D R E D S C O T T C A S E
An attempt at reconciliation
Photo Credit: http://www.law.harvard.edu
WHAT: A man named Dred Scott questioned the right of Congress to regulate slavery in the territories and sued for his freedom. Chief Justice Taney had tried to compromise in his ruling by first declaring that Scott was not a citizen, and therefore could not sue for freedom. The second part of Taney’s ruling declared that Congress did not have to power to regulate slavery in the territories
WHEN: 1857
WHERE: Decision made in the U.S. Supreme Court
WHO: The main key figures of this concept were Dred Scott, Chief Justice Taney, and Abraham Lincoln. Scott was the african american slave that was not returned, and also denied constitutional rights by Cheief Justice Taney. Lincoln would come out speaking upon the wrongness of this, and would gain support from abolitionists durning the Lincoln-Douglass debates, and eventually land him the Republican presidency.
WHY: It's place in history is that though it did not cause the Civil War, it brought Abraham Lincoln to prominence in the political spotlight (through the Lincoln-Douglas debates) ultimately granting him the Republican nomination
SIGNIFICANCE: The main idea of the Dred Scott Case was that it showed that slavery was an unresolvable issue and that the growing controversy around it could not be settled and instead of Taney succeeding in his attempt to settle that controversy, Taney blew the issue of slavery and abolition wide open
WHEN: 1857
WHERE: Decision made in the U.S. Supreme Court
WHO: The main key figures of this concept were Dred Scott, Chief Justice Taney, and Abraham Lincoln. Scott was the african american slave that was not returned, and also denied constitutional rights by Cheief Justice Taney. Lincoln would come out speaking upon the wrongness of this, and would gain support from abolitionists durning the Lincoln-Douglass debates, and eventually land him the Republican presidency.
WHY: It's place in history is that though it did not cause the Civil War, it brought Abraham Lincoln to prominence in the political spotlight (through the Lincoln-Douglas debates) ultimately granting him the Republican nomination
SIGNIFICANCE: The main idea of the Dred Scott Case was that it showed that slavery was an unresolvable issue and that the growing controversy around it could not be settled and instead of Taney succeeding in his attempt to settle that controversy, Taney blew the issue of slavery and abolition wide open
L I N C O L N - D O U G L A S
D E B A T E S
Lincoln gains popularity
Photo Credit: http://nfltv.org/
WHAT: Lincoln, as a lawyer who was involved in state politics wanted to increase his visibility by engaging in a series of debates with Douglas. The debates attracted big crowds and attention and were mainly about the topic of slavery in the U.S.
WHEN: 1858
WHERE: In the districts of Illinois
WHO: The main key figures of this concept were Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. Democrat and Republican, respectively. Their positions generally followed that of their parties, although Lincoln did come out saying that although he was against slavery, he would not make an attempt to abolish it wholly.
WHY: It's place in history is that without the Lincoln-Douglas debates Lincoln would not have become president nor would he have become well-known or well-liked (by people in the North) Without Lincoln as president, the south would not have seceded, and the path of history may have been very different. It also highlighted Northern vs. Southern ideals, and their differences.
SIGNIFICANCE: The main idea of the Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of debates that allowed Lincoln to rise to prominence in the U.S.
WHEN: 1858
WHERE: In the districts of Illinois
WHO: The main key figures of this concept were Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. Democrat and Republican, respectively. Their positions generally followed that of their parties, although Lincoln did come out saying that although he was against slavery, he would not make an attempt to abolish it wholly.
WHY: It's place in history is that without the Lincoln-Douglas debates Lincoln would not have become president nor would he have become well-known or well-liked (by people in the North) Without Lincoln as president, the south would not have seceded, and the path of history may have been very different. It also highlighted Northern vs. Southern ideals, and their differences.
SIGNIFICANCE: The main idea of the Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of debates that allowed Lincoln to rise to prominence in the U.S.
U N C L E T O M ' S C A B I N
Black slaves: Victims rather than beneficiaries
Photo Credit: http://www.abhmuseum.org/
WHAT: Uncle Tom's Cabin was the most powerful piece of abolitionist propaganda. The novel was written by a woman for women and succeeded in bringing the issue of abolition to a much greater audience as it portrayed slavery as a cruel system of which black slaves were the victims
WHEN: 1852
WHERE: The U.S., mainly affected common people
WHO: The main key figure of this concept was Harriet Beecher Stowe
WHY: It's place in history is that it increased the passion behind the sectional tensions, keeping abolitionism a powerful influence in America
SIGNIFICANCE: The main idea of Uncle Tom's Cabin was that it persuaded many people to join the abolition movement
WHEN: 1852
WHERE: The U.S., mainly affected common people
WHO: The main key figure of this concept was Harriet Beecher Stowe
WHY: It's place in history is that it increased the passion behind the sectional tensions, keeping abolitionism a powerful influence in America
SIGNIFICANCE: The main idea of Uncle Tom's Cabin was that it persuaded many people to join the abolition movement