-
Slavery
The South utilized slavery to tend to its large plantations and to perform other duties. The Southern economy depended on slavery because without it there would be to much land for the plantations to tend to, so instead of hiring people they bought slaves and paid them little and mostly nothing at all. Slaves were used as currency because they could be rented, traded, or sold to pay of debts. The North did not have slaves because they had many factories and paid people in search of jobs money to -
The Missouri Compromise
Abolitionists who lived in the territories gained from the U.S-Mexican war fought to keep slavery out of their territories. Abolitionist finally got slavery declared illegal in their territories from the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Pro- Slavery and Anti- Slavery groups went to populate the new territories because they thought that slavery could be outlawed through out the whole country. -
Abolitionist Movement
During the Abolitionists Movement the abolitionists were trying to abolish slavery. Abolitionists claimed to have obedience to “higher law” instead of obedience to the constitution’s guarantee that a fugitive in one state would be considered a fugitive in all states. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book helped expand the support for anti-slavery movements in the United States. -
The Undergrund Railroad
Some abolitionists helped slaves who were running away escape slavery using “The Underground Railroad.” In some cases men and law officers who went out to search for run-away slaves and were attacked and beaten by abolitionists mobs. Harriet Tubman, who was also a runaway slave, helped many many slaves escape slavery by leading them through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman was also a nurse and a spy in the Civil War. -
John Brown
John Brown was an abolitionist who lived in Kansas. Violent clashes between the abolitionist and slave owners occurred in Kansas, which John Brown was a part of.John Brown had stuck up for slaves while living in Kansas. Brown eventually moved closer to the South so he could fight closer to the heart of slavery. -
States' RIghts
The struggle between Federal government and individual states over political power was States’ Rights. The main struggle was slavery and what each state could do to prevent or continue slavery and what the Federal government could and could not do. The states that agreed with each other were between the North and South which split the nation farther down the middle. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote an anti-slavery novel called Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Her book was published in serial form in an anti-slavery newspaper in 1851 and in book form in 1852. It was a nationwide and worldwide seller within just two years. The book was describing the evils of slavery and showed a vision of slavery that had not been seen before. She wrote the book to start a wave of anti-slavery sentiment across the nation. President Lincoln met her and said, “So your the little lady that wrote -
The Dred Scott Desicion
Dred Scott was a slave who requested citizenship through the American legal system. His case ended up in the Supreme Court. The Dred Scott decision denied his request stating that no person with African blood could become a U.S. citizen. Denying him citizenship also overturned the Missouri Compromise of 1820. -
Lincoln's Election
-
Harper's Ferry Raid
John Brown and an a band of followers seized the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. They were dislodged by the U.S. Marines led by the Army lieutenant, Robert E. Lee. John Brown was tried for treason against Virginia and was later hung. During the raid they were attempting to arm a slave insurrection.
