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Florida Added to the Union
On March 3rd of 1845 Florida was added to the Union as a slave state. This allowed slavery to deepen and strenghten its grip on the South. -
Wilmot Proviso
This plan was proposed by congressmen David Wilmot, however it was never passed. This plan was created because the Northern Representatives from the House of Representatives wanted to eliminate slavery from the newly captured Mexican Territory, however the Southern Senators disagreed with said proposal. This disagreement would cause, and continue to cause, tensions between the North and South. -
Tubman Escapes Slavery
Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery in 1849. She then continued to travel back and forth from North to South with slaves carrying them to freedom in the North. She is said to have rescued seventy enslaved people and families. Her rescue missions marked the beginning of the Underground Railroad. The escaping of slaves was a very prominent issue in the South and would lead to tensions among the Southerners and the Northerners. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was meant to solve disputes between the Northern free states and the Southern slave states. These disputes were about wether the newly acquired territory would be slave states or free states. The compromise consisted of five main parts. The Fugitive Slave Act was passed, California entered the Union as a free state, boundary disputes between Texas and New Mexico were solved, slave trade was abolished in the District of Columbia, and new territories were organized. -
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Nashville Convention
The Nashville Covention was held between June 3rd and 11th of 1850 to discuss certain state's courses of action if the US banned slavery in the new territories. There were delagates from nine slave states at this convention. It was significant because for a time it prevented the dissolution of the Union. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed on The Fugitive Slave Act was passed on Septeber 18th of 1850. This act stated that all escaped slaves had to be returned to their owner. This act caused a 18th of 1850. This act stated that all escaped slaves had to be returned to their owner. This act caused a large amount of tensions between the North and the South. Some Northern states enacted personal liberty laws, which mandated a jury trial before the escaped slaves could be brought back to their owner. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Is Published
In 1852 "Uncle Tom's Cabin", written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was published. It was second only to the "Bible" in the amount of copies sold. The novel depicts the harshness of slavery and gives a glimpse into the everyday life as a slave. Due to the book's popularity the truth behind slavery and its cruelness became known, and instilled in many the desire to end slavery. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas occured between 1854 and 1861. It was a series of violent political confrontations between slave and non-slave states. There were numerous outbursts of violence, even among the politicans. These acts of violence truly demonstrated the ever-growing tensions of the slave and free states. -
Dred Scott vs. Sandford
The Dred Scott Case was brought to court due to the fact that Scott had lived in a free state, but moved to a slave state, and then had appealed to the Supreme Court hoping he would be granted freedom. However, the Supreme Court ruled against him. This ruling was incredibly significant in that it made it clear that slaves were not citizens, they were property, they're not made free by living in free territory and that Congress doesn't have the right to exclude slavery from the territories. -
John Brown's Rebellion
On October 16th of 1859, John Brown attempted an armed insurrection of Harper's Ferry. Brown seized an armory for thirty-six hours, but received no support, and was then captured. He was put on trial and then hanged. His case was significant because he inspired other slavery rebellions throughout America and was known as a martyr in North. -
John C. Breckinridge Nominated
On June 28th of 1860 John Breckinridge was nominated by Kentucky as their presidential candidate. The significance of his election was that Breckinridge endorsed National Slave Codes. These slave codes would give absolute power to the owners of the slaves and would deepen slavery's hold in the South.
