CAMBRIDGE AS HISTORY: HISTORY OF THE USA. THE 1860 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. The Dred Scott Case, the Lincoln-Douglas debate, the Raid on Harpers ferry 1859, the election of Abraham Lincoln.

1. CAMBRIDGEAS
HISTORYREVISION
HISTORYOFTHEUSA
1.3 THE1860
PRESIDENTIALELECTION

2. THE DRED SCOTT CASE
• The issue: Dred Scott was a slave who now lived in a free state; he
claimed US citizenship.
• Supreme Court ruling 1857: Dred Scott belonged to his slave owner
and had no right to citizenship; Congress had no right to limit slavery to
certain parts of the USA (i.e. Missouri Compromise of 1820 was
unconstitutional).
• Implications: South pleased; North believed Supreme Court was
biased (five of the nine judges were from slave states).

4. THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES
• Beliefs: Stephen Douglas (Democrat) believed each state should be
able to decide on whether to allow slavery; Lincoln (Republican) argued
that Democrats were trying to expand slavery.
• Split in the Democratic Party: Southern Democrats supported Dred
Scott decision; Northern Democrats opposed it, and many joined the
Republicans.

5. THE GREAT DEBATES OF 1858
The Great Debates of 1858 were a series of seven debates between
Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate for the United States
Senate from Illinois, and incumbent Senator Stephen Douglas, the
Democratic Party candidate.
Although Illinois was a free state, the main issue discussed in all seven
debates was slavery in the United States.

6. Lincoln and Douglas

7. THE RAID ON HARPERS FERRY 1859
• John Brown: abolitionist; led 22 men in attack on US army’s munitions
depot; wanted African-Americans to revolt; raid failed and Brown
executed.
• Impact: Brown seen as a martyr by those opposed to slavery; in the
South, Brown vilified, and raid seen as further evidence of North’s
determination to end slavery.

8. John Brown

9. THE ELECTION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
• Divided Democrats: Stephen Douglas elected as presidential candidate;
some Democrats rejected this and chose John C. Breckinridge.
• Ex-Whigs: put forward own candidate (John Bell), a wealthy slave owner.
• Lincoln: elected only because Democratic vote was split; he earned few
votes in the South.