Post by djxkorean on Jul 29, 2009 22:32:02 GMT -8
12th President Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)
The TAILOR(Taylor) went DowN(12) to my waist and measured it with a RoPe(49) while balancing a VaSe(50) on his toe.
I. Election
. . A. Democrat and the Whigs beginning to fall apart over the slavery issue
. . B. Free Soil Party: nominates Martin Van Buren
. . . . 1. Northern Democrats who supported Wilmot Proviso called: "Barn-Burners"
. . . . . . a. withdrew from the Democratic Nominating Convention
. . . . 2. Northern Whigs fed up with party's careful avoidance of major issues and leave Whig Party
. . . . 3. Liberty Party: 3rd organized group against slavery
. . . . 4. Slogan: Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men"
. . . . 5. Opposed extension of slavery and would tolerate slavery in states where it already existed
. . . . 6. Strong appeal for those opposed to slavery, but also recognized difficulties inherent in any attempt at abolition
. . C. Democrats: nominated General Lewis Cass
. . . . 1. favored expansion, popular in West
. . . . 2. Denied Congress the right of Congress to interfere with slavery
. . D. Whigs: nominated Zachary Taylor
. . . . 1. Taylor was a recent hero at battle of Buena Vista
. . . . 2. No strong position on any real public issue = no enemies
. . E. Free Soil Party got enough support in NY state to throw electoral votes into Whig column and election to Taylor
. . F. Taylor died on July 9, 1850
. . . . 1. Compromise of 1850 under progress but still not finished until President Fillmore
13th President Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
I was DooMed(13) for the test, because I had to FILL MORE circles than I had written on the VaSe(50). I got so mad I started to FuMe(53).
I. Compromise of 1850
. . A. solution to question of slavery in newly acquired territories had to be found
. . B. Northerner had to give plan nat'l status- Daniel Webster
. . C. Clay was man with plan and political stature to command attention
. . D. Provisions that entered
. . . . 1. CA admitted into Union as free state
. . . . . . a. Gold Rush of 1849 brings population up from all over world and US
. . . . 2. Slavery est. in Texas
. . . . 3. Areas taken from Mexico between Texas and CA divided at 37th parallel.
. . . . . . a. South of parallel is Territory of New Mexico, North is Territory of Utah
. . . . . . b. In these territories, no restrictions on slavery, but squatter sovereignty would decide on whether it would become free or slave
. . . . 4. Fugitive Slave Law passed making recovery of fugitive slaves as certain as law could make it
. . . . 5. Buying and selling of slaves prohibited w/in District of Columbia
. . D. Northerners resent fugitive slave law: share views of William H. Seward: higher laws than laws of Congress and Constitution
. . E. Period of quiet sets in early 1850s and prosperity throughout nation
. . F. Calhoun says that Compromise could settle nothing and only delaying only helps the North
II. Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
. . A. United States' interest in possibility of canal across Central America
. . . . 1. Acquisition of california in 1848 and Gold Rush in 1849
. . B. Gained exclusive transit rights across Isthmus of Panama in Mexican War; most practical crossing from ocean to ocean
. . C. Us and Great Britain rivals seeking influence in areas where canal seemed feasible; lots of building up hostility
. . D. Clayton-Bulwer Treaty clears the air
. . . . 1. Neither Great Britain nor US will seek or acquire control over Central America
. . . . 2. If any canal through Central America built, must be open to ships of all nations on same terms in both peace and war
. . . . 3. If canal built, must be free consent of nation though whose territory it passes; both Great Britain and US guarantee its neutrality
III. Uncle Tom's Cabin
. . A. Written by Harriet Beecher Store and changed abolitionists from small group of fanatics to great company of righteous crusaders
. . B. convinced thousands that slavery was a moral wrong
. . C. Lincoln: "So, you're the little lady who caused the Civil War"
14th President Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)
My punch PIERCEd(Pierce) the DooR(14). My strength gained FaMe(53), and ended up in a FolK(57) song.
