The Crisis Deepens: The Dred Scott Decision and Lincoln-Douglas Debates

1. The Crisis Deepens:The Dred Scott Decision and Lincoln-Douglas Debates EQ: Why did the Dred Scott Decision and John Brown’s raid increase tensions between the North and the South?

2. The Dred Scott Decision • Plaintiff- Dred Scott (a slave) • Defendant- Irene Emerson (his owner’s widow) • Supreme Court Justice- Roger B. Taney

3. Judicial Decisions • Did Scott have the right to sue? • Was Scott free as a result of living in a state and territory where slavery was illegal? • Was it constitutional for the Congress to limit slavery in the territories?

6. Taney’s Decision • Did Scott have the right to sue? • No, because he is not a citizen • Was Scott free as a result of living in a state and territory where slavery was illegal? • No, he is considered property and right to property is protected by law • Was it constitutional for the Congress to limit slavery in the territories? • No, all laws that do so (including the Missouri Compromise) are unconstitutional SC Decision Importance of Ruling

7. The Lincoln-Douglas (Illinois Senate) Debates, 1858 A House divided against itself, cannot stand.

8. Lincoln and Douglas Clash Lincoln returns After the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Lincoln returned to public life. Lincoln helped organize the Illinois Republican Party in 1856. He opposed Stephen Douglas’s bid for a third term in the U.S. Senate. Lincoln spoke eloquently at his nomination, taking the most radical stance against slavery with the prediction “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” “A house divided”

9. The Lincoln Douglas Debates • The debates were a series of public meetings. While Douglas spoke with great flair, Lincoln’s manner was mild. His strength lay in the logic and reasoning of his ideas.

10. Lincoln and Douglas Clash The Freeport Doctrine • The second debate was the most critical. • Lincoln challenged Douglas to explain how people could use popular sovereignty to keep slavery out of a place when the Dred Scott decision had said they could not. • Douglas’s reply came to be known as the Freeport Doctrine. “If the people are opposed to slavery they will elect representatives to that body who will by unfriendly legislation . . . prevent the introduction of it into their midst.”

11. Lincoln and Douglas Clash • Lincoln’s social views • Lincoln stressed the immorality of slavery in the debates. • Douglas referred to Lincoln’s party as Black Republicans and painted an image of a society where the races were equal, pressing Lincoln on citizenship for blacks. • Backed into a corner, Lincoln said, “I will say that I am not, nor have ever been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.”

12. The Debates’ Significance • Deciding who won • Douglas retained his Senate seat, but most historians judge Lincoln to have won the debates. He had argued the more famous Douglas to a draw and in the process made himself a national figure. • Supporters • Douglas’s statements caused him to lose support of southern Democrats, which proved critical when he faced Lincoln again in the presidential election. Lincoln’s moderate positions increased his standing among northerners, but southerners still thought Lincoln was a serious threat to slavery. • Speaking to the people • Lincoln and Douglas took their arguments directly to the people and made the issues of the day clear to the nation. The outcome directly affected the presidential election of 1860.