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Massachusetts Court
The Massachusetts Supreme Court rules that any slave brought into the state would be set free. This angers slave owners and many other southerners. -
Underground Railroad
The Underground railroad is officially formed. Many African Americans would runaway during nights and join others underground headed up North towards Canada. -
The Wilmot Provisio
It was proposed by David Wilmot and it made all staes aquired by Mexico after the war Free States. It was included most of the Southwest and all the way to California. The bill was later declined but it pushed for secession from the Southern states. -
Fugative Slave Act
Congress isn't alowed to interf in the slave trade between states, letting Southern slave-owners to take free blacks from the North. The act shocked abolitionists as it affected free states in maintaining the slave system by including that anyone aiding runaway slaves would be subject to fines and imprisonment. Many abolitionist and slave narratives highlight Northern problem towards the institution of slavery. An example is Mary Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom's Cabin. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Act is passed Congress and overturns the Missouri Compromise opening the Northern territory to slavery. Both sides begin to send settlers into the areas to have more voting rights. -
Bloody Kansas
Kansas is getting ready for elections and thousands of Border Ruffians from Missouri enter the territory to get their votes in. This begins the Bloody Kansas period with duplicate constitutional conventions, separate elections and constant and violent attacks from each side. -
John Brown
John Brown attacks Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Robert E. Lee leads the troops and captures Brown. John Brown and two of the black members of his band were hanged. This was juist the start of the War. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln is chosen president and won 40% of the votes with 55% electoral votes. In the deep South he wasn't even on the ballot. -
Secession
The state of South Carolina passes an Ordianace for secession of the Union. This was the start of the Confederate states. More states ended up seceding from the Union to join South Carolina.
