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Kansas-Nebraska Act and Dred Scott Case: Impact on Slavery Expansion

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 led to turmoil as settlers decided on slavery, resulting in "Bleeding Kansas." The Dred Scott Case in 1857 further deepened tensions, allowing slavery expansion. Learn about the events that shaped the slavery debate through popular sovereignty and legal battles.

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Kansas-Nebraska Act and Dred Scott Case: Impact on Slavery Expansion

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  1. Leading up to Kansas-Nebraska Act • Compromise of 1850 dealt w/ Mexican Cession (CA & New Mexico Territory, Utah Territory) • Did not deal with land that was part of the LA Purchase (Missouri Compromise of 1820)

  2. Kansas-Nebraska Act - 1854 • Senator Douglas - IL proposed setting up a government for Nebraska Territory by dividing it into 2 territories - Kansas and Nebraska(part of LA Purchase) • Settlers in each territory decide issue of slavery by popular sovereignty

  3. Reaction to Kansas-Nebraska Act • Southerners hoped slave owners from MO would move into Kansas and make it a slave state • Northerners - MO Compromise already banned slavery in Kansas and Nebraska

  4. Reaction to Kansas-Nebraska Act • Kansas-Nebraska Act would overturn/repeal Missouri Compromise • Slavery could now spread to areas that were free for over 30 years • Some challenged Fugitive Slave Act

  5. Kansas consisted of … • Abolitionists brought over 1,000 settlers from New England • Proslavery settlers also came • Proslavery groups from MO rode across border - Border Ruffians - fought with antislavery groups

  6. Two Governments • 1855 Kansas held elections for governor and legislature • Border Ruffians voted illegally and helped elect proslavery legislature- passed laws to support slavery • Antislavery settlers refused to accept new laws

  7. Two Governments Continued … • Antislavery settlers elected own governor and legislature • Two governments resulted in chaos • Armed gangs roamed the territory

  8. “Bleeding Kansas” • Proslavery men raided town of Lawrence - (founded by abolitionists) destroyed homes and smashed press of Free-Soil newspaper - 1856 • John Brown - abolitionist - and other men attack town of Pottawatomie Creek - murder 5 proslavery settlers at night

  9. “Bleeding Kansas” • Both sides engaged in guerrilla warfare - hit and run tactics • Late 1856 over 200 people killed • Newspapers started calling the territory “Bleeding Kansas”

  10. Dred Scott Case • Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri • He moved with his owner to Illinois and Wisconsin Territory - slavery not allowed • Scott returned to MO with his owner who then died • Antislavery lawyers helped Scott file a lawsuit

  11. Dred Scott Case • Scott’s lawyers argued that since he lived in a free state/territory, he became a free man • 1857 - Supreme Court decided - Scott could not file a lawsuit b/c a slave was not a citizen

  12. Dred Scott Case Continued… • Slaves considered property - (5th Amendment - cannot have property taken away w/o applying the law) • Congress did not have the power to outlaw slavery in any territory

  13. Dred Scott Case Continued… • MO Compromise - unconstitutional b/c denies people right to their property

  14. Reaction to Dred Scott Case • Slave owners - slavery now legal in all territories • African Americans - condemned ruling - held public meetings • Northerners hoped that slavery would eventually die out if restricted to the South

  15. Reaction to Dred Scott Case • Northerners worried now slavery could spread to the West

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