I. Election
. . A. Both parties are almost identical
. . . . 1. Democrats: nominate Franklin Pierce
. . . . 2. Whig: nominate Winfield Scott
. . . . 3. Both parties pledged adherence to Compromise of 1850 and both condemned any further agitation about slavery
. . . . 4. Whig party begins destruction because only built on anti-Jackson
. . . . . . a. Souther Whigs going back to Democrats
. . B. Big victory by Pierce
II. Japan opened to trade
. . A. Commodore Matthew C. Perry saied into tokyo bay in July 1853
. . B. Goal was to make trade treaty with Japan - military might by US forces Japan to sign
. . C. Began program of modernization in Japan and began to copy Western ways and become dominant Asiatic power
III. Kansas-Nebraska Bill (1854)
. . A. Reopened slavery issue: proposed by Stephen A. Douglas
. . . . 1. split major parties and reorganized people os US into dangerous political pattern
. . . . 2. breakup of Whig Party complete as Southerners finally joined Democrats
. . . . 3. Republican party born during debate over the bill
. . . . 4. Political lines drawn to coincide w/ geographical areas
. . . . . . a. 2 sectional parties and not 2 national parties
. . B. divided Nebraska Territory at 40th parallel into Territory of Kansas on south, Territory of Nebraska on north
. . . . 1. Slavery decided by squatter sovereignty
. . . . 2. Kansas-Nebraska Bill specifically repealed Missouri Compromise of 1820 as the area was already free under the Missouri Compromise
. . . . 3. Victory for the South because it took decision away from Congress and gave it to people in the area
. . C. Douglas introduced Kansas-Nebraska Bill not intended to stir up sectional controversy
. . D. Impact
. . . . 1. Ended political truce over slavery and creates disaster
IV. Underground Railroad and Personal Liberty Laws
. . A. By 1830, organized Underground Railraod existed in 14 Northern States
. . . . 1. compilation of houses and barns making up escape route for fugitive slaves up to Canada
. . . . 2. Fugitive slaves did not constitute a serious problem to slave owners, nor did Underground Railroad threaten slavery as an institution
. . B. Personal Liberty Laws: direct violation of fugitive slave provisions in Compromise of 1850
. . . . 1. Were unconstitutional, but to the North, was justified defiance of federal law that ought not to be obeyed
. . . . 2. To South, P.L.L. was blatant denial by North of the most important provision in Compromise of 1850.
. . C. Personal Liberty Laws provisions
. . . . 1. Jury trials for alleged fugitives, local jails not used to detain suspected fugitives, and alleged fugitives allowed to testify on own behalf
V. Strife in Kansas
. . A. Passage of Kansas-Nebraska Bill = rushing into area by both Northerners and Southerners
. . . . 1. Kansas not suited for cotton or slavery but still big rush
. . . . 2. Mass. financed young men willing to settle in Kansas to make it a free territory
. . . . 3. Missouri (slave state next to Kansas) recruit settlers bent upon est. slavery in Kansas
. . B. Frequent armed clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces continue: "bleeding Kansas"
. . C. John Brown's raid- most senseless acts of violence: Brown and 4 sons murdered 5 proslavery settlers
. . D. Speech by Senator Sumner of Mass.: Bitter and coarse attack not only on slavery but on individual Southern Senators
. . . . 1. Rep. Brooks of S. Carolina beats Sumner over the head with a cane
. . E. Constitutional conventions and elections held in Kansas amid violence, trickery, and corruption
. . . . 1. During chaos, James Buchanan becomes President
. . . . . . a. Buchanan only treid to avoid trouble, motivated by desire to preserve party harmony in a situation that clearly made peace impossible
. . F. Lecompton Constitution (1857)
. . . . 1. submitted to people of Kansas: original agreement was to allow vote on Constitution as a whole but proslavery constitution rejected
. . . . 2. Lecompton convention controlled by proslavery delegates who submitted two propositions
. . . . . . a. One would accept the constitution slavery
. . . . . . b. Other accepts it without slavery by forbidding any more slaves from entering, but permitted all those there to remain slaves
. . . . . . c. No matter what, there would be slavery in Kansas
. . . . 3. "Lecompton Fraud" goes to Washington, where Buchanan tells Congress to approve it
. . . . . . a. Congress refuses; Senator Stephen Douglas opposed Buchanan on this issue and created split in Democratic Party
. . . . . . b. Puts Republicans into presidency in 1860
VI. Ostend Manifesto (1854)
. . A. Culmination of strong desire of certain Southerners for Cuba
. . B. Despite failed bid to buy Cuba , but Southerners still hoped to obtain Cuba
. . C. After Spain seized an American ship (Black Warrior) for violation of customs regulations, US plans American action
. . D. Unofficial statement produced: Ostend Manifesto
. . . . 1. If Spain refused to sell Cuba, US would justify seizing it by force
. . . . 2. Repudiated by President Pierce, provoking strong protest in North and Europe
. . E. Demonstrated how far South would go to add more slave territory
15th President James Buchanan 1857-1861
James shot the DoVe with a BLUE CANNON(Buchanan) borrowed from a FolK(57) he had CHaT(61) with.
