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Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was when the US bought land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million dollars from France in April 30, 1803. Jefferson sent Monroe to negotiate a settlement. France sold all of its lands in America because the Minister of Finance advised Napolean about how they can't afford to send troops to occupy the land. This increased tensions between the North and the South because more land means more slaves.This will spark a disagreement to whether slavery should be abolished. -
African Slaves Trade Ends
Congress placed an act that ceased the slave trade in America on January 1, 1808. The cotton gin boosted the rise of slavery. The North didn't care for slaves as it doesn't help their economy. This increased tensions between the North and South because the status of freed slaves was highly debated. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was created to balance the number of slave states to free states. This compromise was passed on March 3, 1820, which admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It will later be repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The compromise was declared unconstitutional by the Dred Scott decision. This increased tensions between the North and South because the Northerners wanted to abolish slavery and the South wanted to bring slaves on any territory they want. -
Nat Turner Rebellion
Nathaniel Turner organized a rebellion on August 21, 1831, in Virginia to revolt against plantation owners. Turner hid for 6 weeks then was hung in Jerusalem, VA. Turner and his crew killed roughly 51 white people. This increased tensions between the North and South because it increased fear of slaves. Also, the South closely monitored slaves rather than abolishing the system. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was 5 bills that were passed by Congress to defuse the tensions between the North and South on January 29, 1850. The slave trade was banned in D.C. but the institution wasn't. The compromise was possible after President Zachary Taylor died. This increased tensions between the North and South because it restricted the South's terriorial expansion. This means the South couldn't have as many slaves as they wanted to. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive was written on September 18, 1850, as part of a compromise between the free states and slave states. The compromise stated that all runaway slaves could be recaptured and citizens in the free state must help. It was also known as the "Bloodhound Laws". Several slaves were able to escape each year which makes the institution unstable in border states. This event increased tensions between the North and South because the North have to send back the slaves that they've been helping. -
Uncle's Tom Cabin
Uncle's Tom Cabin was written by Harriet Stowe on March 20, 1852. It was an anti-slavery book that helped prepare for the Civil War. It was the best-selling book in the 19th century. It supported the abolitionist cause. This event increased tensions between the North and South because slaves were escaping to the North and the South needed slaves to work on their plantation. This led to violence between the two sides. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The U.S. Congress in 1854 allowed the territory's of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for them self if they were going to allow slavery. One fact was 'Popular sovereignty' which was used to describe the idea that citizens could decide whether slavery was allowed or not. A second fact was that the Kansas-Nebraska Act was one of the main contributors towards the end of Missouri Compromise. It increased tension for the North and South by letting it lead to the outbreak of the Civil War -
Bloody Kansas
It was a series of violent civil confrontations in the United States between 1854 and 186, proslavery and free-state settlers went to Kansas to influence the decision, which emerged from a debate over the legality of slavery in the proposed state of Kansas. One fact was that it was was a border war on the Kansas-Missouri border, the creator of the name "Bloody Kansas" was Horace Greeley. It increased tension for the north and south by making them feel that their hold on power was under attack. -
Brooks Attacks Sumner
It occurred on May 22, 1856, in the United States Senate, when Representative Preston Brooks used a walking cane to attack Senator Charles Sumner, because of a speech that he did that criticized slaveholders and Preston Brooks. One fact is that Sumner was the leader of the anti-slavery forces in Massachusett. A second fact was that Brooks resigned his seat but was reelected. It created more tension for the North and the South because of there being a major fight of two senates of the nation. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
On 1858 there were 7 debates between Abraham Lincoln who expected slavery on how it was but did not want it to spread to new territories. Stephen Douglas wanted slavery determined by popular sovereignty, the debate was in Illinois. One fact was that the debates could be crude, with personal insults and racial slurs being hurled. A second was that the two men were not running for president. This increased tension for the North and South by there being more good and bad opinions of slavery. -
Raid on Harpers Ferry
On 1859 John Brown leads a small group of 21 followers to start an armed slave revolt to destroy the institution of slavery that was against a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. In fact from the situation was Brown was hanged December 2 for murder. A second fact was that it was widely believed his intention was to arm slaves for a rebellion but denied that. This made tensions with the North and the South by there being more violent with slavery. -
Election of 1860
On November 6, 1860, It was a presidential election which Abraham Lincoln defeated Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge. The election split up the north and south which seceded, setting the stage for the American Civil War. One fact was that it was the most important presidential election in American history. A second fact would be that the Southerner's vowed to leave the Union if Abraham was elected. This created tension for the South and North by now starting a Civil War in the U.S.
