Uncle Tom’s Cabin pg.463

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1852, this fictional book describes the life of a respected older slave.

Although the book isn’t true, it gives the North a glimpse of the cruelties of slavery. More people began to speak out against slavery and the numbers of abolitionists increase.

The South was angry because it believed that the book unfairly criticizes Southerners and the institution of slavery.

The book sold 300,000 copies the first year, within 10 years it sold more than 2 million in the U.S.

The Dred Scott DecisionThe Dred Scott Decision

Background: Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri. His master, an army doctor, moved to free territory, then back to Missouri. When the owner died, Scott went to court to win his freedom. He argued that since he lived in a free territory he was no longer a slave. His case ended up before the Supreme Court in 1856.

The Dred Scott DecisionThe Dred Scott DecisionChief Justice Roger Taney’s ruling:1. African-Americans, even free ones, aren’t

citizens and so can’t sue in a federal court.

2. Slaves aren’t citizens, they are property. As property, they’re not free if “placed” in a free state or territory.

3. The Missouri Compromise is unconstitutional: “no one can be deprived “no one can be deprived of life, liberty, or property”. Congress of life, liberty, or property”. Congress can’t keep someone from taking their can’t keep someone from taking their property into “free” territory.property into “free” territory.

NORTHERN REACTION

Most of the Northern states were angry and so basically ignored the Supreme Court ruling.

Republican party becomes popular because they promise to stop the spread of slavery.

SOUTHERN REACTION

South extremely happy about the ruling; sees the Roger Taney as a hero.

Are you beginning to notice how the North and South have totally different reactions to the same event. What does that say about the country as a whole?

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

A series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen

Douglas during the 1858 senatorial race in Illinois.

Missouri Compromise 1820

Wilmont Proviso 1846

Compromise of 1850

Uncle Tom’s Cabin published in 1852

Kansas-Nebraska Act passed, 1854

Bleeding Kansas

Dred Scott Case, 1856-7

Lincoln-Douglas Debate of 1858

Lincoln’s main points:1. Personal View: Slavery

was morally wrong; one person shouldn’t be able to own another person. Also, a person should be pay for his work, so slavery is unjust.

2. Political View: Lincoln wanted to stop the expansion of slavery. But, he didn’t want to abolish slavery where it legally existed.

Views on Dred Scott Case:

According to Lincoln, the Declaration of Independence had made it clear that men are to be free and be able to pursue their goals. By declaring that slaves are just “property,” the Supreme Court ruling was actually contradicting (saying what’s opposite) the Declaration of Independence, a document that that this country was founded on. So for Lincoln, the Dred Scott ruling was absurb and should be ignored because it goes against the values of this country.

Views on Racial Equality:

“I will say then that I am not, nor have I ever been in the favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races . . . There must be a position of superior and inferior, and I... am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race …”

While Lincoln believed that African Americans are “people” and so shouldn’t be “owned” like property, he didn’t believe that they were equal socially or politically to Whites. In other words, African Americans shouldn’t have the right to vote, serve on juries, become government officials, or even marry Whites.

“Do you desire to turn this beautiful state into a free Negro colony, in order that when Missouri abolishes slavery she can send one hundred thousand emancipated slaves into Illinois, to become citizens and voters, on an equality with yourselves? If so, then vote for Mr. Lincoln.”

What did Douglas say about Lincoln’s views on racial equality?

Basically, Douglas is FALSELY accusing Lincoln of wanting to give EQUAL rights to African Americans, something that most Northerners were against.

The South believed Douglas’ false accusation, which is why it both feared and hated Lincoln.

Claims about the Republican Party’s plan for slavery

Douglas also claimed that the Republican Party wanted to abolish slavery where it already existed i.e. in the South.

At one of the debates in Freeport, Illinois, Lincoln attacked

Douglas’s popular sovereignty argument and its inconsistency with the Dred Scott

decision. Lincoln traps Douglas and forces him to make a stand on the

issue of slavery and where he stands.

What did the Dred Scott decision say?

Popular Sovereignty was “unconstitutional”! Neither congress nor people could vote against a person’s right to own property!

“Mr. Douglas, can people in a territory who are against slavery legally prohibit it?”

“Yes, Mr. Lincoln, they can. The most democratic thing we can do on the slavery issue is let the people decide.”

“Then, Mr. Douglas, what about the Dred Scott decision?”

“Mr. Lincoln, it doesn’t matter what the Supreme Court says!”

Dred Scott case: Douglas basically states that the Supreme Court doesn’t have the power to determine the issue of slavery.

“It matters not what the Supreme Court decides about slavery. The people have the lawful means to introduce it or exclude it as they please, for the reason that slavery cannot exist a day or an hour anywhere unless it is supported by local police regulations”

The Freeport Doctrine: The people of a particular territory/state should have the right to determine whether there should be slavery, not the federal government (Congress, President, or Supreme Court).

The “Freeport Doctrine,” however, angers the South because it goes against the Dred Scott decision, which was very popular in the South. This will later come to hurt him in the presidential election of 1860 because the South will refuse to vote for him.

John Brown & Harper’s Ferry Radical abolitionist who believed that he was “God’s

Instrument” to end slavery.

Before Pottawatomie Massacre

After Pottawatomie Massacre

John Brown & Harper’s Ferry

Wanted to free slaves, give them weapons, and create a “slave army.”

Goal was to start slave rebellions throughout the South and have the slaves kill their masters.

John Brown & Harper’s Ferry Took over the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry on Oct. 16,

1859 but was quickly captured. Although Brown expected the slaves to come out and

support him, instead the local towns people came out to fight him.

John Brown & Harper’s Ferry Executed Dec. 2, 1859: seen as a hero in the North by most,

although some thought he went too far by using violence.