HIST 405 Week 4 Discussion; From Stepping Stones to the American Civil War to Reconstruction - The Dred Scott Case of 1857, The Lincoln Douglas Debates of 1858

The Dred Scott Case 1857: Russ explains the Dred Scott Case, born into slavery in 1795 Scott was forced to relocate along with many others because of the massive slave trade he was then taken to Missouri. Previous to living in Missouri he was living in Wisconsin Illinois territory where he was ‘free man.’ As we know this was a slavery state due to the Missouri compromise. Mister Scott tried to purchase his freedom when living in Missouri, but his owner denied him that right. he sought help in the courts arguing that the areas he lived in ban slavery so he should be free. The courts ruled in favor of his owner stating that “U.S. Supreme Court case famously declared that black people, enslaved or free, "had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.” (2019). The Lincoln Douglas Debates 1858 According to the Lincoln-Douglas debates, there was a series of seven debates in front of crowds of people on issues of slavery and its expansion. Before these debates Lincoln was unknown by the public by doing these appearances, he made a name for himself to be known by the northerners and the southerners. Douglas siding with founding fathers and what hey created stating that Lincoln was posing a threat to the constitution. Lincoln was for change stating that a house divided isn’t stable and we will not last half free half slave. Lincoln touched on the Dred Scott case mentioning that this was an act to nationalize slavery which he was not for. (2017). The Fugitive Slave Law 1850 Graf explains, the Fugitive Slave Law allowed for hunt and seize of escaped slaves anywhere and everywhere in the United States. During the 1850-1860 mainly blacks moved to north Canada because of there fear of being captured. Although slavery was outlawed in Canada year 1834 it was not against the law to discriminate so many did. (2019). Was the American Civil War inevitable? According to all events that led up to the civil war it was inevitable so many parties in disagreement. “Lincoln’s election sparked the southern secession fever into flame, but it did not cause the Civil War. For decades before Lincoln took office, the sectional divisions in the country had been widening.” (Corbett, 2014). It could be said that the Lincoln election was the final nail in the Civil War coffin. The war was something that definitely needed to happen because as demonstrated previous events and discussions never completely solved the divided nation. Corbett, P. S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T., & Vickery, P. (2014). U.S. History. Retrieved from https://d3bxy9euw4e147.cloudfront.net/oscms-prodcms/media/documents/USHistory- OP_IdjNctE.pdf Graf, C. (2019). Crossing the Border to Freedom. Faces, 35(8), 16. Retrieved from https://search- ebscohost-com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx? direct=true&db=f5h&AN=135901071&site=eds-live&scope=site