Chapter 15.3Challenges to Slavery

Antislavery Whigs and Democrats joined forces with Free-soilers to form Republican Party

Republican party we have todayRepublican party strength lays in the North. Why?

A New Political Party

Republican Party nominated John Fremont “Free soil, free speech and Fremont” Democrat Party nominated James Buchanan

supported Popular Sovereignty Know Nothing (American Party) nominated

Millard Fillmore James Buchanan won

The election of 1856

Dred Scott was an enslaved African American bought by an army doctor in Missouri

Moved with owner to Wisconsin territory where slavery was outlawed by Northwest Ordinance

Moved back to Missouri and owner died Abolitionist helped Dred Scott sue for

freedom Went to Supreme Court

Dred Scott Decision

Chief Roger Taney decision Dred Scott still a slave Being a slave, he is not a citizen and had no

right to bring a lawsuit Ruled that enslaved person was property and

can’t take property away from people without “due process of law”

Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because Congress had no power to prohibit slavery

Even popular Sovereignty could not ban slavery

Courts Decision

Divided the country even more South praised North called the decision “a wicked and

false judgment and the greatest crime ever committed in the nation’s court

Reaction to Court Case

Lincoln –Douglas Debates

Stephen Douglass was known as “the Little Giant”. He was a very popular Senator.

Abraham Lincoln ran against Douglas.

Douglas was the favorite to win.

Douglas believed issue should be settled with popular sovereignty. He believed “This Union can exist forever divided into free and slave states as our fathers made it.”

Lincoln saw slavery as morally wrong. He stated “I believe that this government cannot endure permantently half slave and half slave.”

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Douglas Wins but Lincoln gains national attention!

John Brown

Raid on Harper’s Ferry

John Brown becomes a martyr for abolitionist

His death becomes a rallying point for abolitionists!