Secession

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Secession

Introduction

The decision of the Supreme Court on the Dred Scott Case will allow for the spread of slavery across all of the territories of the United States

Despite this win for slave states, events like John Brown’s Raid and the Election of Lincoln in 1860 will push them toward secession

Secession: To formally withdraw from the Union

The Travels of Dred Scott

Slave State

Free State

Free Territory

The Dred Scott Decision

Supreme Court Response

Three key issues that the Supreme Court had to decide

Was Scott a citizen of the U.S.?

Does time spent on free soil cause freedom?

Do State governments or the National government have the right to decide where

slavey

can exist?

The Dred Scott Decision

Decision by the Court:African Americans (free or slave) were not citizens and thus did not have rightsSlaves are considered property so their owners can take them anywhere and they will remain a slaveState governments and the National Government do not have the right to ban slavery because it violates property rights

John Brown’s Raid

John Brown was an abolitionist who wanted to end slavery by any means necessaryIn Kansas, Brown killed many slave owners during “Bleeding Kansas”Brown believed that by arming slaves he would start a slave rebellion and end slavery

John Brown’s Raid

Brown targeted a federal weapons arsenal in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia

The plan: Steal the weapons and give them to slavesThe slaves never showed up, Brown was surrounded by soldiers led by Robert E. LeeAfter a brief fight, Brown and his men surrendered

John Brown’s Raid

Brown is convicted of murder and treason and is executedSignificance: Northerners viewed Brown as a hero while Southerners saw him as a traitor and worry other Northerners will try to violently free slaves

The Election of 1860

Democratic Party split into two

North wanted Stephen DouglasSouth wanted John C. BreckinridgeConstitutional Union Party: John BellRepublican: Abraham Lincoln

The Election of 1860

Ultimately, Lincoln won only 40% of the popular vote

Lincoln did not carry a single southern state

If the Democratic Party did not split, Lincoln might have lost

Many Southerners feared that Lincoln would abolish slavery

Confederate States of America

In response to Lincoln’s election, the Southern states begin to secede.

On December 17, 1860, South Carolina secedes (1st state)Within two months Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas secede from the US.These states form the Confederate States of AmericaElect Jefferson Davis president