20 Questions
What was the result of the Democratic Party dividing into Northern and Southern halves?
Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, won the presidency
Why were Southern politicians angered in 1860?
Because of the election of an anti-slavery president
What was President Buchanan's initial approach to dealing with the Southern states?
He tried to negotiate with them through personal diplomacy
Why did President Buchanan shift his tactics in dealing with the Southern states?
Because they showed no interest in negotiations
What was the first state to secede from the United States?
South Carolina
What did President Buchanan do in response to South Carolina's secession?
He ordered the resupply of Ft. Sumter
What happened when the ship approached Ft. Sumter in January 1861?
It was fired upon by the South Carolina militia
What did President Buchanan do in the remaining weeks of his presidency?
He retreated from active diplomacy
When did the American Civil War begin?
April 12, 1861
What was the consequence of President Buchanan's failure to prevent secession?
The nation fell apart, leading to bloodshed
What was the profession of Abraham Lincoln before he became president?
Lawyer
What was the reason behind the Southern politicians' anger in 1860?
The election of an anti-slavery Republican
What was the significance of Ft. Sumter in Charleston, S.C.?
It was a strategic location that was resupplied by President Buchanan
What was the outcome of the attempt to resupply Ft. Sumter in January 1861?
The ship was fired upon by South Carolina's militia
What was the consequence of President Buchanan's failure to prevent secession?
The nation was plunged into chaos and bloodshed
How did President Buchanan's approach change after realizing the South's intentions?
He took a more stern approach
What was the significance of April 12, 1861?
It was the day the American Civil War began
What was the outcome of President Buchanan's attempts to prevent secession?
He failed to prevent secession
What was the result of the Democratic Party's division in 1860?
Abraham Lincoln won the presidency
What was the role of President Buchanan in the months leading up to the Civil War?
He let the clock run out on his presidency
Study Notes
Dred Scott Decision
- The Dred Scott decision was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1857 that ruled that free or slave, blacks were not citizens and had no rights under the U.S. Constitution.
- The case was filed by Dred Scott, a slave who claimed residence in Illinois and Wisconsin, where slavery was illegal, and argued that he should be free.
- The court ruled that Congress had no power to outlaw slavery in the territories, and that the federal government could not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of the law.
- The decision was a major setback for abolitionists and led to increased tensions between the North and the South.
Background
- The Nullification Crisis in 1832 had already created tensions between the North and the South over state vs. federal rights.
- The Missouri Compromise had outlawed slavery in certain territories, but the Dred Scott decision effectively overturned this.
- The decision was seen as a major victory for the South and a blow to the abolitionist movement.
Impact of the Decision
- The decision made it impossible for slaves to petition for their freedom in the territories.
- It also made it unlikely that slavery would be abolished in the territories until they became states.
- The decision was seen as a national right to own slaves, which could only be abolished by state laws.
James Buchanan
- James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861.
- He was a child of privilege, born in 1791, and educated at the best schools.
- He served in Congress and as Secretary of State before becoming President.
- He was known for his conciliatory tone and his attempt to keep the peace between the North and the South.
Presidency of James Buchanan
- Buchanan's presidency was marked by his attempt to keep the peace and prevent war over the slavery issue.
- He believed that slavery was a matter for individual states to decide for themselves.
- He supported the Dred Scott decision and tried to find a compromise between the North and the South.
- However, his presidency was marked by failure and inaction, and he was unable to prevent the country from dividing.
Aftermath
- The Dred Scott decision and Buchanan's presidency led to increased tensions between the North and the South.
- The Republican Party became exclusively a party of the North, anti-slavery and abolitionist.
- The South was dominated by the Democrats, a pro-slavery and pro-states' rights party.
- The country was divided, and things would only get worse.
- The presidency of James Buchanan marked the beginning of the end of the Union, and his failure to prevent the country from dividing led to the American Civil War.
Dred Scott Decision
- The Dred Scott decision was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1857 that ruled that free or slave, blacks were not citizens and had no rights under the U.S. Constitution.
- The case was filed by Dred Scott, a slave who claimed residence in Illinois and Wisconsin, where slavery was illegal, and argued that he should be free.
- The court ruled that Congress had no power to outlaw slavery in the territories, and that the federal government could not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of the law.
- The decision was a major setback for abolitionists and led to increased tensions between the North and the South.
Background
- The Nullification Crisis in 1832 had already created tensions between the North and the South over state vs. federal rights.
- The Missouri Compromise had outlawed slavery in certain territories, but the Dred Scott decision effectively overturned this.
- The decision was seen as a major victory for the South and a blow to the abolitionist movement.
Impact of the Decision
- The decision made it impossible for slaves to petition for their freedom in the territories.
- It also made it unlikely that slavery would be abolished in the territories until they became states.
- The decision was seen as a national right to own slaves, which could only be abolished by state laws.
James Buchanan
- James Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861.
- He was a child of privilege, born in 1791, and educated at the best schools.
- He served in Congress and as Secretary of State before becoming President.
- He was known for his conciliatory tone and his attempt to keep the peace between the North and the South.
Presidency of James Buchanan
- Buchanan's presidency was marked by his attempt to keep the peace and prevent war over the slavery issue.
- He believed that slavery was a matter for individual states to decide for themselves.
- He supported the Dred Scott decision and tried to find a compromise between the North and the South.
- However, his presidency was marked by failure and inaction, and he was unable to prevent the country from dividing.
Aftermath
- The Dred Scott decision and Buchanan's presidency led to increased tensions between the North and the South.
- The Republican Party became exclusively a party of the North, anti-slavery and abolitionist.
- The South was dominated by the Democrats, a pro-slavery and pro-states' rights party.
- The country was divided, and things would only get worse.
- The presidency of James Buchanan marked the beginning of the end of the Union, and his failure to prevent the country from dividing led to the American Civil War.
Test your knowledge on the Dred Scott case and the rising tensions between the North and South over slavery in the US territories during the 1850s.
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