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Wimot Proviso
This proposal would've banned slavery in all areas of the Mexican cession -
Free- Soil party is founded
The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States active in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections, and in some state elections. Included anti-slavery Whigs and Dem.'s -
Zachary Taylor elected President
defeats Lewis Cass (Dem) and Martin Van Buren (Free Soil) -
California Seeks Admission
California wanted to become part of the U.S., and enter as a free state -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise, drafted by Whig Henry Clay and brokered by Democrat Stephen Douglas avoided secession or civil war at the time and quieted sectional conflict for four years. -
Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was the best-selling novel of the 19th century, and the second best-selling book of that century, following the Bible. It is credited with helping fuel the abolitionist cause in the 1850s -
Franklin Pierce elected President
Pierce won with an overwhelming victory, winning the votes of 27 states and 254 electoral votes -
Kansas-Nebraska Act passed by Congress
created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opened new lands, repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, and allowed settlers in those territories to determine if they would allow slavery within their boundaries -
Republican Party founded
in some northern states, the anti-Democratic gropus would evolve into a new and stronger Free-Soil party, which were the Republicans -
Know-Nothing Party
this party's main objective was to extend the period of naturalization in order to under-cut immigrant voting strength and to keep aliens in their place -
Free/slave state forces struggle for control of Kansas territory
a small scale civil war broke out, with pro slavery groups and anit slavery groups fighting for control, federal troops eventulally had to come in and restore order -
Preston Brooks Assaults Charles Sumner on Senate Floor
This fueled the Republicans' election campaign... under the twin slogans of "Bleeding Kansas" and "Bleeding Sumner" -
James Buchanan wins Election
Despite strong contest of John Fremont in the North, democrat Buhchanan managed a victory -
Dred Scott case decided by Supreme Court
was a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that people of African descent imported into the United States and held as slaves were not protected by the Constitution and could never be U.S. citizens. The court also held that the U.S. Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories and that, because slaves were not citizens, they could not sue in court -
Congress refuses Kansas admission
Due to their state Constitution, the Lecompton Constitution, and what it entailed, Congress refused it. With Stephen Douglas leading the charge against it -
Lincoln and Douglas debate
Doulgas' main point on Lincoln was that Lincoln was against slavery because he believed in racial equality, Lincoln had to deny since he faced an intensively racist electorate -
John Brown Raids Harper's Ferry
tried to take a position and have slaves join his revolt, but they refused to. This led to his eventual capture and execution -
Republicans nominate Lincoln
seemed the best candidate for their party, he was from Illinois (a state they needed to win) and he was also a self-made man -
Democratic party splits into factions
this led to multiple dem party candidates, something that eventually hurt them in the election -
Lincoln elected President
defeated Democrat John Breckinridge and Stephen Douglas, and Constitutional Union candidate John Bell
