DECADE OF DISSENT

1850-1860

COMPROMISE OF 1850 California a Free State New Mexico Terr. – slavery allowed Slave trade banned in D.C. Stronger Fugitive Slave law Taylor as President followed by Fillmore

FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT All citizens must help catch runaway

slaves. If you aided a runaway, you would be

fined/punished.

KANSAS- NEBRASKA ACT - 1854 Abandoned the Missouri Compromise Slavery in territories would be

determined by popular sovereignty (people would vote)

Pierce as President.

BLEEDING KANSAS Pro slavery and anti slavery forces arm

themselves in response to the “fixed” elections.

Conflict over slavery erupts in a violent civil war!Violence erupts in Congress!!!

1857 – DRED SCOTT DECISION Landmark Court Case –

Supreme Court rules that Congress has no power to rule on slavery in territories!

According to the 5th Amendment, Congress is prohibited from taking property, and slaves are property.

Dred Scott is a slave and therefore is NOT a citizen, and does NOT have rights! (Cannot sue for his freedom)

1858 – LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES Debated 7 times Slavery is the main topic Lincoln –Republican – took “middle

road” view on slavery. “A house divided cannot stand” Douglas – use popular sovereignty to

decide

1859- JOHN BROWN RAIDS Organized antislavery movement,

attempted to help free enslaved people, by arming them with ammunition from stolen from Harper’s Ferry arsenal.

Quickly put down by local citizens and federal troops.

John Brown becomes a martyr in the North

Conspiracy from Southern point of view.

1860- LINCOLN WINS THE ELECTION (UH OH…..)

People voted along sectional lines (sectionalism)

N – Republican S- Democratic