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Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin is an anti-slavery novel that was written by Harriet Beetcher Stowe. This book was said to "lay the ground book for the war" it evoked strong feelings on both sides. Northerners liked the book and the South felt that it was not accurate. This book reached both anti slavery and pro slavery people thickening the tension between the two sides. -
The Republican Party
The Republican Party evolved after the Whigs party divided due to the slavery issue. The party wanted to stop slavery from spreading into the North and West and after the Civil War the party fought to protect African American rights. This is significant because now we have more people in power and higher up who are focus on the issue. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
This act gave people the power to decide if they wanted to allow slavery in that territory. This helped lead to the war and tensions rising because pro slavery and anti slavery people started killing each other at this point battling over the issue and it is getting very serious. -
Bloody Kansas (1855-1861)
Because of the Kansas Nebraska act it was up to the people if they wanted slavery or not, so anti and pro slavery people began to settle in Kansas competing for dominance of the region creating a violent atmosphere. on may 21, 1856 pro slavery people went to Kansas, arresting the leaders, setting things on fire, looting and destroying the town also targeting news stations. -
Brooks-Sumner Incident
After Senator Charles Sumner's speech Representative Preston Brooks felt that Sumner took it too far because Sumner called Senator Butler an imbecile so Brooks felt the need to defend him because they were distant cousins so 2 days after the speech Brooks walked up to Sumner, told him that he was going to be punished and then started beating him in the head with a cane. The cane Broke but Brooks kept going. -
Election of 1856
This was an election between James Buchanan of the Democrats, John C. Freemont of the Republicans and Millard Fillmore of the Whigs. Buchanan(Pro Slavery) won this election. -
LeCompton Constitution
This was a proposed constitution for the state of Kansas drafted by Pro slavery people who wanted to protect slavery within the state boarder and guarantee it. It also excluded free African Americans from the bill of rights. When the anti slave forces found out about this they protested against the convention and against the constitution. -
Dred Scott
Dred Scott was a slave who had lived in a free state and whos owner had died. The decision was that an enslaved person was not free just because they had lived in a free state for some time. The Americans are entitled to their "property" and that Scott was not a citizen so he had no right to sue and be in court. This decision said that congress had no right to dictate the slavery issue and exclude it in territories also limiting popular sovereignty. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
The Lincoln Douglas Debates were debates held by Stephen Douglas of the Democratic Party and Abraham Lincoln of the Republican Party where they traveled around and talked about what they stood for and what is important to them so the people could decide who they wanted. The Freeport Doctrine was a doctrine the Douglas came up with which he thought was best for everyone, leaving the decision of whether not slavery was to be permitted in territory leaving it to popular sovereignty. -
House Divided Speech
This was the speech Abraham Lincoln gave after he accepted the Republican Party nomination. In the speech he says how a house divided among its self can not stand that eventually the Nation would be all pro slavery or all anti slavery that the two will not exist together and that one will end up dominating. He also said that if the US wanted to truly be a free state that they needed to rise up now and act fast. -
Harper's Ferry
John Brown was an abolitionist who was very dedicated to freeing the slaves. He and 21 other men attempted to raid the federal arsenal trying to give the slaves weapons but was not successful. This contributed to the growing tension of the North and South because it had shown how tensions were already high and how violence was becoming the answer for everything between them and could have inspired slaves and everyone anti slavery. -
John Brown
John Brown was an American abolitionist who felt as though he was an instrument of God and was religiously motivated to free the slaves because he felt that it was against God to allow slavery to go on. Brown felt that violence was truly necessary for the elimination of slavery. This is significant because Brown promoted the use of violence. (May 9, 1800 - December 2, 1859) -
Election of 1860
John Bell (ignore the slavery issue and keep the US united) of the Constitutional Union Party, Abraham Lincoln(wants to get rid of slavery or at least stop it from spreading to other places) for the Republican Party, John Breckinridge (supports popular sovereignty and slave codes) and Stephen Douglas(opposes slave codes and supports popular sovereignty) of the Democratic Party. Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican Party candidate to win an election. -
Secession
11 slave states withdrew from the union after Abraham Lincoln won the election as the First Republican party candidate. The South has been threatening to leave the union for a while as the Northern anti slavery atmosphere grew stronger. South Carolina, then Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas then threats from Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina. -
Lincoln's 1st Inaugural Address
This was Lincoln's speech when he became the President. He said that he was going to enforce laws in the states that chose to succeed, that he would not interfere with slavery in places that it exist but also wants to limit it to there and not let it spread.
