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Missouri Compromise
Increased sectionalism throughout the country and intensified the slavery debate. Essentially split the country in half based on slavery. -
War with Mexico
American's were growing land huungry driven by manifest destiny. New lands acquired from American victory were added to the slavery debate. -
Wilmot's Proviso
Wilmot proposed a law to ban slavery in all land gained from war with Mexico. Southern Senators killed the bill and it never became a law. Northerners outraged by southern control of senate. -
Fugative Slave Act
This Act allowed a single judge to decided the fate of blacks found in the north. The judges were biased because they were given more money for convicting blacks as slaves and sending them back to the south. Nothern abolitionists are outraged. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Repealed Missouri Compromise becuase it introduced the notion of popular sovereignty to Lousiana purchase areas. This indicated further arguing between slavery advocates and abolitionists. -
"Bleeding Kansas"
Men from the north, wanting to send a message to southern slave owners, murdered hundreds of masters. These murders indicated that compromise was no longer a possibility in the United States. -
Republican Party
Northerners furious over Bleeding Kansas led to forming the Republican party in Ripon, Wisconsin. Main objective was to restrict slavery from all territories. Southerners saw this act as one of war. -
Two-Party System
The distinction of the two sides of slavery is now evident in the new two party system. This is another example of the sectionalism acheived by the slavery debate. -
Beating of Senator Charles Sumner
Congressman Preston Brooks beat Senator Charles Sumner with a cane after an aleged attempt at discredting Brook's uncle. At this point in time, not even men of governement can be civil. -
Dred Scott Case
Supreme Court ruled that Congress couldn't restrict slavery in any territoy, effectively voiding the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska Act. -
Freeport Doctrine
Abraham Lincoln argued that the United States wouldn't survive as half slave and half free, and Stephen Douglas advocated popular soverreignty. -
"Uncle Tom's Cabin"
Depicted the authors views of slavery and had a huge impact on Northerners, and encouraged many to join the fight of abolition. -
John Brown
Failed to arm slaves with knives, this act enraged the southerners and they no longer felt safe. -
1860 Presidential Election
Lincoln (anti-slavery) c. Breckinridge (pro-slavery) -
Fort Sumter
First legitamate fighting between North and South, the Civil War has begun. -
Crittenden Compromise
Last chance effort to preserve the union, restrict slavery north of 36 30 line, and to allow south of line, but it was to no avial.
