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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise happened after the US gained Missouri territory. Since Missouri was on both the north & south border, the government was unsure of whether to name the state slave or nonslave. They didn’t want to disrupt the balance between slave and non-slave states, so Maine became its own state to balance it out. Maine became a non slave state, Missouri became a slave state. This event began widening the bridge between either political side of the country. -
Abolitionist Movement Begins
The abolitionist movement was started to end slavery instantly. The goal was to end the slave trade and free slaves. Harriet Tubman along with a few others were the main leaders who started the movement. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in order to end the conflict between the US and the Mexican Republic. The US gained 500000 square miles of land, including Texas, California, and the Utah and New Mexico territory. -
Fugitive Slave Act
This act was part of the compromise of 1850. It declared that the government had to help slaveowners catch their runaway slaves, even if they were in a location that didn’t have slavery. This lead to slaveowners capturing people who weren’t even their slave, and forcing them into slavery, which they were never even a part of. -
Peak of the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a number of paths and routes leading from the south to the north for slaves to take in order to escape slavery. They were very difficult and far to travel on, but even so, by 1850, it was estimated that around 100000 slaves had escaped using the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman had gone back and forth numerous times to save slaves, risking her life each time. -
Dred Scott vs Stanford
This case was what declared slaves as non American citizens, and that they didn’t have the rights to sue the court. Dred Scott tried to purchase his freedom from his owner, but was denied despite having a good case. This event really distanced the north and south even further by making evident that slavery needed to be ended, or it would spread into the northern slave free states. -
Bleeding Kansas (Kansas & Nebraska Act)
Bleeding Kansas was basically a mini civil war. The north and south fought in Kansas over whether the state should be slave or nonslave. It basically ended right as the civil war was beginning. -
John Brown Raid
The goal of the John Brown raid was to raid Harpers Ferry and steal the weapons there to give to slaves. The plan was that after arming the slaves, they would start a rebellion and kill off some slaveowners and free more and more slaves, starting a domino effect. The raid was unsuccessful, as not even a few days into the plan, Brown was caught and the mission was instantly shut down. -
Threats of Succession
The idea of succession had always been there, but it was around 1860 when the thought of succession became more and more viable to the south, who wanted to break off and creat their own country. The US wanted to remain as one, so succession was seen as a last resort. -
Abe Lincoln’s Election
Abe Lincoln was against the idea of slavery expanding, and when he won by popular vote in November of 1860, not everyone was happy - especially not the south. No southern states had voted for him, as they knew he would want to abolish slavery. -
Civil War Begins
Almost directly after Lincoln was elected, the civil war between the north and south began. It lasted until April 9 of 1865, with over 600000 people dying during the war.
