SSUSH9 The student will identify key events, issues, and

individuals relating to the causes, course, and

consequences of the Civil War.

a. Explain the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the failure of popular

sovereignty, Dred Scott case, and John Brown’s Raid.

After the Compromise of 1850, and the annexation of Texas, the debate continued over what to do with the unorganized territory in the middle of the country over whether slavery should spread into the west and how it should be decided.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Signed in 1854, introduced by Stephen Douglas:- Divided the unorganized territory & created two

new territories: Kansas and Nebraska - would allow each territory to decide on the slavery

issue by using “popular sovereignty”- repealed/did away with the Missouri Compromise

1820 line (3630’)

- led to “Bleeding Kansas”

Before the Kansas-Nebraska Act

Bleeding KansasFailure of Popular Sovereignty

Because Kansas would decide about slavery through popular sovereignty, both the North (antislavery) and the South (pro-slavery) sent hundreds of people into Kansas to sway the vote

Tensions between the two groups led to violence and the destruction of property in Lawrence, Kansas (a center for anti-slavery efforts).

By the end of 1856, 200 people had been killed in the skirmishes

How did the violence in Kansas demonstrate that popular sovereignty was a failure?

John Brown Radical Abolitionist from

Ohio who used violence against those supporting slavery never really had any

successes in life he thought that God told

him to end slavery wanted to retaliate

against the attack in Lawrence, Kansas.

Pottawatomie MassacreAspect of Bleeding Kansas

In retaliation of the Lawrence attack, the fiery abolitionist John Brown led a group of men on an attack at Pottawatomie Creek.

The group, which included four of Brown's sons, dragged five proslavery men from their homes and hacked them to death.

Violence in Congress Violence also erupted in Congress. The abolitionist

senator Charles Sumner delivered a fiery speech called "The Crime Against Kansas," in which he accused proslavery senators, particularly Atchison and Andrew Butler of South Carolina, of [cavorting with the] "harlot, Slavery."

Charles Sumner (MA): against slavery, senator Andrew Butler (SC): for slavery, senator Preston Brooks (SC): Representative in the House,

for slavery

Violence in Congress In retaliation, Butler's nephew, Congressman

Preston Brooks, attacked Sumner at his Senate desk and beat him senseless with a cane.

Brooks gets a slap on the wrist & Sumner became a hero.

Brooks broke his cane in the fight so Southern supporters send him lots of canes in return.

The End of “Bleeding Kansas” In the fall of 1856, the U.S. Army stopped

the carnage in “Bleeding Kansas.” By the end of that year, 200 people had died in fighting & two million dollars worth of property had been destroyed.

In 1861, Kansas entered the Union as a free state.

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry

In 1859, Brown and his followers tried to support a slave uprising in Virginia by seizing an arsenal in Harpers Ferry

John Brown led 21 men, black and white, into Harpers Ferry to seize the federal arsenal there, distribute the captured arms to slaves in the area, and start a general slave uprising.

60 people were held hostage, in hope of their slaves joining the fight – no one came. Local troops, and later US Marines foiled his plan.

John Brown’s Raid

Brown’s plan failed--The uprising was quickly put down, Brown was caught and tried for treason.

After a trial, Brown was executed in Dec 1859 Brown was viewed by many in the North as a martyr

for the anti-slavery movement.

How do you think Brown was viewedIn the South-why?