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The debate over slavery was a prolonged battle with many people involved.

The debate over slavery was a prolonged battle with many people involved.

In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'', a novel which criticizes slavery by painting a realistic picture of life as a slave.  The book had an enormous impact on public sentiment and the Civil War.

In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote ''Uncle Tom's Cabin'', a novel which criticizes slavery by painting a very unfavorable picture of life as a slave.  The book had an enormous impact on public sentiment and the Civil War. Harriet Beecher Stowe was the white daughter of a prominent New England congregational minister.  When Abraham Lincoln later met her in 1862, he described her as "the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war!"<ref name="Uncle Tom">http://www.africanaonline.com/slavery_toms_cabin.htm</ref>  Then southerners criticized (and banned) the book by claiming it was horribly exaggerated; today the book is criticized for its racist stereotypes about African Americans.<ref name="Uncle Tom"/>  But no one doubts its huge impact on America, and Europe.  It may have been the best-selling book of the entire 19th century, other than the Bible.<ref name="Uncle Tom"/>

''Dred Scott v. Sanford'' was a Supreme Court case in 1857, which ruled that blacks have no rights and cannot sue.  It also established that Congress cannot free slaves ("property") from slaveowners.  Through this decision, the court sought to put an end to the questions about slavery, but the exact opposite occured.  The ''Dred Scott'' case greatly heightened conflict and outrage about slavery.

''Dred Scott v. Sanford'' was a Supreme Court case in 1857, and (along with Roe v. Wade a century later) the most notorious Supreme Court case in history.  The ''Dred Scott'' decision ruled that blacks have no rights and cannot sue, and are not even real citizens.  It also established that Congress cannot grant freedom to slaves, because slaves are the "property" of slaveowners.  Through this decision, the court sought to put an end to the questions about slavery, but the exact opposite occurred.  The ''Dred Scott'' case greatly heightened conflict and outrage about slavery.  Historians speculate that President James Buchanan secretly played a role in the pro-slavery outcome by communicating with Justices on the Supreme Court.

The ''Dred Scott'' decision played a part in the Lincoln-Douglas debates.  Lincoln asked Douglas if a territory could exclude slavery under the decision.  Douglas said that a territory could exclude slavery if it created laws which made it impossible to enforce slavery.  This was consistent with his idea of "popular sovereignty", which eventually caused South to turn against Douglas.

The ''Dred Scott'' decision played a part in the Lincoln-Douglas debates.  At the debate in Fremont, Illinois, Lincoln asked Douglas if a territory could exclude slavery under the decision.  Douglas said that a territory could exclude slavery if it created laws which made it impossible to enforce slavery.  This was consistent with his idea of "popular sovereignty", but this "Freeport Doctrine" caused South to turn against Douglas because it meant that slaves could be freed from slaveowners if a majority voted that way.

Others resorted to violent means to end the disagreement over slavery.  In 1859, John Brown <ref>John Brown had previously killed 5 men in Kansas, as explained in our section on "Bleeding Kansas."</ref> led a raid on Harper's Ferry.  Brown hoped that his actions would spark a slave rebellion in Virginia.  But Brown was caught and tried and hanged.

Others resorted to violent means to end the disagreement over slavery.  In 1859, John Brown <ref>John Brown had previously killed 5 men in Kansas, as explained in our section on "Bleeding Kansas."</ref> led a raid on Harper's Ferry.  Brown hoped that his actions would spark a slave rebellion in Virginia.  But Brown was caught and tried and hanged.  At all times he remained defiant, refusing attempts to characterize him as insane.

This is the toughest question of the entire course:  Could the Civil War have been avoided?  Historians just took a poll on the biggest presidential blunders.  At the top of the list is the failure of President James Buchanan for keeping the Union together just prior to the Civil War.  What do you think?

'''Which brings us to the biggest debate question of the entire course:  Could the Civil War have been avoided?  Historians just took a poll on the biggest presidential blunders.  At the top of the list is the failure of President James Buchanan for keeping the Union together just prior to the Civil War.  What do you think?'''

The Whig Party broke up over slavery:  the northern, abolitionist Whigs founded the Republican Party, and the southern, pro-slavery Whigs (such as wealthy plantation owners) joined the Democratic Party.

The Whig Party completely broke up and disintegrated over slavery:  the northern, abolitionist Whigs founded the Republican Party, and the southern, pro-slavery Whigs (such as wealthy plantation owners) joined the Democratic Party.

==James Buchanan==

==James Buchanan==