I. Election
. . A. 3rd Party: nominates Millard Fillmore
. . . . 1. combination of American Party (Know Nothings) and remnants of Whig Party
. . B. Democrats: nominates James Buchanan
. . . . 1. Gained favor with South through association with Ostend Manifesto and expected to appeal to North because Penn. origin
. . . . 2. Running mate was John C. Breckinridge
. . . . 3. Supported Compromise of 1850 and Kansas-Nebraska Bill
. . . . 4. Only voted by 5 free states; shows that Democrats Party becoming slave-state party
. . C. Republicans: nominates John Fremont of CA
. . . . 1. Claimed Congress had right to legislate on slavery in territories, attacked Ostend Manifesto, and favored admission of Kansas as free
. . . . 2. For new party, Republicans showed surprising strength
II. Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
. . A. Before the Supreme Court when Buchanan sworn into office
. . B. Background
. . . . 1. Dred Scott had been taken by his master from slave state into free state, then into free territory, and back to slave state.
. . . . 2. Dred Scott claimed his freedom on basis of residence in free state and free territory for considerable period of time
. . C. Ruling: given by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney in 7-2 decision (Taney was a slave owner himself)
. . . . 1. Dred Scott was not a citizen and therefore had no right to sue in a federal court
. . . . . . a. Fact that Dred Scott born in the US does not qualify him a citizen; any state could make him citizen, but not granted nat'l citizenship
. . . . 2. Missouri Compromise unconstitutional
. . . . . . a. Territory of Wisconsin had no right to exclude slavery. Slaves were property and Congress had no right to restrict its ownership
. . . . 3. Only a state had the right to forbid slavery; no legal way to exclude slavery from the territories
. . C. Impact of the Ruling
. . . . 1. Case was said to have never happened because Dred Scott was not a citizen, and all other decisions by Court null and void
. . . . 2. Public opinion in North refused to accept Taney's pronouncements because it was orbiter dictum (not part of case)
III. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
. . A. Lincoln and Douglas met in series of debates throughout Illinois
. . . . 1. Douglas seeking reelection to the United States Senate
. . . . . . a. Douglas saw no reason why Union can't be part free and part slave
. . . . 2. Lincoln believed slavery was wrong, and slavery should be prevented from spreading
. . . . . . a. Legal obligation to recognize the rights of slave states, but Lincoln and Republican Party rejects Dred Scott decision
. . . . . . b. Lincoln believed that gov't can not be half and half, or else it will be divided
. . B. Freeport debate: Lincoln tried to force Douglas to make a choice between the squatter sovereignty and Dred Scott case
. . . . 1. Supreme Court says slavery couldn't be kept out of territories, yet Kansas-Nebraska Bill permitted settlers to make choice
. . . . 2. Forced Douglas to lose support of Southern Democrats or admit error of his own bill
. . C. Freeport Doctrine (Stephen Douglas): Slavery cannot exist exist unless it is supported by local police regulations
. . . . 1. Northerners could go home knowing slavery wouldn't spread northward, but Southern Democrats go to Breckinridge camp
. . . . 2. Douglas won reelection to the Senate, but to regain Southern Democrats support, would have to support Dred Scott decision
. . D. Lincoln put Douglas in political dilemma and cost him presidency
IV. Moving towards War
. . A. Since Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, North accepted Seward's statement: ""higher law" than laws of Congress and Constitution of US
. . B. 1859: John Brown and 18 followers seized federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virgina
. . . . 1. Surrendered to Colonel Robert E. Lee
. . . . 2. Audacity of John Brown's plan to organize a slave revolt and fanaticism of leader created concern throughout South
. . . . 3. North took brown as a hero
