Lecture/PowerPoint examining the election of 1856, the Dred Scott case, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry.

1. Reflect:
Which event of “Bleeding Kanas” do you believe was the most damaging
to North/South relations? Explain your answer.
The Nation on the Eve of War
An artistic depiction of Quantrill's Raid during
“Bleeding Kansas” (above) and another depiction
of the Sack of Lawrence, Kansas (right)

2. 1
The Election of 1856
James Buchanan John C. Frémont Millard Fillmore
James Buchanan (Democrat) defeated John C. Fremont (Republican)
and Millard Fillmore (American Party) in the election of 1856
Republican defeat was good for the Union because Frémont was a
second-rate figure and in 1856 the North was more willing to let the
South depart

3. 5:32The Presidents #15: James Buchannan

4. 4:43CBS Sunday Morning: The Worst
President?

5. 4
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott Chief Justice Roger B.
Taney
Artistic imagining of the Dred Scott case before
the Supreme Court
1834, Dred Scott was a slave taken North of Missouri Compromise line
– in 1856 Scott returned to MO and sued for his freedom
March 6, 1857, Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was a slave and
not a citizen – therefore he could not sue for his freedom!

6. 3:05The Dred Scott Case

7. 6
The Financial Crash of 1857
Artistic rendition of the Wall Street panic during the financial
crisis of 1857
Image from Harpers Weekly about the
Financial Crash of 1857
Psychologically it was probably the worst of the 1800s – over 5,000
businesses failed within a year and unemployment was widespread

8. 7
Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln
Stephen Douglas
Abraham Lincoln (far
left: earliest believed
photo of Lincoln,
Lincoln in 1846, and
Lincoln in 1858)
1858, Senate election in Illinois claimed national
spotlight: Senator Stephen Douglas (Democrat) vs.
Abraham Lincoln (Republican)
Abraham Lincoln was tall and awkward, with a
piercing, high-pitched voice

9. 8
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Lincoln and Douglas at one of the 7 debates in Illinois in 1858
Lincoln boldly challenged
Douglas to 7 debates which
took place between
August-October 1858
In one debate, Douglas put
forth the “Freeport
Doctrine” or the idea
slavery would only end if
the people wanted it to end
Douglas believed in popular sovereignty, that slavery was NOT immoral,
and that slavery would end on its OWN
Lincoln believed slavery existed due to Southern greed, slavery was
immoral, and slavery would only stop spreading if legislation was passed
outlawing it in the territories

10. 1:55PBS: Who is John Brown?

11. 10
John Brown and Harpers Ferry
Scenes from Harpers Ferry, circa
2012
1859, John Brown led ~21 men to capture an arsenal in Harpers
Ferry and distribute guns to the slaves in the region
Brown was eventually captured by the U.S. Marines, put on trial,
and then put to death for murder and treason

12. 3:20America’s First Terrorist or National
Hero?

13. 3:09John Browns Bold Mission to End
Slavery Remembered

14. 4:09Ken Burns: A House Divided

15. Homework:
Reflect
Do a Google search and read about the life of John Brown. In two
paragraphs, explain events after Kansas and how his life ends.
Wrapping-Up
How do we remember John Brown? Do you think the
Civil War influenced how we remember abolitionists?
A dramatic reading of John Brown’s
final speech (above) and a daguerreotype
of John Brown, circa 1856