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The Country Separates. Goals for Learning Explain why the statehood of Kansas was an issue for proslavery and antislavery forces To identify the importance of the Dred Scott Case To explain the importance of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates To describe John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry.
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The Country Separates • Goals for Learning • Explain why the statehood of Kansas was an issue for proslavery and antislavery forces • To identify the importance of the Dred Scott Case • To explain the importance of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates • To describe John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry. • To explain the importance of the election of 1860.
Question of the Day • Why would the state of Kansas be the site of intense struggle between slavery and anti-slavery forces?
Land Rush in Kansas • Nebraska’s long winters did not appeal to proslavery plantation owners. • The climate was not good for growing cotton. Kansas, on the other hand, was farther south and was the target of settlers who favored slavery.
Fighting in Kansas • Proslavery and antislavery supporters wanted to claim land in Kansas before it was admitted to the Union. • People from New England moved to Kansas with the help of the New England Emigrant Aid Society. • They brought boxes of guns disguised in boxes labeled, “Bibles”.
Fighting in Kansas • Southerners came from Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. • They were also prepared to fight. • Kansas became a battleground for the two groups. • The territory became known as “Bleeding Kansas.”
Sides Taken • The time came to organize a territorial government in Kansas. • An election was held: the settlers would vote for legislators. • Just before the election, Missouri’s senator, David R. Atchison, led a group of people into Kansas to vote for proslavery candidates. • Proslavery candidates win the election.
Government Formed • The proslavery candidates that won quickly formed a government and wrote a constitution. • This upsets the anti-slavery people, who decide to form their own government. • Kansas now had two governments claiming to be the legal government.
Violence Erupts • A group of proslavery men raided Lawrence, Kansas. • Many people who were against slavery lived there. • The invaders burned buildings and one man was killed.
John Brown • Brown, a radical abolitionist, and a small band of men attacked a proslavery group at Pottawatamie Creek in 1856. • They killed five proslavery settlers. • These and other attacks caused 200 deaths and over 2 million in property damage by the end of that same year. • It was become abundantly clear….. The slave issue would not be solved peacefully.
Question of the Day What caused the fighting in Kansas?
May 1856 • Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts made a speech against slavery. • In his speech, Mr. Sumner insulted Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina. He made several belittling remarks about the state of South Carolina. • The name-calling drew applause from the Northern Senators.
Nobody talks about my Uncle Charles! Sumner’s nephew, Preston Brooks, was very upset about Senator Sumner’s remarks. Brooks, a congressman, walked into Sumner’s office and assaulted him with a cane.
Outcome • It takes Sumner almost three years to recover from the assault. • What stood out the most…….. The violence over slavery in Kansas, had now spread to the halls of Congress! • Rational approaches to the problem were no longer the answer.
Election of 1856 • Major Issue: • SLAVERY • Troubles in Kansas continued. The nation seemed like it was on its way to a head on collision. • War was starting to look inevitable.
Candidates of 1856 • James Buchanan • Democratic Party • Old Buck of Pennsylvania. • Was considered to be a safe choice. • Did not get mixed up in the Kansas mess. • Did not actively seek the presidency. • John C. Fremont • Republican Candidate from California. • Army leader from the Mexican War • Well-known explorer • Democrats made it known that he was a Catholic. • Own Father-in-Law did not support him.