jan 1, 1858 - Senate Elections of 1858

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Republicans win control of the U/S/ House of Representatives-> southern democrats divide (moderates like Davis defended "Southern rights" and ironclad protections of slavery. fire-eaters (powerful orators like Rhett or Yancey) repudiated the union and wanted secession)



Lincoln V. Douglas

lincoln(formidable speaker): earned a national reputation this way, worried that proslavery Supreme Court might not let states exclude slavery (especially after Dred Scott where they decided that Congress or territorial legislature could not ban slavery in a territory). "House Divided" speech about how things cannot go on being slave and free. Lincoln replied to "accusations" about equality from Douglas by saying that he wanted free black ppl to have equal economic opportunities but not equal political rights. Lincoln asked Douglas how he could support Dred Scott decision (protected idea of slave property in territories) and popular sovereignty (let settlers exclude slavery) (to which DOuglas said a territory's residents could exclude slavery by not adopting laws to protect it, which didn't make either side happy)

Douglas: winner, prominent, seven debates to show his white supremacist ideas and attacked lincoln for wanting equality

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