The election of 1856 occurred amidst the Kansas uprisings resulting from the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
President Pierce, elected in 1852, favored the pro-slavery movement, causing discord even within his own party.
The Democrats nominated James Buchanan as a less controversial candidate for the 1856 election.
The Whig Party dissolved due to internal dissensions and was replaced by the Republican Party.
The Republican Party held its first national convention, adopting a platform strongly against slavery.
Republicans nominated John Fremont, a well-known explorer, who ran with the slogan "Free Speech, Free Soil, and Fremont."
The election deeply divided the nation along regional lines.
Democrats portrayed Republicans as radicals, while Republicans accused Democrats of employing unfair tactics.
James Buchanan won the presidency with 175 electoral votes, compared to Fremont's 114.
Fremont carried 11 anti-slavery states but lost the election narrowly.
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
The Supreme Court became involved in the slavery issue with the Dred Scott v. Sanford case in 1857.
The Supreme Court ruled that all blacks were excluded from U.S. citizenship.
Dred Scott, a slave, had moved to free states (Illinois and Wisconsin) after his master's death and sued for his freedom.
The Court was predominantly pro-slavery, with seven of nine justices appointed by pro-slavery presidents.
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney argued that Scott was not a citizen and could not sue for his freedom, as the Constitution's authors supposedly believed African Americans had no rights.
Taney cited the Declaration of Independence, arguing that "all men are created equal" did not apply to African Americans.
Northerners and abolitionists were outraged by the decision, protesting in the streets.
Abolitionist newspapers saw the decision as a turning point in the fight against slavery.
Coupled with the loss of the Missouri Compromise, the North felt it was losing ground in the anti-slavery movement.
Frederick Douglass expressed optimism, believing the decision would bring the issue of slavery to national attention.
Growing Division
By 1858, many in the North believed that the North and South had become two separate societies due to slavery.
The New York Tribune stated, "We are two peoples…a people for freedom and a people for slavery. Between the two, conflict is inevitable."
1858 Illinois Senate Election: Lincoln vs. Douglas
The political landscape set the stage for the significant 1858 election to decide the U.S. Senator from Illinois.
Illinois was a free state since 1818.
The election marked the potential end of one political career (Douglas) and the beginning of another (Lincoln).
Stephen Douglas, the incumbent senator, had negotiated the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Douglas was considered a frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1860.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act led to the dissolution of the Whig Party, replaced by the Republican Party.
Abraham Lincoln, a Republican lawyer, gained prominence and was nominated to run against Douglas.
Lincoln and Douglas engaged in famous debates across Illinois, discussing slavery before large crowds.
Lincoln believed that actions like the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott case would lead to the legalization of slavery nationwide.
Lincoln viewed slavery as an expanding practice, while Douglas argued it was a dying practice limited to the South due to climate and soil conditions.
Douglas asserted that slavery was a local issue for the South, while Lincoln feared it would overtake the entire nation.
Douglas openly proclaimed that blacks were inferior to whites and opposed granting them citizenship, stating, "I want citizenship for whites only."
The election was decided by the state legislature, not the public, which was the norm until the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913.
Lincoln lost the Senate seat, but the debates propelled him to national fame.
Lincoln considered the defeat a "slip and not a fall" and planned for future political office.
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown, a passionate abolitionist, moved to Kansas to participate in the anti-slavery movement.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott case pushed many abolitionists, traditionally opposed to violence, to consider more radical action.
Brown discussed with Frederick Douglass the potential use of violence against slavery.
Brown planned an invasion of the South as early as 1857.
On October 16, 1859, Brown and his followers attacked Harpers Ferry, Virginia, aiming to seize the federal arsenal and arm slaves.
Brown underestimated the town's preparedness for slave uprisings.
Brown's men were quickly defeated, and they retreated to an empty depot.
Brown and his men attempted to negotiate surrender but were captured.
John Brown was quickly put on trial and spoke proudly of his actions.
He was found guilty of treason, conspiracy, and murder and sentenced to death.
Brown stated that his goal was to liberate the slaves in Virginia, saying, "if it is deemed necessary to mingle my blood with the blood of millions in this slave country, I say let it be done."
Brown was executed on December 2, 1859.
Reactions to John Brown's Raid
In the North, Brown's actions signified the need for actions outside of political channels to end slavery.
Many Northerners condemned the failure of Brown's uprising but not the uprising itself.
Some abolitionists who previously advocated for peaceful means now believed that violence was the only solution.
William Lloyd Garrison argued that slaveholders had forfeited their right to live due to the evil nature of slavery.
The South increasingly argued for secession to create a slaveholding confederacy.
The idea of secession, once seen as treasonous, now seemed inevitable due to the national division.
Section Objectives
Analyze how deepening sectional distrust affected the nation's politics.
Compare the positions of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas on the issue of slavery.
Explain the effect of John Brown's raid on the slavery debate.