Causes of Civil War
Distrust of Dred Scott
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott was a enslaved African American bought by a white army doctor that was in Missouri which was a slave state. After that Dred Scott's owner moved to Illinois which was a free state and then to Wisconsin. There he realized that he was living on free soil. But then they moved back to Missouri where his master passed away. In 1846 Dred Scott got together with antislavery lawyers where he sued for his freedom. His argument was that he felt that he should be free because he lived on free land before. But after eleven years the case reached the Supreme Court. But Chief Justice, Roger B. Taney stated that Dred Scott was still a slave and that he had no right to have a lawsuit and that he wasn't a citizen. Also he said that Dred Scott was property and that the Congress prohibits property from being taken. Even thought the judgment went against the Missouri Compromise, the judgment was final.
Commentary
I feel that it was spiteful and not fair the way that the judge dealt with this case. Also I think somebody should of stood up for Dred Scott and said that this judgment went against the Missouri Compromise! And I felt that Dred Scott should of became a free slave.
Why This Plays a Big Part In The Civil War
Why I feel that his topic plays a big part in the Civil War is because slavery is what they were mostly fighting over. And the Dred Scott Case was a great example of how slaves were treated before the Civil War.
Dred Scott Dred Scott's Grave Roger B. Taney
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John Brown's Fight 4 Slaves
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown an abolitionist led a raid on Harpers Ferry, on October 16th. The group who helped John Brown in his raid were made up of eighteen men. Who were both white and free African American. Brown was trying to attack an arsenal filled with weapons and ammunition. Brown's plan was to seize an arsenal and try to spark an uprising of enslave people. But his plan failed. Marines, under the command of colonel Robert E. Lee, seized Brown and some of his followers. Surprisingly this raid only lasted 36 hours. Unfortunately, ten of Brown's men were killed including his two sons. Brown went to trail and was found guilty for treason and murder. His sentence was death. John Brown was killed on December 2, 1859.
Commentary
I would stand by John Brown because he was standing up for something he believed in. And his raid opened up many people's eyes showing what a person would do to stop something so cruel and unfair such as slavery.
Why This Plays A Big Part In The Civil War
The reason why this topic plays a big part in the Civil War is because the Raid on Harpers Ferry showed people who were fighting against abolitionist and antislavery what a abolitionist would do to abolish slavery.
Harpers Ferry before the raid Harpers Ferry after the raid
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What Went On In The Underground Railroads
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of escape routes out of the South. Many escaping slaves would take the Underground Railroad with help by abolitionists, that went on in the 1800's. Many slaves traveled during the night and would follow the North Stars to help them find their way. Also they would follow rivers, and they would feel the moss on trees. Another source of information to help them were in the songs they sung like, " Follow the Drinkin Gourd." Many slaves could not travel during the days so they would hide in barns, attics, and churches. Many slaves would know a place was safe to stay in because there would be a burning candle in the window. Unfortunately, the Underground Railroad only helped a fraction of slaves.
Commentary
I think that the Underground Railroad was the most valuable escape route for slaves. It also gave slaves encouragement, that they needed to have to fight for a better life.
Why This Plays A Big Part In The Civil War
The reason why I thought this topic had a big role in the Civil War is because the Underground Railroad was a route that many African American Soldiers took their wife's, kids, elderly and other family members to safety.
The Underground Railroad route Harriet Tudman a runaway slave
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A Balanced Union
Missouri Compromise
In 1819 Missouri tried to apply for statehood. But the problem was that Missouri settlers had slaves working under them, at that time there were 50,000 whites and 10,000 slaves. Being that Missouri was a slave state it would unbalance the Union. There were eleven states that were slave states and eleven were free states. Another reason for this becoming a huge problem was because the North and the South were competing over lands in the western territory. Then Henry Clay, a Speaker of the House of Representatives, came up with a solution to the problem. He suggested that Missouri should become a slave state and Maine as a free state. This suggestion became known as the Missouri Compromise and was passed in 1820.
Commentary
In my humbled opinion, I believe that the Missouri Compromise simply stated the obvious. Henry Clay was no modern day genius, he just had good ole common sense. In the states surrounding Missouri, slavery was permitted. While at the same time, all states surrounding Maine were free states. Not to take anything away from Mr. Clay but I personally don't think switching the two state's slave rights was a hard solution to come up with. By doing this simple task, the wars between the states were dissolved and peace was reinstated.
why This Plays A Big Part In The Civil War
The Missouri Compromise has a big role in the Civil War because it showed were slaves were permitted and were slaves were free. If we did not have the Missouri Compromise there wouldn't be the Underground Railroad and different escape routes.
Missouri Compromise Missouri Compromise (map)
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