Chapter 11 Lesson 4The House Divided

I. Slavery Battled on All Fronts

Introduction

John Brown’s bloody raid at Harpers Ferry angered many people. But events during the late 1850’s convinced passionate abolitionists that they had to take matters into their own hands

A. The Dred Scott Case1. Dred Scott had been a slave of an army doctor

from Missouri. The doctor had taken him many places including free states.

2. When the doctor died Scott wanted his freedom so he sued for his freedom.

3. He argued that the moment he set foot on land designated as nonslavery by the Missouri Compromise-he was free.

4. The Missouri court declared him free but the Missouri Supreme Court reversed the decision.

5. Dred Scott took it to the U.S. Supreme Court.

B. Dred Scott v. Sandford1. 1857- the Supreme Court voted 7 to 2 that Scott

remain a slave.2. Chief Justice Roger Taney reached two important

conclusions: a. blacks have no right to sue in the federal courts. b. They could never be considered citizens of the U.S3. He argued that even when the Constitution was written-

blacks could not vote and had no rights (this was incorrect-blacks could vote in 8 out of 13 states).

4. Taney also asserted that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because it denied white Southerners the right to take their property with them into the territories.

C. The Effects of the Dred Scot Case

1. The decision seemed to open all federal territories to slavery.

2. The one-sided decision shattered many people’s confidence in the Supreme Court.

3. The decision just added more fuel to the burning issue of slavery.

II. Antislavery Movement Forges Ahead

1. Despite the Fugitive Slave Law and the Dred Scott decision, the abolition movement could not be stopped.

2. The proslavery resistance was powerful-with the federal government even paying 100,000 to retrieve one slave!!

3. Many Northerners saw the Fugitive Slave Act as unfair:a. The accused was seized secretlyb. They had no lawyer and could not testify.c. One word from the slave owner solved the case.

III Slaves Ride the Underground Railroad

1. Antislavery forces did more than protect and rescue runaway slaves-they helped them escape.

2. The secret network was known as the Underground Railroad which guided 100,000 slaves to freedom between 1780-1865.

3. It was a complex system of about 3,000 people-both black and white.

4. Known as “conductors” they led runaways to freedom, providing food and safe hiding places.

5. They traveled on foot, in covered wagons, in boxes shipped by rail or in small boats. ln the stations, slaves hid in attics, barns, cellars, and even secret rooms.

6. The slaves then would settle in one of the 14 free states or in Canada.

7. Harriet Tubman was the most famous “conductor” who escaped herself and then led 300 others to freedom.

8. The Underground railroad further convinced the South that the North was their enemy.

9. The antislavery movement was not strong-they needed a powerful spokesperson.

IV. Lincoln Inspires the Republicans

A. The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 18581. It was time to re-elect U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas to the

Senate.2. Republican opponent Abraham Lincoln (with very little experience)

challenged Douglas to a series of debates.3. These debates would bring crowds that could get to know Lincoln.4. Lincoln’s focus was on slavery in the territories and voiced a

strong opposition to the spread of slavery.5. Crowds were fascinated by the speaking ability of Lincoln and the

heated debate between the two men.6. Lincoln lost- but now the Republicans had a forceful leader.

B. The Election of 18601. Republicans nominated Lincoln as their

candidate.2. The Democrats broke into two groups-the

Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas and the Southern Democrats chose their own candidate, John C. Breckenridge. A third party nominated John Bell.

3. Lincoln won the four-way race sweeping the Northern states. He had only won 39 percent of the popular vote but gained more than enough electoral votes.

C. The South Chooses Succession

1. The Antislavery forces had elected a President , and white Southerners were horrified.

2. White Southerners did not want to be part of a nation that could elect Lincoln.

3. They called the new President a “black radical Republican” and a “friend to John Brown.”

4. Even before Lincoln took office, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas had decide to secede or leave the Union.

5. These states started their own government called the Confederate government.

6. War seemed unavoidable.7. On April 12, 1861, Southern rebel forces fired on a

federal outpost, Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.

8. Immediately, the Southern states of Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina seceded and joined the Confederates.

9. The tragic “fire bell in the night” imagined by Jefferson had finally rung.

10. The Missouri Compromise failed.11. Proslavery and antislavery civilians clashed in the

streets and took up arms.

THE CIVIL WAR HAS BEGUN!!

Reflection

• Name at least three events you have learned about that contributed to the “house” being divided.