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The Missouri Comprise
In the midst of growing fear of the south seceding, the Missouri Compromise was passed. The compromise admitted Missouri into the Union and become a slave sate while also allowing Maine to become a free state. It also banned slavery from the rest of the land within the Louisiana purchase located north of a Kentucky, which follows the line stated in the compromise. This created tension because of the new states that would be added from the Louis. purchase, would likely outnumber slavery states. -
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The Abolitionist Movement
The abolitionist movement was an anti-slavery campaign to end slavery. It started in the 1830s and ended around the 1870s. It started as a movement with a religious upbringing, it soon became more of a social justice movement that divide much of the US.. It was one of the major factors that caused the civil war. Many of the members were white religious people, although a lot of the significant leaders were black men who recently escaped slavery. -
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Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American war produce a lot of land for the US that was widely disputed over, much like the rest of the expanding territory of the US during this time period. The dispute was about what land should become a free state and what would be a slave state. This isn't fought over because they want to simply expand their beliefs, either side fears losing power over the country if their outnumbered. This problem created many comprises that created both a free and slave state at the same time. -
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The Fugitive slave act of 1850 forcibly compelled citizens of both pro and anti slave states to assist the capture and return of escaped slaves. It also denied the right of a trail to any enslaved person. This was put in place to attempt to quiet the idea of succession. Although it was definitely not preferable for the free states to get involved as much as this makes them, it was needed. Without the law, slaves would escape much more and free states would likely keep them, causing a sooner war. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin is an abolitionist novel published in 1852. It gained widespread popularity among northern white readers. The book paints a vivid picture of what the experience of slavery is like. This novel is significant to the the abolitionist movement, although it was denounced in the south where slavery was prevalent. Even 170 years past its release, it has gotten movie and play adaptions. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a small civil war fought in the new territory of Kansas under the doctrine of popular sovereignty. Pro slavery and anti slavery advocates were fighting each other over whether the new land would be a slave or free state. This "war" was prevalent to slavery because it was one of the most popular actual battles over it up until the civil war. The new Republican Party was also formed from this event. The fact that this war is purely slavery vs no slavery keeps it important. -
Sumner Attack By Preston Brooks
Preston Brooks of SC. brutally beat Senator Charles Sumner of MA. with a cane right in the senator chamber. This attack was in response to a speech Sumner gave that attacked the institution of slavery and pro-slavery senators. Although this act of violence was only between two people, it represented the violent tensions pro-slave and anti-slave senators and states must have felt for each other. And the tensions only grew after the attack of course. -
The Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott versus Sandford was a long legal battle over the freedom of a black enslaved man name Dred Scott. It eventually reached the supreme court, where it was turned down. By the time it reached the supreme court the cased had gained a lot of attention by high ranking politicians and attorneys. When the Sandford's side won the case, it sparked outrage among many abolitionists groups. -
Election of 1860
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln won the vote and became the 16t president of the US.. This was a problem for the south because of his public disinterest in the institution of slavery. Democratic party was split over the issue of slavery, while republicans were clearly moderate on slavery and not allowing its expansion. Even more tension arose with some of the southern states believing they should be able to govern themselves, especially if an opposing party member is president. -
Secession Of The South
In hopes to maintain the institution of slavery and state-led governments, the south seceded from the union. After a man with an opposing view point was elected, they felt they had no power. They had two options, fight against national governments in hopes they can have their own laws and institution, or secede and become a separate nation with its own policies. In fear that fighting against a national government would destroy their slavery-centered life, they chose the second option.