Road to Civil WarRoad to Civil War

Challenges to SlaveryChallenges to Slavery

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A New Political PartyA New Political Party Even before Brown’s raid, other events Even before Brown’s raid, other events

had driven the North and South further had driven the North and South further apart.apart.

After the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the After the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Democratic Party began to divide along Democratic Party began to divide along sectional lines, with Northern Democrats sectional lines, with Northern Democrats leaving the party.leaving the party.

Differing views over the slavery issue Differing views over the slavery issue destroyed the Whig Party. destroyed the Whig Party.

Antislavery Whigs and Democrats joined Antislavery Whigs and Democrats joined forces with Free-Soilers to form the forces with Free-Soilers to form the Republican Party.Republican Party.

A New Political PartyA New Political Party The Republicans challenged the The Republicans challenged the

proslavery Whigs and Democrats.proslavery Whigs and Democrats. Their main message was that the Their main message was that the

government should ban slavery from new government should ban slavery from new territories.territories.

The Republican Party quickly showed its The Republican Party quickly showed its strength in the North.strength in the North.

In the South the Republicans had almost In the South the Republicans had almost no support.no support.

The Dred Scott DecisionThe Dred Scott Decision Dred Scot was an enslaved African Dred Scot was an enslaved African

American bought by an army doctor in American bought by an army doctor in Missouri, a slave state.Missouri, a slave state.

Later, the doctor moved to Illinois, a free Later, the doctor moved to Illinois, a free state, and then to the Wisconsin state, and then to the Wisconsin Territory, where slavery was banned by Territory, where slavery was banned by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

Later the family returned to Missouri, Later the family returned to Missouri, where the doctor died.where the doctor died.

Dred Scott sued for his freedom. Dred Scott sued for his freedom. He claimed he should be free because he He claimed he should be free because he

had once lived on free soil.had once lived on free soil.

The Court’s DecisionThe Court’s Decision The Court’s decision electrified the The Court’s decision electrified the

nation.nation. Chief Justice Chief Justice Roger B. TaneyRoger B. Taney said that said that

Dred Scott was still a slave.Dred Scott was still a slave. As a slave, Scott was not a citizen and As a slave, Scott was not a citizen and

had no right to bring a lawsuit.had no right to bring a lawsuit. Taney wrote that Scott’s residence on Taney wrote that Scott’s residence on

free soil did not make him free.free soil did not make him free. An enslaved person was property, and An enslaved person was property, and

the Fifth Amendment prohibits Congress the Fifth Amendment prohibits Congress from taking away property without “due from taking away property without “due process of law.”process of law.”

The Court’s DecisionThe Court’s Decision Taney wrote that Congress had no power Taney wrote that Congress had no power

to prohibit slavery in any territory.to prohibit slavery in any territory. The The Missouri CompromiseMissouri Compromise – which had – which had

banned slavery north of the 36-30N banned slavery north of the 36-30N latitude – was unconstitutional and so latitude – was unconstitutional and so was was popular sovereigntypopular sovereignty..

Not even the voters in a territory could Not even the voters in a territory could prohibit slavery because that would prohibit slavery because that would amount to taking away a person’s amount to taking away a person’s property.property.

The decision meant that the Constitution The decision meant that the Constitution protected slavery.protected slavery.

Reaction to the DecisionReaction to the Decision The Supreme Court’s decision divided the The Supreme Court’s decision divided the

country even more.country even more. The Court had reaffirmed what many in The Court had reaffirmed what many in

the South had always maintained: the South had always maintained: Nothing could legally prevent the spread Nothing could legally prevent the spread of slavery. of slavery.

Northern Democrats were pleased that Northern Democrats were pleased that the Republicans’ main issue – restricting the Republicans’ main issue – restricting the spread of slavery – had been ruled the spread of slavery – had been ruled unconstitutional.unconstitutional.

Republicans and other antislavery groups Republicans and other antislavery groups were outraged.were outraged.

The Raid on Harpers FerryThe Raid on Harpers Ferry Political tensions heightened after the Political tensions heightened after the

election of 1858.election of 1858. Southerners felt threatened by growing Southerners felt threatened by growing

Republican power.Republican power. On October 16, 1859, the abolitionist John On October 16, 1859, the abolitionist John

Brown led 18 men on a raid on Brown led 18 men on a raid on Harpers Harpers FerryFerry, Virginia., Virginia.

His target was an arsenal, a storage place His target was an arsenal, a storage place for weapons and ammunition.for weapons and ammunition.

Brown and his men were quickly defeated Brown and his men were quickly defeated by local citizens and federal troops. by local citizens and federal troops.

The Raid on Harpers FerryThe Raid on Harpers Ferry Brown was convicted of treason and Brown was convicted of treason and

murder and sentenced to hang.murder and sentenced to hang. John Brown’s death became a rallying John Brown’s death became a rallying

point for abolitionists.point for abolitionists. When Southerners learned of Brown’s When Southerners learned of Brown’s

connection to abolitionists, their fears of connection to abolitionists, their fears of a great Northern conspiracy against them a great Northern conspiracy against them seemed confirmed.seemed confirmed.

The nation was on the brink of disaster. The nation was on the brink of disaster.