. . . . 4. Southerners came to believe that North was going to try to end slavery and with it the Southern way of life
. . C. Senator Jefferson Davis of Mississippi offers series of resolutions that were adopted (1860)
. . . . 1. No state has the right to interfere with the domestic institutions of other states
. . . . 2. The federal gov't must extend all needful protection to slavery in territories
. . . . 3. All state laws interfering with recovery of fugitive slaves are unconstitutional
. . D. Political result of resolutions= Increased concentration of Northern Democrats in Douglas camp, and S. Democrats in Breckinridge faction
. . E. Sectional division of Democrats as presidential nomination comes near
Commentary: The complete breakdown of the Nation has finally come. It seems that it has been building up for quite some time now, starting with the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. Who would have known that the resolutions written by Jefferson on nullification would have such a far reaching impact, affecting politics 60 years later? Quite astounding, it is almost like an opera peace, with the beginning of the nation to this point being Acts I and II. The music has finally reached its crescendo, and all hell seems poised to break loose. This is of course, with some foresight, knowing that the Civil War is just around the corner.
It is important to note that I see quite a pattern building up. The transferring of party power seems not to be with more appeal with one party over another by the nation, but by the internal struggles within the party itself. When there is struggle within the party, it is all but destined to collapse, and interestingly, the party either disappears and comes out reborn under another name, or drastically changes its political platform. Whether this pattern will stand throughout US History is something that is yet to be seen.
The TAILOR(Taylor) went DowN(12) to my waist and measured it with a RoPe(49) while balancing a VaSe(50) on his toe.
I. Election
. . A. Democrat and the Whigs beginning to fall apart over the slavery issue
. . B. Free Soil Party: nominates Martin Van Buren
. . . . 1. Northern Democrats who supported Wilmot Proviso called: "Barn-Burners"
. . . . . . a. withdrew from the Democratic Nominating Convention
. . . . 2. Northern Whigs fed up with party's careful avoidance of major issues and leave Whig Party
. . . . 3. Liberty Party: 3rd organized group against slavery
. . . . 4. Slogan: Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men"
. . . . 5. Opposed extension of slavery and would tolerate slavery in states where it already existed
. . . . 6. Strong appeal for those opposed to slavery, but also recognized difficulties inherent in any attempt at abolition
. . C. Democrats: nominated General Lewis Cass
. . . . 1. favored expansion, popular in West
. . . . 2. Denied Congress the right of Congress to interfere with slavery
. . D. Whigs: nominated Zachary Taylor
. . . . 1. Taylor was a recent hero at battle of Buena Vista
. . . . 2. No strong position on any real public issue = no enemies
. . E. Free Soil Party got enough support in NY state to throw electoral votes into Whig column and election to Taylor
. . F. Taylor died on July 9, 1850
. . . . 1. Compromise of 1850 under progress but still not finished until President Fillmore
13th President Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
I was DooMed(13) for the test, because I had to FILL MORE circles than I had written on the VaSe(50). I got so mad I started to FuMe(53).
I. Compromise of 1850
. . A. solution to question of slavery in newly acquired territories had to be found
. . B. Northerner had to give plan nat'l status- Daniel Webster
. . C. Clay was man with plan and political stature to command attention
. . D. Provisions that entered
. . . . 1. CA admitted into Union as free state
. . . . . . a. Gold Rush of 1849 brings population up from all over world and US
. . . . 2. Slavery est. in Texas
. . . . 3. Areas taken from Mexico between Texas and CA divided at 37th parallel.
