16.4 the Republican Party Emerges

U.S. History Fort Burrows 16.4 -- The Republican Party Emerges Abraham Lincoln emerged as a leader of the new Republican party, which was dedicated to halting the spread of slavery.

Republican party – political party established in the United States in 1854 with a goal of keeping slavery out of the western territories arsenal – a place where guns are stored treason – actions against one’s country martyr – person who dies for his or her beliefs entrepreneur - a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so The tall lawyer stood before a political convention in Springfield, Illinois. People in the packed hall listened carefully as he addressed the number one issue of the day --- slavery: “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved- I do not expect the house to fall- but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.” Abraham Lincoln, Speech, June, 16, 1858

¿¿ What does this quote tell you about the nation at that time ? ______.

The Republican Party ₤ A group of Free-Soilers, northern Democrats and antislavery Whigs wanted a new political voice against slavery ₤ At a meeting in Michigan, 1854, they formed the Republican Party ₤ The main goal: keep slavery out of the new western territories ₤ Some abolitionists joined in hope of ending slavery in the South as well ₤ 1856, the Republicans selected John C Frémont to run for President ₤ Fremont was a frontiersman that fought for California’s independence; not much political experience, but opposed slavery ₤ Democrats selected James Buchanan of Pennsylvania; “a northern man with southern principles” ₤ The hope was Buchanan would attract voters from both the North and South ₤ The Know-Nothing party chose former President Millard Fillmore; a strong supporter of the Union ₤ James Buchanan became the 15th US President ₤ Fremont won one-third of the popular vote 1 of 16.4 Printer Copy U.S. History Fort Burrows Abe Lincoln of Illinois ₤ Republican Abraham Lincoln challenged Democrat Stephen Douglas for his seat in the Senate ₤ Most Americans expected Douglas to run for President in 1860 ₤ This caused the Senate election to draw the attention of the whole nation ₤ Lincoln would gain national attention

∆ From the Backwoods of Kentucky Abe Lincoln was born on the Kentucky frontier to farming parents They moved from Kentucky to Indiana to Illinois looking for better land Lincoln had one year of schooling, taught himself to read, opened a store in Illinois -- an entrepreneur, studied law, and went into politics He served 8 years as a state legislature and one term in Congress He opposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act and decided to run for the Senate in 1858 People in Illinois considered him “just folks” He enjoyed picnics, wrestling contests, and shared Illinois pastimes He was known for his honesty, his wit ( yes he was funny ) and had a plain- spoken manners; a good speaker

∆ Lincoln-Douglas Debates Douglas Debates Lincoln – In his first debate with Lincoln, Stephen Douglas defended the principle of popular sovereignty: “We have settled the slavery question as far as we are concerned; we have prohibited it in Illinois forever… but when we settled it for ourselves, we exhausted all our power over that subject. We must leave each and every other state to decide for itself the same question… Now my friends, if we will only act conscientiously and rigidly upon this great principle of popular sovereignty, we will continue at peace, one with another.” Stephen Douglas, Speech at Ottawa, Illinois, August 21, 1858

Lincoln challenged Douglas to seven debates; hesitantly, Douglas accepted Even though Lincoln lost most of the debates, he did gain national recognition, which will prove to be most valuable in 1860 Slavery was the most important issue Although Douglas disliked slavery, he wanted the issue settled by popular sovereignty; he did state that he not care whether the territories voted for or against the slavery issues Lincoln did not believe in ‘perfect equality’ between whites and blacks He did believe slavery was wrong

2 of 16.4 Printer Copy U.S. History Fort Burrows “There is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights listed in the Declaration of Independence, the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness… In the right to eat the bread, without the leave of anybody else, which his own hand earns, he is my equal and the equal of Judge Douglas, and the equal of every living man.” Abraham Lincoln, Speech at Ottawa, Illinois, August 21, 1858 Lincoln said slavery was a ‘moral, social, and political wrong’, not to be treated as an unimportant question Although not an abolitionist, Lincoln opposed slavery in the ‘new’ territories He did not wish to interfere with slavery in states where it already existed

¿¿ What were the views of Lincoln and Douglas on slavery in the territories ? Douglas______Lincoln______.

∆ A Leader Emerges Lincoln and Douglas spoke nearly daily to large crowds prior to the election The more northerners heard Lincoln’s words, the more they thought about the injustice of slavery Newspapers began reprinting their campaign speeches

John Brown’s Raid ₤ Radical abolitionist, John Brown, inflamed bloodshed and division between the North and South ₤ He led an antislavery group, including five African Americans, to Harpers Ferry, Virginia ₤ There he planned to raid a federal arsenal ₤ He planned to steal guns, give them to enslaved African Americans, and lead them in a revolt ∆ Sentenced to Death Brown gained control of the arsenal, but no slave up rising happened; there was a only few enslaved African Americans in Harpers Ferry After capturing the arsenal, Brown did little to encourage a slave revolt; the public thought he was insane Troops commanded by Robert E Lee killed ten raiders and captured Brown He was found guilty of treason At his trial, he gave a moving defense of his actions but was found guilty and sentenced to ‘death’

3 of 16.4 Printer Copy U.S. History Fort Burrows It was said he showed no emotion to the verdict ∆ Hero or Villain ? John Brown conducted himself with great dignity at his trial; he became a hero to many northerners Some felt he was a martyr; because he was willing to give his life for his beliefs Northerners mourned his death, ringing church bells throughout the North Northerners also sang a song in his honor; ‘John Brown’s body lies a mold’ring in the grave, but his soul is marching on’ Southerners were outraged about the North’s response to Brown’s death Imagine… singing the praises of a man that tried to lead a slave revolt Southerners became convinced the North wanted to destroy slavery The Nation – North and South – was poised for a violent clash

1. What did Abraham Lincoln expect to be the solution of the slavery issue in the United States ? A. the problem would fade in importance B. further compromise would be worked out C. two separate countries would be formed D. slavery would be legal everywhere or nowhere

2. Why did the Republican Party come into being in the mid-1850s ?

______.

3. What events lay behind the rapid emergence of Abraham Lincoln as a Republican leader ?

______.

4. How did Americans react to John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry ?

______.

4 of 16.4 Printer Copy