The Road to Disunion
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Transcript of The Road to Disunion
The Road to DisunionBleeding Kansas and the Dred Scott Decision
“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 Desire for a transcontinental railroad Stephen Douglas’ presidential hopes
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
Popular Sovereignty
Kansas and Nebraska Territories organized Settlers would decide status Repeals the Missouri Compromise
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?
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
Atrocities committed
Sack of Lawrence by Pro-Slavery forces
Pottawatomie Creek Massacre by John Brown
Precursor of the Civil War
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
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
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
Meanwhile
Dred Scott Decision Sent the nation hurtling toward
disunion Centered upon a constitutional
matter Did freedom go with the territory Sparked outrage
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
Scott v. Sandford Faced two key questions
Was Scott a citizen? Did freedom go with the territory?
Decision issued by Roger B. Taney
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
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?