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Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was multiple bills signed into place, and most of them had to do with slavery. One bill decided that slavery would be popular sovereignty in newly found states. Another bill banned the slave trade in the District of Colombia. There was also a bill signed into place that made the Fugitive Slave Act more intense. -
California Statehood
After Oregon was passed as a free state, it would have required California to pass as a slave state. President Zachary Taylor did not want California to be a slave state. Gold was soon discovered in 1849, and 48 delegates were sent to California to determine how the government would work. Ultimately, it was decided that California would be a free state ONLY if the Compromise of 1850 was passed. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" is a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and it conveys the struggle of enslavement. Primarily focusing on the struggle it was for children and families. This novel captured the attention of the nation, and it led to her meeting Abraham Lincoln. He jokingly stated that her book caused the Civil War since it caused such a roar through the country. -
Creation of the Republican Party
The creation of the Republican party originated in the Northern United States, and it consisted of those who were opposing slavery to expand. The Republican Party at this time consisted of ex-Whigs and ex-Free Soilers. After the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, the Republican Party formed to oppose it. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act caused "Bleeding Kansas" which was the violence that broke out between those in favor of slavery, and those who opposed it. This Act took back the Missouri Compromise, created two new territories, and it was determined that popular sovereignty would be used in these newly found territories. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was the violence that broke out directly after the Compromise of 1850. The Compromise of 1850 contained multiple bills passed based on slavery. The one bill that caused the most outrage was that popular sovereignty would be used in the newly found territories. This caused violence between those in favor of slavery, and those who opposed it. There were 55 casualties that came from Bleeding Kansas, and some consider it the first battle of the Civil War. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
Charles Sumner was an anti-slavery Republican in the Senate. He gave his "Crime Against Kansas" speech bashing Stephen Douglas, while giving Andrew Butler praise. Andrew Butler had a representative, Preston Brooks, and he was the one who brutally beat Sumner. He went into the "old chamber" after Sumner was done for the day, and he beat him senseless with a cane. Brooks resigned, but he was shortly reelected. -
Dred Scott Decision
In the year 1846, an African American man who was enslaved sued the state of Missouri in order to gain freedom for him and his wife. This led to a long 11 year struggle for freedom, that ultimately was not won. This case led to the decision that no African American would be allowed citizenship in the United States, and they did not gain protection from the United States. -
"A House Divided" Speech by Abraham Lincoln
"A House Divided" was a speech given by Abraham Lincoln following the Dred Scott Decision. He believed that the Union would eventually divide itself trying to be in favor completely of one side. He believed that the Dred Scott Decision took away the little that enslaved people had and that the Constitution protected slavery. -
Presidential Election of 1860
The 1860 Presidential Election was a four-way contest that Abraham Lincoln ultimately won despite him only having less than 40% of the popular vote. Although winning the electoral college vote was a breeze for Lincoln. He had 180 electoral college votes, whereas his opponents had 72, 39, and 12. His presidency went on to change the United States in so many ways, including the abolition of slavery.