14.3 The Dred Scott Decision and Sectional Strife
3 min read•june 24, 2024
The of 1857 sent shockwaves through America, intensifying the slavery debate. This Supreme Court ruling declared African Americans non-citizens and opened all territories to slavery, sparking outrage in the North and celebration in the South.
The decision fueled political tensions, becoming a key issue in the and the 1860 election. It solidified party positions on slavery's expansion, with Republicans opposing it and Democrats supporting , setting the stage for further conflict.
The Dred Scott Decision and Sectional Tensions
Impact of Dred Scott decision
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- (1857) landmark Supreme Court case
- Dred Scott, enslaved African American, sued for freedom based on residence in free territories
- Supreme Court ruled against Scott, declaring African Americans were not and could not become U.S. citizens
- Court also ruled unconstitutional, as Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in territories
- Decision had significant political and social consequences
- Effectively invalidated Missouri Compromise and opened all territories to slavery
- Further polarized North and South, intensifying debate over slavery's expansion
- Republicans denounced decision as pro-slavery conspiracy, while Democrats supported it
- Challenged the concept of by limiting Congress's authority over territories
- Decision contributed to rise of and election of in 1860
- Lincoln and Republicans opposed expansion of slavery into territories
- Dred Scott decision became rallying point for anti-slavery forces and key issue in 1860 presidential election
Lincoln-Douglas debates on slavery
- Series of seven public debates between Abraham Lincoln and during 1858 Illinois Senate race
- Debates focused on issue of slavery's expansion into territories, particularly in light of Dred Scott decision
- Douglas advocated for popular sovereignty, arguing each territory should decide for itself whether to allow slavery
- Lincoln opposed expansion of slavery, arguing it was morally wrong and Dred Scott decision was incorrect
- Debates garnered national attention and helped define positions of Republican and Democratic parties on slavery
- Douglas's position of popular sovereignty became official stance of Democratic Party
- Lincoln's arguments against expansion of slavery resonated with many Northerners and helped establish Republican Party's platform
- Although Lincoln lost Senate race, debates raised his national profile and set stage for his presidential run in 1860
- Debates highlighted growing sectional divide and difficulty of finding compromise on issue of slavery's expansion
Party positions on slavery expansion
- Republican Party, formed in 1854, opposed expansion of slavery into territories
- Republicans argued Founding Fathers intended for slavery to eventually die out and its expansion into new territories would perpetuate institution
- Believed free labor was superior to slave labor and expansion of slavery would limit economic opportunities for free white workers
- Republicans also argued Dred Scott decision was wrong and Congress had power to regulate slavery in territories
- Democratic Party, particularly Southern wing, supported expansion of slavery into territories
- Democrats argued Constitution protected property rights of slaveholders and Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in territories
- Believed in popular sovereignty, arguing each territory should decide for itself whether to allow slavery
- Southern Democrats threatened secession if federal government attempted to limit expansion of slavery
- Issue of slavery's expansion became defining political question of 1850s
- of 1854, which repealed Missouri Compromise and introduced popular sovereignty, further intensified debate
- Dred Scott decision in 1857 effectively invalidated Missouri Compromise and opened all territories to slavery, further polarizing nation
- Inability to find compromise on issue of slavery's expansion ultimately led to secession of Southern states and outbreak of Civil War in 1861
Sectional Tensions and Compromises
- attempted to address growing sectional divide over slavery
- Included , which required Northern states to return escaped slaves
- Concept of fueled debates over expansion of slavery into new territories
- exemplified violent conflict over slavery's expansion in territories
- became a central argument for Southern states defending slavery
Key Terms to Review (23)
Abolitionism: Abolitionism was the movement to end the practice of slavery, particularly in the United States during the 19th century. Abolitionists sought to eradicate slavery through political, social, and moral means, with the ultimate goal of achieving its complete abolition.
Abraham Lincoln: Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, known for his leadership during the American Civil War and his pivotal role in the abolition of slavery. He was a central figure in several key events and decisions that shaped the course of the nation during a tumultuous period in its history.
Antebellum Era: The Antebellum Era refers to the period in American history prior to the Civil War, specifically from the late 18th century to the 1860s. This era was marked by significant economic, social, and political changes, particularly surrounding the institution of slavery and its impact on the nation's development.
Bleeding Kansas: Bleeding Kansas refers to the violent conflict that erupted in the Kansas territory in the 1850s over the issue of whether Kansas would enter the United States as a free or slave state. This conflict was a precursor to the American Civil War and exemplified the growing tensions between the North and South over the expansion of slavery.
