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Missouri Compromise
The Northern and Southern politicians have heated debates over the growth of slavery. Henry Clay, known as the Great Compromiser, settles the debate by saying that Maine would be admitted as a free state and Arkansas would be open to slavery. The Missouri Compromise was a series of laws that helped maintain the balance between slave and free states. -
The Nullification Crisis
Southern States like South Carolina felt that tariffs were unfair and only supported the North. Vice President John C. Calhoun said any stair could nullify (make void) a federal law it considers unconstitutional. When the federal government denied South Carolina's argument that they had the right to reject a federal law, South Carolina threatened to secede. Henry Clay came up with a compromise and lowered the tariff. -
Compromise of 1850
After the war with Mexico, congress had many heated debates as to whether the new territories won from Mexico would be admitted as slave states of free states. Henry Clay once again helped make a compromise.
1. California would be admitted as a free state
2. Congress would not pass laws banning slavery from the rest of the territory -
Fugitive Slave Law (Act) of 1850
This act permitted the capture of African-Americans who had fled to the North to escape bondage. The act convinced many abolitionists that radical measures were necessary to end slavery. These laws heightened tension, and set the stage for Jihn Brown's Raid and the American Civil War. -
Bleeding Kansas
5,000 people from nearby proslavery Missouri came and voted for proslavery representatives in Kansas illegally. As a result, Kansas had a proslavery legislature. Antislavery opponents started their own government. The antislavery government was attacked by proslavery forces. To avenge this attack, extreme abolitionist John Brown murdered several of his proslavery neighbors. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his freedom. He argued that because he lived in a free territory that he should have been emancipated. The court ruled and declared the following:
-Scott was not free based on his residence in either Illonois or Wisconsin
-African Americans were not considered citizens when the constitution was drafted in 1787
-Dred Scott was the property of his owner, and property could not be taken from a person without due process of law. -
Attack on Harpers Ferry
John Brown wanted to inspire slaves to fight for their freedom. He planned to capture the arsenal at the army base in Harper's Ferry, Virginia to arm the slaves. No slaves came to his aid. Brown and his men were captured. Abolitionists saluted John Brown as he was put to death, the issue of slavery had raised tensions in America to the breaking point. -
The Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln wins the election, despite his statements that he would do nothing to abolish slavery in the South, southerners did not trust him. Southern states begn to secede from the Union shortly after Lincoln is elected.