. . . . . . a. South of parallel is Territory of New Mexico, North is Territory of Utah
. . . . . . b. In these territories, no restrictions on slavery, but squatter sovereignty would decide on whether it would become free or slave
. . . . 4. Fugitive Slave Law passed making recovery of fugitive slaves as certain as law could make it
. . . . 5. Buying and selling of slaves prohibited w/in District of Columbia
. . D. Northerners resent fugitive slave law: share views of William H. Seward: higher laws than laws of Congress and Constitution
. . E. Period of quiet sets in early 1850s and prosperity throughout nation
. . F. Calhoun says that Compromise could settle nothing and only delaying only helps the North
II. Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
. . A. United States' interest in possibility of canal across Central America
. . . . 1. Acquisition of california in 1848 and Gold Rush in 1849
. . B. Gained exclusive transit rights across Isthmus of Panama in Mexican War; most practical crossing from ocean to ocean
. . C. Us and Great Britain rivals seeking influence in areas where canal seemed feasible; lots of building up hostility
. . D. Clayton-Bulwer Treaty clears the air
. . . . 1. Neither Great Britain nor US will seek or acquire control over Central America
. . . . 2. If any canal through Central America built, must be open to ships of all nations on same terms in both peace and war
. . . . 3. If canal built, must be free consent of nation though whose territory it passes; both Great Britain and US guarantee its neutrality
III. Uncle Tom's Cabin
. . A. Written by Harriet Beecher Store and changed abolitionists from small group of fanatics to great company of righteous crusaders
. . B. convinced thousands that slavery was a moral wrong
. . C. Lincoln: "So, you're the little lady who caused the Civil War"
14th President Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)
My punch PIERCEd(Pierce) the DooR(14). My strength gained FaMe(53), and ended up in a FolK(57) song.
I. Election
. . A. Both parties are almost identical
. . . . 1. Democrats: nominate Franklin Pierce
. . . . 2. Whig: nominate Winfield Scott
. . . . 3. Both parties pledged adherence to Compromise of 1850 and both condemned any further agitation about slavery
. . . . 4. Whig party begins destruction because only built on anti-Jackson
. . . . . . a. Souther Whigs going back to Democrats
. . B. Big victory by Pierce
II. Japan opened to trade
. . A. Commodore Matthew C. Perry saied into tokyo bay in July 1853
. . B. Goal was to make trade treaty with Japan - military might by US forces Japan to sign
. . C. Began program of modernization in Japan and began to copy Western ways and become dominant Asiatic power
III. Kansas-Nebraska Bill (1854)
. . A. Reopened slavery issue: proposed by Stephen A. Douglas
. . . . 1. split major parties and reorganized people os US into dangerous political pattern
. . . . 2. breakup of Whig Party complete as Southerners finally joined Democrats
. . . . 3. Republican party born during debate over the bill
. . . . 4. Political lines drawn to coincide w/ geographical areas
. . . . . . a. 2 sectional parties and not 2 national parties
. . B. divided Nebraska Territory at 40th parallel into Territory of Kansas on south, Territory of Nebraska on north
. . . . 1. Slavery decided by squatter sovereignty
. . . . 2. Kansas-Nebraska Bill specifically repealed Missouri Compromise of 1820 as the area was already free under the Missouri Compromise
. . . . 3. Victory for the South because it took decision away from Congress and gave it to people in the area
. . C. Douglas introduced Kansas-Nebraska Bill not intended to stir up sectional controversy
. . D. Impact
. . . . 1. Ended political truce over slavery and creates disaster
IV. Underground Railroad and Personal Liberty Laws
. . A. By 1830, organized Underground Railraod existed in 14 Northern States
. . . . 1. compilation of houses and barns making up escape route for fugitive slaves up to Canada
. . . . 2. Fugitive slaves did not constitute a serious problem to slave owners, nor did Underground Railroad threaten slavery as an institution
. . B. Personal Liberty Laws: direct violation of fugitive slave provisions in Compromise of 1850
. . . . 1. Were unconstitutional, but to the North, was justified defiance of federal law that ought not to be obeyed
. . . . 2. To South, P.L.L. was blatant denial by North of the most important provision in Compromise of 1850.
