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The Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was a piece of legislation proposed by David Wilmot at the close of the Mexican-American War. If passed, the Proviso would have outlawed slavery in territory acquired by the United States as a result of the war. This included most of the Southwest and extended all the way to California. All attempts to pass this Proviso however failed. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 contained the following provisions and it post-poned secession for a short period of time. This Compromise stated that California would be admitted into the Union as a free state. The remainder of the Mexican cession would be divided into the two territories of N.Mex and UT. The claim of TX to N.Mex was satisfied by a payment of $10 million. The Fugitive Slave Act was passed. Lastly buying and selling of slaves (but not slavery) was abolished in the District of Colombia. -
The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed to apprehend runaway slaves and return them to their masters. This act was an immediate source of tension. It offended Northerners who refused to have any part in catching slaves. Some Northerners actively and violently obstructed The Fugitive Slave Act’s enforcement. This act also caused the Underground Railroad to become more effective than ever, as slaves tried to escape their owners without being caught. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s fictional exploration of slave life was a cultural sensation. This book opened Northerner’s eyes to the horrors of slavery. Southerners protested that Stowe’s work was slanderous. Uncle Tom’s Cabin rapidly became very popular. It’s popularity brought the issue of the slavery debate to life. -
The Kansas- Nebraska Act
This act also known as “Bleeding Kansas” established Kansas and Nebraska as territories. This was drafted by Democratic Senator Stephen A. Douglas. Under popular sovereignty, residents of these territories get to decide if the state is to be free or enslaved. The Act served to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery north of latitude 36º30’. -
Abolitionist John Brown Strikes Back
Abolitionist John Brown came to Kansas to fight the forces of slavery. Brown advocated the use of armed insurrection to overthrow the institution of slavery in the United States. Bown and his supporters killed five pro-slavery settlers in the Pottawatomie Creek Massacre in Kansas. This launched a guerilla war between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces. -
The Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott was an enslaved African-American who lived with his owner in Illinois, a free state, and a northern part of the Louisiana purchase where slavery was prohibited as well. Scott believed he should be freed and tried to sue for his freedom. The Supreme Court was against Scott and ruled that the Missouri Compromise was “unconstitutional” and that African-Americans weren’t citizens. Roger Taney stated that Congress couldn’t prevent Southerners from moving their slave property with them. -
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Democratic Senator Stephen Douglas engaged in seven public debates across the state of Illinois. These debates propelled Lincoln to the national spotlight which later enabled his presidential nomination in 1860. These debates also further alienated Douglas from the Southern Wing of the Democratic Party. The arguments Douglas made in these debates came back and haunted him in 1860 destroying his presidential chances. -
The Election of a Republican, Abraham Lincoln
The South wished to take slavery into the Western territories. In contrast, the North was committed to keeping these territories open to white labor alone. The newly formed Republican Party strongly opposed the Westward expansion of slavery into new states. Abraham Lincoln’s presidential victory was a signal to the Southern states that they had lost all influence. The Southern states turned to what they believed to be their last hope, succession. This political decision led directly to war. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
With secession, several federal forts, including Fort Sumter suddenly became outposts in a foreign land. Abraham Lincoln made the decision to send fresh supplies to the Fort Sumter in South California. On April 12, 1861, the confederate warships turned back the supply convoy to Fort Sumter and opened a 34-hour bombardment on the stronghold. The Civil War was now underway.
