-
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was a harsh new law against runaway slaves. It was passed as part of the Compromise of 1850. It states that anyone accused of being a runaway slave could be convicted without a trial. The South supported this and hoped the North would see that they had a right to their property However, this only convinced the North that slavery was evil and was a moral problem instead of a political problem.
Primary Source A warning that the act passed. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel that was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was about the life of a slave and the cruelty he must face. The book changed the beliefs of many Northerners since they got an idea on what slavery was actually like. The North was shocked and saw slavery as a moral problem instead of a political one. The South saw the book as propaganda.
Primary Source: An illustration of two characters in the novel -
Kansas Nebraska Act/Bleeding Kansas
The Kansas Nebraska Act allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether to be free or slave by popular sovereignty. This is where people vote to decide whether to be free or slave. Because of this, many Northerners and Southerners rushed to the territories to get them on their side. Many gangs formed that attacked the opposite side, hence the name, "Bleeding Kansas". Southerners liked the act, Northerners did not.
Primary Source:The Senate passes the act -
Dred Scott Desicion
Dred Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom, as he was in a free territory. The Supreme Court ruled three things. First, since he was a slave, he was not a citizen, so he could not sue. Congress did not have the power to regulate slavery in territories. Also, living in a free state did not make Scott free. Southerners rejoiced that slavery was legal in all territories. Northerners feared that there would be more slavery.
Primary Source: The final decision of the court. -
Lincoln's Election
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln won the presidency in a divided country as part of the newly formed Republican Party. The North was happy that he won. The South however, was really unhappy, to the point where some states seceded from the Union. Lincoln tried to get the south to join back. However, they refused, and began to attack Union forces stationer within their territory.
Primary Source: A notification to Lincoln that he got the Republican nomination for the presidency.
