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David Wilmot introduces Proviso banning slavery in the MExican cession
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Period: to
The Sectional Crisis
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Free-Soil party is founded
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ZT (whig) elected president, defeating Lewis Cass (democrat) and MartinVan Buren (free-soil)
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California seeks admission to the Union as a free state
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Congress debates sectional issues and enacts Compromise of 1850
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Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes Uncle Tom's Cabin
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Franklin Pierce (democrat) elected president by a large majority over Winfield Scott (whig)
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Congress passes Kansas_Nebraska act, repealing Missouri Compromise
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Republican party founded in several northern states
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Anti-Nebraska coalitions score victories in congressional elections in the North
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Know-Nothing party achieves stunning successes in state politics
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Free-state and slave-state forces struggle for control of Kansas territory
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Preston Brooks assaults Charles Sumner on senate floor
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James Buchanan wins presidency despite strong challenge in the North from John C. Fremont
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Supreme Court decides Dred Scott case and legalizes slavery in all territories
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Congress refuses to admit the proslavery Lecompton constitiution
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Lincoln and Douglas debate slavery issus in Illinois
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John Brown raids Harpers Ferry, is captured and executed
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Fierce struggle takes place over election of a republican as Speaker of the house
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Republicans nominate Abe Lincoln for presidency
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Democratic party splits into northern and southern factions with separate candidates and platform
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Lincoln wins the presidency over Douglas, Breckninridge and Bell