Why were New Political Parties Born and How was the Nation Divided over Slavery?

1. Why were New Political Parties Born and How was the Nation Divided over Slavery? U.S. History and Government 11th Grade / Br. Siraj Date: January 4, 2020

2. Division of Whig over Slavery Issue • Whig divided into Northern antislavery Whigs and Southern proslavery Whigs • Democrats defeated the Whigs in 1852 – Franklin Pierce won. • Some Whigs joined nativist “American Party” • Nativism is the idea that the native-born Americans be favored over immigrants. • Middle class Protestants who feared new immigrants and Catholics. • Nativists then formed “Know-Nothing Party.” • It soon split over slavery and disappeared.

3. Antislavery Parties • Free-Soil Party – against the extension slavery to Western land • Got 10% popular vote in 1848 election but electoral vote • Free-soilers were supporters of racist laws. • They did not want blacks in their communities • Their main objection was the slavery’s competition with free white labor system.

4. Birth of Republican Party • Democratic Party got Split in 1854 and the new Republican Party was born. • people with many viewpoints joined the new party • Republicans did not want slavery in the territories • Its main contender was know-nothing party • Competed in presidential election of 1856 • Nominated John C. Fremont as their candidate. • Got a lot of popular vote

5. Election of 1856 • Republicans Nominated John C. Fremont • Democrats nominated James Buchanan of Pennsylvania • Buchanan was a true national candidate. • He won the election by only 45% popular vote. • The election saw the rise of Republican Party and the decline of Know-Nothing Party.

6. Homework • Questions 1, 2, & 3 on page 321

7. How did the Debate over Slavery Led to Southern Secession? U.S. History and Government 11th Grade / Br. Siraj Date: January 4, 2020

8. Northern & Southern Division • Supreme court Decision in Dred Scott Vs. Sandford case in 1857 ruled by Chief Justice Roger B. Taney • Residing in a free state does not make a slave free • Slaves were considered property by the Constitution • Southerners cheered the decision & thought slavery could be extended to all western territories

9. Kansas Referendum • Kansas’s proslavery forces applied to be accepted as a state with a proslavery constitution. • Congress required that it be passed by a referendum. • Voters rejected the constitution. • Southerners criticized, northerners cheered.

10. Lincoln Vs. Douglas • 1858 state election in Illinois Stephen Douglas ran for re-election • Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln against him. • Both opposed slavery • Douglas favored popular sovereignty to outlaw slavery. • Lincoln wanted federal law to ban slavery because it was “a vast moral evil.” • “Freeport Doctrine” of Senator Douglas

11. Lincoln Vs. Douglas • “Freeport Doctrine” of Senator Douglas at second debate • Slavery would not survive without law enforcement support. • Called for people in the western territories to elect representatives who would not enforce slave property law.

12. Harpers Ferry Incident • 1859: John Brown attacked a Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia to start a slave rebellion • He was caught and hanged for treason. • Southerners started calling for secession.

13. Lincoln’s Election and Secession • Republican Candidate Abraham Lincoln elected to presidency in 1860 • Received no electoral vote in the South. • Southerners feared of losing their political power in the U.S. • Feared an end to their whole way of life. • South Carolina seceded from the Union on 12/20/60 • By February 1861, 6 southern states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America (Confederacy) • Jefferson Davis was elected President and Richmond, VA was made capital.

14. Homework • Questions: 1, 2 and 3 on Page 331