From Sectionalism to Secession

Note that Frederick Douglass (2 s's) and Stephen Douglas (one s) are two very different people! Don't confuse them.

Note also that the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was one of the provisions of the Compromise of 1850 - the 8th edition of Out of Many does not make this clear.

Remember:

• Make sure that you are on track to do at least 4 student-responses by the end of the summer session. (Including Topic 14, there are only 2 topics left!)
• If you are not the first person to answer a particular question, make sure that your answer covers new ground.
• When discussing a source, go into lots of detail! Show me that you have carefully read, understood, and thought about the source.
• Graded posts need to be at least 300 words long.
• If every question gets answered at least once, everyone who submitted a graded post by the deadline gets a point of extra credit.

Key Terms (Use and explain relevant key terms in your answers.)

Lincoln-Douglas debates Lincoln-Douglas debates
Uncle Tom's Cabin Uncle Tom's Cabin
Compromise of 1850 Compromise of 1850
Fugitive Slave Law Fugitive Slave Law
Sectionalism Sectionalism
Anthony Burns Anthony Burns
Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass
popular sovereignty popular sovereignty
Stephen Douglas Stephen Douglas
Kansas-Nebraska Act Kansas-Nebraska Act
Bleeding Kansas Bleeding Kansas

Focus Questions

Tying the readings together (Tie together two or more of the assigned readings.)

1. Chief Justice Taney asserts that the founding fathers did not intend the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution to apply to African Americans. What do you think his reasoning was? Do you think his assessment of the intentions of the founding fathers was correct? Why or why not? (Draw on at least one other source besides Dred Scott v. Sandford that we have looked at this summer to support your argument.)

Out of Many, Ch. 15 (Draw on multiple sections of the chapter.)

2. Assess the success of the Compromise of 1850 at settling the debate over the expansion of slavery.

a. (Hint: Start off by explaining the provisions of the Compromise of 1850.)

3. How did events in Kansas in the 1850s prove that popular sovereignty was not a workable solution question of slavery in the western territories?

a. (Hint: Start off by explaining the term popular sovereignty.)

4. Explain the demise of national parties, like the Whig Party, and the rise of sectional parties in the 1850s.

5. Discuss the election of 1860, its outcomes, and its consequences for American history. (Base your answer on Ch. 15 of Out of Many.)

Frederick Douglass, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?"

6. How does Douglass use the ideals proclaimed by white Americans on the Fourth of July to critique slavery?

7. What do you think about the timing of Douglass' speech? Do you think it was an appropriate speech to give on Independence Day? Why do you think Douglass thought it was an appropriate speech to give on Independence Day?

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

8. Scott had lived in a free state and a free territory. Why, according to Taney, did this not make him a free man? How did the Supreme Court's decision in this case invalidate the Missouri Compromise?

Attachment:- Frederick Douglass.pdf