party was a major force in the North

Questions/Vocab:

  • Who was competing in the Election of 1856?

  • Who was in favor of who?

Summary:

The Election of 1856 resulted in James Buchanan becoming the new president. This election revealed the major problem that still divided the nation: slavery.

C. The Case of Dred Scott

Notes:

  • Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri; his owner took him to live in territories where slavery was illegal

  • When Scott’s owner died, he sued for his freedom

  • Dred Scott v. Sandford reached the Supreme Court in 1856; the Court ruled against Scott

  • Chief Justice Roger B. Taney argued that Scott was not a US citizen, therefore, he could not sue

  • Southerners agreed with the Court’s ruling, but Northerners were outraged and looked to the Republican Party to halt the growing power of Southern slaveholders

Questions/Vocab:

  • Why did Dred Scott sue?

  • What was the outcome of the Dred Scott v. Sandford Case?

Summary:

The Dred Scott v. Sandford Case brought more attention to slavery. When Scott tried to sue for his freedom, the Court ruled against him and argued that he wasn’t a citizen.

D. Lincoln and Douglas Debate

Notes:

  • Following the Dred Scott decision, Republicans charged that the Democrats wanted to legalize slavery in all states; Stephen A. Douglas was their main target in 1858

  • Illinois Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln to challenge Douglas for his US Senate seat

  • Lincoln: slavery was “a moral, a social and a political wrong;” believed that popular sovereignty was the best way to address the issue

  • Popular sovereignty was considered unconstitutional due to the ruling the in the Dred Scott decision; stated that people could not vote to ban slavery because it would take away slaveholders’ property rights

Questions/Vocab:

  • What did Lincoln believe about slavery?

  • What did Douglas argue?

  • Why was popular sovereignty considered unconstitutional according to the Dred Scott decision?

Summary:

Conflict between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas arose. They argued over slavery in states and popular sovereignty being against the Constitution.

E. John Brown Attacks Harpers Ferry

Notes:

  • John Brown wanted to inspire slaves to fight for their freedom; he planned to capture the weapons in the US arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia

  • October 16, 1859: Brown and 18 followers (13 whites and 5 blacks) captured the Harpers Ferry arsenal and killed four people in the raid

  • US Marines attacked Brown at Harpers Ferry; some of Brown’s men escaped but him and 6 others were captured (10 men were killed)

  • Brown was tried for murder and treason; convicted and sentenced to hang

Questions/Vocab:

  • What motivated John Brown to attack Harpers Ferry?

  • What was the outcome?

Summary:

John Brown, who had killed before, attacked Harpers Ferry. His raid somewhat failed and he was captured; he was convicted for murder and treason and was sentenced to hang.