Key Events Leading to the American Civil War
The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, The Dred Scott Case of 1857, and The Lincoln Douglas Debates of 1858 are three leading causes of the American Civil War. Northern abolitionists were outraged by the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which authorized slaveholders to recapture runaway slaves who had fled to free states. The Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott Case of 1857 that African Americans could not be citizens and hence could not sue in federal court, nor could Congress prohibit slavery in the territories (Kopeček, 2021). In contrast, the Lincoln Douglas Discussions of 1858 were a series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, both candidates for the United States Senate seat from Illinois (Longstreet, 2019). The debates centered on the institution of slavery and its expansion, as well as Lincoln’s resistance to it.
The Impact of the Fugitive Slave Law on Northern Sentiment
The American Civil Conflict was not unavoidable, according to the historical facts presented in this module, despite the Fugitive Slave Law, the Dred Scott decision, and the Lincoln-Douglas debates being critical in raising the tensions that eventually led to the war. The Fugitive Slave Law was highly unpopular in the North since it obliged free governments to enforce the return of escaped slaves, frequently against the desire of their residents (Kopeček, 2021). This rule made the North feel compelled to be involved in preserving slavery, which exacerbated the mounting animosity between the North and South.
The Dred Scott Decision and Its Effect on North-South Relations
The Dred Scott case strained the already poor ties between the North and South even further. Northerners were outraged by the Supreme Court’s ruling, believing that the court was siding with slaveholders while dismissing African Americans’ fundamental human rights. This decision effectively nullified the Missouri Compromise, which maintained the balance of power between the free and slave states and resulted in the fast extension of slavery into territories such as Kansas and Nebraska.
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates and the Rise of Anti-Slavery Politics
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates were influential in shaping public opinion on slavery and its expansion, as well as putting Lincoln’s views on the subject at the forefront of political debate. Lincoln’s opposition to slavery and view that it was morally wrong, combined with his determination to preserve the Union, contributed to his election as president in 1860, which was a tipping point that eventually led to the war.
References
Justia Law. (2015). Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. Web.
Kopeček, O. (2021). The 1857 Dred Scott Decision. Tomas Bata Uniwersity. Web.
Longstreet, J. (2019). From Manassas to Appomattox: Memoirs of the Civil War in America (Illustrated Edition): Civil War Memories Series.