Emancipation Proclamation:
In the 19th century, people, slowly but surely, turned against slavery. The move to make slavery illegal took a while as the white colonials did not want to give up such cheap labor, but the abolition movement worked hard anyways. The American Civil War was the catalyst to stop slavery altogether.
Above: Abraham Lincoln and others signing the documents.
|
Facts about the Emancipation Proclamation: - The president at that time, Abraham Lincoln, issued the Proclamation twice - The Proclamation only applied to states that had withdrawn from the Union - The Proclamation would only come into effect when there is a Union victory - The Proclamation accepted black men into the Union Army and Navy |
Dred Scott vs Sandford Case:
Dred Scott was a slave who was purchased by a U.S Army surgeon, Mr. John Emerson. John and his family moved to Wisconsin, where slavery was banned. Scott lived there for four years, working while Emerson was away. Then, with his wife and kids, moved to Louisiana, then St Louis. Emerson suddenly died in 1843, leaving Scott and his family to Emerson's wife, Eliza Sanford. In 1846, Scott had made enough money to buy their freedom, but she refused. Dred then sued Sanford because they had lived in a state where slavery was banned. So the court declared Scott free. But soon they had denied his request for these reasons. African Americans, slave or not slave, were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court. The court also ruled that Congress was too weak to ban slavery in states. Finally, the rights of slave owners were protected because slaves were considered property. The Court's decision sparked an outrage from the non-slave states of the north. Lawyers called this ruling a dictum, and not a binding precedent. This was an indirect catalyst for the American Civil War.
|
Above: Dred Scott.
|
American Civil War:
The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865, and held the most casualties for a war that America had participated in, with over 620,000. The war was fought between the Confederacy, or the south, and the Union, or the north. The Civil War was important in this sense because the Southern States wanted to control their own land as the U.S expanded, and wanted slavery legal. The North were in the way of the South's intentions. After the events of the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation was announced. |
Above: Abraham Lincoln talking to soldiers.
|