US HISTORY Civil War Notes

Kansas – Nebraska Act (1854)

Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas wanted to run for President & he wanted Chicago to benefit from linking Railroads w/the west = two new western states connected to Chicago

By granting Kansas & Nebraska statehood, w/popular sovereignty (choice to vote free/slave) – Douglas would gain support from the South

With the Compromise of 1820 neither of these two states would be free (36 30 line), until Douglas’ proposal

The bill passed after 9 months of debates – Northern democrats denounced Douglas as a sell-out to the south

Political Parties Views Supporters

Democrats (N) slavery decided by popular sovereignty variety of supporters in urban areas

& Catholics, southerners who move

North

Democrats (S) expand slavery into territories southerners undergoing growth in

Economy & population

Republicans opposed slavery, nativism New England & those NE whom

Moved to NW, Protestants, English

Scottish-Irish; American Party

American Party know-nothings, anti-Catholics; Northern Protestants born in US

Opposed Slavery, longer naturalization

For immigrants

Republican Party

1854 to protest Kansas Nebraska Act

meetings in Michigan launched new party

devoted to stopping "slave power" – great moral evil, demanded repeal of Kansas Nebraska Act

drew support from anti-slavery Democrats, Whigs, Free Soilers in the north, professionals, small business owners, craftsworkers

competed w/Know-Nothings for political power

Free Soilers: New Englanders who left NE to settle Kansas – to promote a FREE state

Bleeding Kansas (1856)

Looting in Lawrence KS – pro vs. anti slavery

John Brown, Ohioan & evangelist who felt slavery was a moral evil, escalated violence – with his sons, they killed 5 men with swords

Raids & counter Raids

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

Dred Scott was an enslaved man living in Missouri

He filed suit against his owner – since he and his wife had lived in states and territories that were free, the couple should be free

Supreme Court voted 7 to 2 against

Court stated: all slaves were not citizens and therefore had no right to sue in court; Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional; slaves were the property of their owners, and congress could not deprive citizens of their property

Therefore, congress had no power to ban slavery anywhere

President Buchanan was satisfied that the government would not be required to deal w/slavery any longer