The Crisis Deepens A New Antislavery Party As Whig Party split 1854 north Whigs joined Republican Party 2 stop spread slavery into west attracted northern Democrats & Free-Soil Party members Republicans grew force & congressional elections 1854 few months after founding 245 candidates, 105 Republican cost Democrats control all but 2 north state legislatures 2 yrs l8er 1856 Republican party chose John C. Fr?mont waged strong antislavery campaign won 11 of 16 free states Buchanan elected The Dred Scott Decision March 18573 days after Buchanan took office US Supreme Court Dred Scott v. Sandford Dred Scott enslaved person owned U.S. Army doc lived in Illinois & Wisconsin slavery illegal both states after leaving army settled w/ Scott in Missouri