On the Brink

“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot stand half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved; I do not expect the house to fall; but I do expect it will cease to be divided.”

Who do you think said this and what did he mean by “I do expect it will cease to be divided”?

Chapter 11 Sectional Conflict Increases

11.3 On the Brink of War

Create your own graphic organizer

• Your organizer should include the major participants, the significant components, the main arguments, the decision, and the outcomes of that ruling.

I. Dred Scott and the Supreme Court

A. Dred Scott1. Slave held by John Emerson- army surgeon2. Scott sued for freedom- basis he was a resident

in Illinois and Wisconsin

B. Court Ruled Scott not a citizen and can’t sue1. Fed. Gov. can’t limit slavery2. Missouri Compromise violated 5th Amend- right

to property3. Enraged abolitionists

II. Lincoln and Douglas Debates

A. Election 1858- Senate RaceB. Little Giant- Stephen Douglas

1. Great speaker2. Popular sovereignty

C. Lincoln-Douglas debates1. House divided2. Lincoln challenged Douglas to 7 debates3. Freeport Doctrine- Douglas wins election

III. John Brown’s Raid

A. Attack on Harpers Ferry (Oct. 16, 1859)1. Hoped more would join and help liberate slaves2. Robert E. Lee captures or kills all3. Brown and 6 others executed

B. Reactions to Brown1. abolitionist- moral hero2. Southerners- blood thirsty fanatic

IV. Election of 1860

A. Presidential Election1. Southern moderates- Constitutional Union Party

John Bell2. Southern Democrats- John Breckinridge3. Northern Democrats- Stephen Douglas4. Republican Party- Abraham Lincoln

B. Results1. South split2. Lincoln carried North- won electoral college- 40%

popular vote

V. Secession!!!!!!!!

A. South Carolina legislature called convention- vote to leave Union

B. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas leave

C. Confederate States of America1. Jefferson Davis provisional president

VI. Confederacy

A. Justified with states rightsB. Protected slavery

Answer the following short answer questions:

1. What do the results of the election suggest about the divisions in the United States in 1860?

2. What role did the personalities of the candidates play in the outcome of the election? The issues?

3. What do you think would have happened if the Democratic Party had not split? Would the outcome of the election have been different? Justify your position.

4. How did the south use the election as further justification for secession?