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Questions and Answers
What was the main issue at work behind the scenes in the Dred Scott case?
What was the main issue at work behind the scenes in the Dred Scott case?
- The question of whether Congress or local governments had the power to outlaw slavery in the territories. (correct)
- The question of whether the court had the authority to rule on slavery in the territories.
- The question of whether states had the right to deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
- The question of whether Dred Scott and his wife would be free or not.
What did the Supreme Court rule regarding the rights of blacks, as mentioned in the text?
What did the Supreme Court rule regarding the rights of blacks, as mentioned in the text?
- Blacks were not considered citizens and therefore had no right to sue in federal court. (correct)
- Blacks were not considered citizens but had the right to petition for their freedom in territories.
- Blacks were considered citizens but had limited rights under the U.S. Constitution.
- Blacks were considered citizens and had the same rights as white citizens under the U.S. Constitution.
What was the significant implication of the Dred Scott decision discussed in the text?
What was the significant implication of the Dred Scott decision discussed in the text?
- Slavery could be abolished by local governments in the territories.
- Slavery could only be abolished when states, not territories, passed laws to do so. (correct)
- Slavery could be abolished through federal intervention in the territories.
- Slavery could not be abolished by states or territories under any circumstances.
What event led to the rising tensions between the North and the South?
What event led to the rising tensions between the North and the South?
What was the 'peculiar institution' mentioned in the text?
What was the 'peculiar institution' mentioned in the text?
Why did Dred Scott and his wife Harriet decide to sue for their freedom in the courts of Missouri?
Why did Dred Scott and his wife Harriet decide to sue for their freedom in the courts of Missouri?
What was one of the criticisms of President Buchanan's approach to the slavery issue?
What was one of the criticisms of President Buchanan's approach to the slavery issue?
What was Buchanan's stance on the slavery issue?
What was Buchanan's stance on the slavery issue?
What event led to further division within the Democratic Party during Buchanan's presidency?
What event led to further division within the Democratic Party during Buchanan's presidency?
What was the result of the Democratic Party being divided into a Northern and Southern half?
What was the result of the Democratic Party being divided into a Northern and Southern half?
What was Buchanan's initial hope regarding the Southern states' decision to secede?
What was Buchanan's initial hope regarding the Southern states' decision to secede?
What event led Buchanan to shift his tactics and take a more stern approach?
What event led Buchanan to shift his tactics and take a more stern approach?
What was the outcome when the ship approached Ft. Sumter in Charleston, S.C.?
What was the outcome when the ship approached Ft. Sumter in Charleston, S.C.?
How did Buchanan's presidency impact the beginning of the Civil War?
How did Buchanan's presidency impact the beginning of the Civil War?
What would be an accurate summary of James Buchanan's handling of the situation?
What would be an accurate summary of James Buchanan's handling of the situation?
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Study Notes
Dred Scott Case Background
- The primary issue involved was the status of enslaved individuals and citizenship rights in a divided nation.
- The Supreme Court ruled that blacks, whether free or enslaved, could not claim U.S. citizenship and therefore did not have rights under the Constitution.
Significant Implications of the Decision
- The Dred Scott decision effectively validated the institution of slavery in all territories, intensifying sectional tensions.
Rising Tensions
- The conflict between the North and the South escalated due to differing views on slavery, with the Dred Scott ruling fueling the divide.
Peculiar Institution
- The term 'peculiar institution' refers to the system of slavery in the South, which was unique to American society and economy at the time.
Dred Scott's Legal Actions
- Dred Scott and Harriet sought legal freedom based on their residence in free territories, arguing it entitled them to emancipation.
Criticism of President Buchanan
- Critics argued that Buchanan's inaction and passivity regarding the issue of slavery exacerbated national tensions rather than calmed them.
Buchanan's Stance
- Buchanan believed that states had the right to decide the legality of slavery, advocating for popular sovereignty as a solution.
Division in the Democratic Party
- The Democratic Party experienced increased division between Northern and Southern factions due to disagreements over the slavery issue, particularly leading up to the 1860 election.
Impact of the Party Division
- The split in the Democratic Party weakened their political influence and facilitated the rise of the Republican Party.
Buchanan’s Initial Hope
- Buchanan hoped that the Southern states would ultimately choose not to secede, maintaining the Union intact.
Shift in Tactics
- Increased threats of secession from Southern states prompted Buchanan to adopt a more assertive stance in an attempt to preserve the Union.
Ft. Sumter Incident
- When a ship approached Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, it heightened tensions, as the federal government was met with hostility from Confederate forces.
Contribution to the Civil War
- Buchanan's presidency is seen as a period where indecisiveness contributed to the onset of the Civil War, failing to address underlying issues effectively.
Summary of Buchanan’s Handling
- Overall, Buchanan's administration was marked by a refusal to take a strong position on slavery, resulting in increased division and conflict within the country.
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