. . C. Personal Liberty Laws provisions
. . . . 1. Jury trials for alleged fugitives, local jails not used to detain suspected fugitives, and alleged fugitives allowed to testify on own behalf
V. Strife in Kansas
. . A. Passage of Kansas-Nebraska Bill = rushing into area by both Northerners and Southerners
. . . . 1. Kansas not suited for cotton or slavery but still big rush
. . . . 2. Mass. financed young men willing to settle in Kansas to make it a free territory
. . . . 3. Missouri (slave state next to Kansas) recruit settlers bent upon est. slavery in Kansas
. . B. Frequent armed clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces continue: "bleeding Kansas"
. . C. John Brown's raid- most senseless acts of violence: Brown and 4 sons murdered 5 proslavery settlers
. . D. Speech by Senator Sumner of Mass.: Bitter and coarse attack not only on slavery but on individual Southern Senators
. . . . 1. Rep. Brooks of S. Carolina beats Sumner over the head with a cane
. . E. Constitutional conventions and elections held in Kansas amid violence, trickery, and corruption
. . . . 1. During chaos, James Buchanan becomes President
. . . . . . a. Buchanan only treid to avoid trouble, motivated by desire to preserve party harmony in a situation that clearly made peace impossible
. . F. Lecompton Constitution (1857)
. . . . 1. submitted to people of Kansas: original agreement was to allow vote on Constitution as a whole but proslavery constitution rejected
. . . . 2. Lecompton convention controlled by proslavery delegates who submitted two propositions
. . . . . . a. One would accept the constitution slavery
. . . . . . b. Other accepts it without slavery by forbidding any more slaves from entering, but permitted all those there to remain slaves
. . . . . . c. No matter what, there would be slavery in Kansas
. . . . 3. "Lecompton Fraud" goes to Washington, where Buchanan tells Congress to approve it
. . . . . . a. Congress refuses; Senator Stephen Douglas opposed Buchanan on this issue and created split in Democratic Party
. . . . . . b. Puts Republicans into presidency in 1860
VI. Ostend Manifesto (1854)
. . A. Culmination of strong desire of certain Southerners for Cuba
. . B. Despite failed bid to buy Cuba , but Southerners still hoped to obtain Cuba
. . C. After Spain seized an American ship (Black Warrior) for violation of customs regulations, US plans American action
. . D. Unofficial statement produced: Ostend Manifesto
. . . . 1. If Spain refused to sell Cuba, US would justify seizing it by force
. . . . 2. Repudiated by President Pierce, provoking strong protest in North and Europe
. . E. Demonstrated how far South would go to add more slave territory
15th President James Buchanan 1857-1861
James shot the DoVe with a BLUE CANNON(Buchanan) borrowed from a FolK(57) he had CHaT(61) with.
I. Election
. . A. 3rd Party: nominates Millard Fillmore
. . . . 1. combination of American Party (Know Nothings) and remnants of Whig Party
. . B. Democrats: nominates James Buchanan
. . . . 1. Gained favor with South through association with Ostend Manifesto and expected to appeal to North because Penn. origin
. . . . 2. Running mate was John C. Breckinridge
. . . . 3. Supported Compromise of 1850 and Kansas-Nebraska Bill
. . . . 4. Only voted by 5 free states; shows that Democrats Party becoming slave-state party
. . C. Republicans: nominates John Fremont of CA
. . . . 1. Claimed Congress had right to legislate on slavery in territories, attacked Ostend Manifesto, and favored admission of Kansas as free
. . . . 2. For new party, Republicans showed surprising strength
II. Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
. . A. Before the Supreme Court when Buchanan sworn into office
. . B. Background
. . . . 1. Dred Scott had been taken by his master from slave state into free state, then into free territory, and back to slave state.
