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The Road to Disunion

Bleeding Kansas and the Dred Scott Decision. The Road to Disunion. “ Can we as a nation continue together permanently – forever – half-slave and half free?” - A. Lincoln, 1855. . Focus Question. The Kansas-Nebraska Act. Stemmed from two trends

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The Road to Disunion

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  1. Bleeding Kansas and the Dred Scott Decision The Road to Disunion

  2. “Can we as a nation continue together permanently – forever – half-slave and half free?” - A. Lincoln, 1855.

  3. Focus Question

  4. The Kansas-Nebraska Act • Stemmed from two trends • Desire for a transcontinental railroad • Stephen Douglas’ presidential hopes

  5. Douglas’ dilemma • Had to create the transcontinental railroad • Chose a central route (compromise choice) • Had to organize the Kansas and Nebraska Territories • Had to come to an agreement with the South

  6. Popular Sovereignty • Kansas and Nebraska Territories organized • Settlers would decide status • Repeals the Missouri Compromise

  7. The Reaction • Northerners up in arms • Violated the bargain between the sections • Demonstrated the power of the “slaveocracy” • Southerners grew concerned over the North • Would the North accept national laws? • Would the North permit either to enter as slave territory?

  8. Bleeding Kansas • Neither side wanted to lose either territory • Abolitionists swarmed into Kansas • Fire-Eaters flocked to the territory • Assisted by Missouri Border Ruffians • Border War erupted

  9. Atrocities committed • Sack of Lawrence by Pro-Slavery forces • Pottawatomie Creek Massacre by John Brown • Precursor of the Civil War

  10. Fraud of Lecompton • Proslavery Constitution passed by referendum • Abolitionist forces boycotted the election • Fraudulent voting from Missouri • The Territorial Governor resigned in protest • Now Congress had to act

  11. Congress in an uproar • Douglas fought the Lecompton Constitution • Violated Popular Sovereignty • Cost him southern support • President Buchanan stood behind it • Cabinet dominated by Southerners • Debate led to the beating of Charles Sumner

  12. Kansas-Nebraska sparked discord • Border war in Kansas • Formation of the Republican Party • Different groups coalesced together • Northern Whigs • Anti-Slavery Democrats • Free Soil Party • American Party

  13. Meanwhile

  14. Dred Scott Decision • Sent the nation hurtling toward disunion • Centered upon a constitutional matter • Did freedom go with the territory • Sparked outrage

  15. The Particulars • Scott belonged to an Army captain • Brought to army posts in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota (Free territory) • The Captain died, leaving Scott to his wife • Scott brought back to Missouri as a slave • Scott sued for his freedom • Living in free territory made him free • Argument had precedent in Missouri courts

  16. Scott v. Sandford • Faced two key questions • Was Scott a citizen? • Did freedom go with the territory? • Decision issued by Roger B. Taney

  17. Ruling • Decision handed down in 1857 • African-Americans could not be citizens • Scott could not file a lawsuit • Scott was a slave • Missouri Compromise ruled unconstitutional • Congress had no right to limit property rights • Slavery did not go with the territory

  18. Divided the nation • Celebrated in the South • Seen as a pro-slavery decision • Assaulted in the North • “Confirmed” power of the slaveocracy • Could slavery spread to the free states?

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