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Dred Scott Decision. Dred Scott was a slave Owner had taken him north of Missouri Compromise Line Sued for freedom Court Ruled Slaves did not have same rights as citizens Had no claim to freedom – lived in MO at time of lawsuit
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Dred Scott Decision • Dred Scott was a slave • Owner had taken him north of Missouri Compromise Line • Sued for freedom • Court Ruled • Slaves did not have same rights as citizens • Had no claim to freedom – lived in MO at time of lawsuit • Missouri Compromise unconstitutional – interfered with slaveholders’ right to own property • Cleared way for extension of slavery
Lecompton Constitution • Pro-slavery government of Kansas applied for statehood • Free Soilers rejected the Constitution • Legislature called for a vote (referendum) on issue • President Buchanan supported the Constitution – no need for a new vote • Stephen Douglas outraged – convinced Congress to authorize another vote • Voters rejected the constitution • Split the northern and southern factions of the Democratic Party
Lincoln-Douglas Debates Ran against each other for Senator • Douglas • Popular sovereignty would allow slavery to die on its own • Slavery was not immoral, but an outdated economic system • Lincoln • Slavery would never die on its own • Slavery was an immoral system based on greed • Douglas won, but views alienated him from southern voters
John Brown and Harpers Ferry • John Brown – abolitionist from north • Harpers Ferry – federal arsenal located in Virginia • Brown led 21 men on raid to capture the arsenal • Planned to give weapons to local slaves – start uprising • 50 local townspeople held hostage – hoped slaves would join • No slaves came forward • Federal troops killed 10 of Brown’s men • Brown captured – tried for treaon
Election of 1860 • Democratic Party split • Northern Democrats – Stephen Douglas – popular sovereignty • Southern Democrats – John C. Breckenridge – slavery everywhere • Republican Party – Abraham Lincoln – stop SPREAD of slavery • Constitutional Union Party – John Bell – took no position on slavery • Democratic split allowed Lincoln to win north • Entire north voted for Licoln • Entire south voted for Breckenridge • Lincoln easily won electoral vote, even though he only won 40% of popular vote
Secession of Southern States • Southern states threatened that they would lose slavery • South Carolina was first to secede • 7 Deep South states seceded before Lincoln took office • War started at Fort Sumter • 4 additional states (VA, NC, TN, AR) seceded after Fort Sumter