. . . . 2. Dred Scott claimed his freedom on basis of residence in free state and free territory for considerable period of time
. . C. Ruling: given by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney in 7-2 decision (Taney was a slave owner himself)
. . . . 1. Dred Scott was not a citizen and therefore had no right to sue in a federal court
. . . . . . a. Fact that Dred Scott born in the US does not qualify him a citizen; any state could make him citizen, but not granted nat'l citizenship
. . . . 2. Missouri Compromise unconstitutional
. . . . . . a. Territory of Wisconsin had no right to exclude slavery. Slaves were property and Congress had no right to restrict its ownership
. . . . 3. Only a state had the right to forbid slavery; no legal way to exclude slavery from the territories
. . C. Impact of the Ruling
. . . . 1. Case was said to have never happened because Dred Scott was not a citizen, and all other decisions by Court null and void
. . . . 2. Public opinion in North refused to accept Taney's pronouncements because it was orbiter dictum (not part of case)
III. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
. . A. Lincoln and Douglas met in series of debates throughout Illinois
. . . . 1. Douglas seeking reelection to the United States Senate
. . . . . . a. Douglas saw no reason why Union can't be part free and part slave
. . . . 2. Lincoln believed slavery was wrong, and slavery should be prevented from spreading
. . . . . . a. Legal obligation to recognize the rights of slave states, but Lincoln and Republican Party rejects Dred Scott decision
. . . . . . b. Lincoln believed that gov't can not be half and half, or else it will be divided
. . B. Freeport debate: Lincoln tried to force Douglas to make a choice between the squatter sovereignty and Dred Scott case
. . . . 1. Supreme Court says slavery couldn't be kept out of territories, yet Kansas-Nebraska Bill permitted settlers to make choice
. . . . 2. Forced Douglas to lose support of Southern Democrats or admit error of his own bill
. . C. Freeport Doctrine (Stephen Douglas): Slavery cannot exist exist unless it is supported by local police regulations
. . . . 1. Northerners could go home knowing slavery wouldn't spread northward, but Southern Democrats go to Breckinridge camp
. . . . 2. Douglas won reelection to the Senate, but to regain Southern Democrats support, would have to support Dred Scott decision
. . D. Lincoln put Douglas in political dilemma and cost him presidency
IV. Moving towards War
. . A. Since Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, North accepted Seward's statement: ""higher law" than laws of Congress and Constitution of US
. . B. 1859: John Brown and 18 followers seized federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virgina
. . . . 1. Surrendered to Colonel Robert E. Lee
. . . . 2. Audacity of John Brown's plan to organize a slave revolt and fanaticism of leader created concern throughout South
. . . . 3. North took brown as a hero
. . . . 4. Southerners came to believe that North was going to try to end slavery and with it the Southern way of life
. . C. Senator Jefferson Davis of Mississippi offers series of resolutions that were adopted (1860)
. . . . 1. No state has the right to interfere with the domestic institutions of other states
. . . . 2. The federal gov't must extend all needful protection to slavery in territories
. . . . 3. All state laws interfering with recovery of fugitive slaves are unconstitutional
. . D. Political result of resolutions= Increased concentration of Northern Democrats in Douglas camp, and S. Democrats in Breckinridge faction
. . E. Sectional division of Democrats as presidential nomination comes near
Commentary: The complete breakdown of the Nation has finally come. It seems that it has been building up for quite some time now, starting with the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. Who would have known that the resolutions written by Jefferson on nullification would have such a far reaching impact, affecting politics 60 years later? Quite astounding, it is almost like an opera peace, with the beginning of the nation to this point being Acts I and II. The music has finally reached its crescendo, and all hell seems poised to break loose. This is of course, with some foresight, knowing that the Civil War is just around the corner.
It is important to note that I see quite a pattern building up. The transferring of party power seems not to be with more appeal with one party over another by the nation, but by the internal struggles within the party itself. When there is struggle within the party, it is all but destined to collapse, and interestingly, the party either disappears and comes out reborn under another name, or drastically changes its political platform. Whether this pattern will stand throughout US History is something that is yet to be seen.