The Road to Secession Free Soil Party Supporters

The Road to Secession

Free Soil Party • Supporters of Wilmot’s Proviso and a ban on slavery’s expansion into territories • United Northern Democrats and Whigs

Compromise of 1850 • Result of Mexican-American War • 5 part compromise o California o Slave trade abolished in DC o “Popular sovereignty” o Texas-NM border o Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Uncle Tom’s Cabin - 1852 • Awakened northerners to the horrors of slavery • Lincoln – “the book that made this great war”

Kansas-Nebraska Act - 1854

Bleeding Kansas

Bleeding Sumner

Dred Scott Case - 1856 • Scott claims to be free o Illinois – free territory, 1787, free state 1819 o Wisconsin Territory- free territory, 1820 • Roger B. Taney passes down decisions on 3 Questions o Could a black person sue in court? o Did residence in a free state make Scott free? o Did Congress posses the power to prohibit slavery in a territory?

Harper’s Ferry - 1859 • John Brown • “without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. ” • South fears “northern conspiracies”

“Slave Power” • Census of 1860 would have hurt South • New states would favor North in Senate • South would lose 10 seats in the House • The South was used to dominating all 3 branches of government • Election of 1860 could alter power in the Executive branch.

Lincoln and Republican Platform • Lincoln • Embodied Free Labor/Free Soil ideology • Inspired first-time voters • Republican platform • • Slavery Higher tariff Homestead Act Transcontinental railroad and river navigation • Lincoln wins without appearing on most ballots in the South