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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a resolution between anti-and pro-slavery unions.It dealt with the issue of slavery in the western territiories.The Compormise stated that slavery in the Lousiana Territory was banned north of a certain parallel except in Missouri.The Compromise was a diffucult one to come by, because prior to this event, there had been 11 free and 11 slave states.The House of Representatives was hesitant to tip the scale becasue as it stood,there was equal representation in Congress. -
Mexican War
The Mexican War was between Mexico and America over which country would controlTX. Many Americans were living inTX and wanted it to be part of the U.S, not Mexico. Then, TX became independent from Mexico. This upset Mexico and they let America know by attacking the Alamo, a U.S fort. More attacks came and both countries were mad. TX was eventually declared a state and then all hell broke out. After months of fighting, the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, giving the U.S TX for $15 million. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was an attempt to ban slavery in any territory granted to the U.S from theMexican War or any other territory aquired in the future. The Act was first introduced to the House of Representatives byCongressmen David Wilmot. It wasintended to be added onto the final negotiation in resolving the Mexican-American War. Itwas passed in the House but sincethe Senatehad more southern representatives, it failed there. It also failed trying to be a part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
Compromise of 1850
CA asked to bepermitted to the Union as a free state,but because a lot of the land in America that was gained from the Mexican War was still undecidedas free or slave,Congress could notdecide whether or not topermit CA as a freeor slave state.Henry Clay decidedto finda solution to thiswhole problem.It wasdecided thatthenew territories of NM,ND,AZ and UTcould be formedand the residents of these statescould then decide whether ornot theywanted to be free or slave states. CA wasgranted a freestate. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852. Harriet taught at the Hartford Female Academy and was an active fighter for the freedom of slaves. During the first year Uncle Tom's Cabin was published, it sold 300,000 copies in the U.S. In the 19th century, Uncle Tom's Cabin was the best selling novel and the second best selling book, coming in only behind The Bible. Many claim that this book was a huge help in the abolitionist movement of the 1850's as well. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by Congress on May 30, 1854, and created by Illinois Senator Stephen A. Douglas. The Act created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, which in turn opened new lands. The Act also repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The Act determined that inhabitants of the territories would be able to determine if they would want to be pro- or anti- slavery within their boundaries. -
Attack at Pottawatomie Creek
Late May 24, 1856 John Brown (a man who thought that he was God's chosen instrument) and a group of abolitionist settlers traveled to Franklin County, Kansas. It was there that these men awoke and dragged 5 men out of their homes and killed them in front of their families. This was in response to the sacking of Lawrence, Kansas. This was just one of the incedents before the Civil War that occured in Kansas. These incidents collectively became known as "Bleeding Kansas". -
Dred Scott v, Sanford
Dred Scott v. Sanford was a controversial case that was taken before the Supreme Court. The case concluded that any slave in the U.S taken from Africa's descendants, free or slave, were not and could never become U.S citizens. This also meant that these poeple were not protected under the U.S Constitution. It was also decided that in federal territories, U.S Congress did not have the right to ban slavery. It was also ruled that because slaves were not citizens, they could not sue in court. -
Election of 1860
The election of 1860 consisted of four main candidates: Abraham Lincoln, John C. Breckinridge, John Bell and Stephen A. Douglas. Abraham Lincoln representd the Rupublican Party, John C. Breckinridge represented the Southern Democratic Party, John Bell represented the Constitutional Union Party and Stephen A. Douglas represented the Northern Democratic Party. In the end, Lincoln won with 180 electoral votes and 1,865,908 (39.8%) popular votes. -
Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President of the United States on March 4, 1861. After many southern states pulled out of the Union and formed the Confederate States of America becuase Lincoln, an anti-slavery activist, became elected, he adressed the issue in his inauguration address. He stated: "We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies..." He had no idea what was about to errupt between the north and the south.