Compromise of 1850: The Compromise of 1850 was a series of legislative measures passed by the United States Congress to address the growing tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery. It aimed to maintain the balance of power between slave and free states as the country expanded westward.
Constitutional Interpretation: Constitutional interpretation is the process of determining the meaning and application of the provisions within the U.S. Constitution. It involves analyzing the text, historical context, and underlying principles to understand the intended scope and application of the Constitution.
Dred Scott Decision: The Dred Scott decision was a landmark 1857 Supreme Court case that had significant implications for the expansion of slavery and the political landscape leading up to the Civil War. The decision denied citizenship to African Americans, both free and enslaved, and ruled that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories.
Dred Scott v. Sandford: Dred Scott v. Sandford was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1857 that denied citizenship and constitutional rights to African Americans, further fueling tensions between the North and South leading up to the Civil War. The case centered around the legal status of a slave who had resided in free states and territories, ultimately ruling that Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in federal territories.
Federalism: Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and various constituent units, often states or provinces. This division allows for multiple levels of governance that can operate independently, addressing local needs while still adhering to national laws and policies.
Free Soil Party: The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States that existed from 1848 to 1854. It was formed to oppose the expansion of slavery into the western territories, advocating for the principle of 'free soil' - the belief that the new territories should be available for settlement by free white farmers, rather than being opened up to slavery.
Fugitive Slave Act: The Fugitive Slave Act was a law passed in 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850 that required the federal government and all state governments to assist in the capture and return of enslaved people who had escaped from the South to the North or to free states. This law significantly strengthened the ability of slave owners to reclaim their 'property' and represented a major concession to the South by the federal government.
Judicial Review: Judicial review is the power of the judiciary to examine the actions of the legislative and executive branches of government and to determine whether they are consistent with the constitution. It is a crucial check on the power of the other branches and helps maintain the balance of power in the government.
Kansas-Nebraska Act: The Kansas-Nebraska Act was a pivotal piece of legislation passed in 1854 that effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and allowed settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to determine whether they would allow slavery within their borders through the principle of 'popular sovereignty'.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates were a series of seven debates held in 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, the two candidates for the Illinois seat in the United States Senate. These debates centered around the key issues of slavery and its expansion, and they played a significant role in shaping the political landscape leading up to the American Civil War.
Manifest Destiny: Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This ideology justified and motivated the country's territorial expansion, often at the expense of Native American populations and through conflict with neighboring nations.
Missouri Compromise: The Missouri Compromise was a political agreement passed by the U.S. Congress in 1820 that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while also drawing a line at the 36°30' parallel to divide future states into slave and free territories. This compromise aimed to maintain the balance of power between slave states and free states in Congress.
Popular Sovereignty: Popular sovereignty is the principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political power. It is a key concept in the development of American democracy, as it shifted the locus of political power from the monarch to the people.
Republican Party: The Republican Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States, founded in the 1850s. It is known for its conservative ideology, support for limited government, and promotion of free market capitalism. The Republican Party has played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of the United States, particularly during key historical events and periods covered in this course.
Roger B. Taney: Roger B. Taney was the fifth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from 1836 to 1864. He is best known for his controversial role in the Dred Scott decision, which had a significant impact on the sectional strife leading up to the American Civil War.
Sectional Tensions: Sectional Tensions refers to the growing political, economic, and social divisions between the Northern and Southern regions of the United States in the years leading up to the American Civil War. These tensions stemmed from fundamental differences in economic systems, social structures, and political ideologies between the two sections of the country.
Sectionalism: Sectionalism refers to the heightened loyalty and interests of a particular region or section of a country, often at the expense of the larger national unity. It involves the prioritization of regional concerns over national interests, leading to political, economic, and social divisions within a country.
States' Rights: States' rights refers to the political doctrine that emphasizes the sovereignty of the individual states over the federal government, particularly in regards to the limits of the federal government's power. This concept has been a central point of debate throughout American history, shaping the relationship between the states and the national government.
Stephen A. Douglas: Stephen A. Douglas was an American politician who played a pivotal role in several key events and debates that shaped the course of US history in the years leading up to the Civil War. As a senator from Illinois, Douglas was a prominent figure in the political landscape of the 1850s, known for his advocacy of popular sovereignty and his involvement in the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott decision, and the election of 1860.