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Missouri Compromise
Missouri is admitted as a slave state while main is admitted as a free state in order to keep the balance. Additionally, slavery is abolished above the 36'30’ line. This compromise helped to keep the delicate balance between slave and free states, but it led to the problems in Kansas later. -
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Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion
Nat Turner organized a rebellion, recruiting people through preaching. On August 21, 1831, the rebellion began. Nat Turner and his compatriots marched through Southampton County, Virginia, killing 55 people. As a result, Turner was hung and rules on slaves became even tighter. Overall, pro-slavery sentiment in the South was strengthened. -
Wilmot Proviso
An amendment proposed by David Wilmot that would ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico. The amendment rocked Congress, causing a split between free and slave states. As a result of this split, Wilmot Proviso was unable to pass both houses of Congress, but it did highlight the economic tension between the North and the South at the time. As a result, it changed the debate of slavery and pushed the U.S. closer to Civil War. -
Treaty of Guadalupe and Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe and Hidalgo brought an end to the Mexican-American war. Most notably, the treaty created the current Southern border of America. This is significant because not only did tensions re-arise, as the war brought the United States some unification, but they were even greater because the U.S. had even more land to fight over. The United States had to divide the new territory between slave and free states, causing the slavery debate to come back into the limelight. -
Compromise of 1850
California entered as a free state, Washington D.C. was made a free territory (no slaves), Texas was admitted as a slave state. Additionally, the South got the 36'30' rule to be deemed unconstitutional (popular sovereignty), and the fugitive slave act was to be enforced. This was especially concerning because it forced abolitionists to either defy the law or go against their own morals. As a result, tensions increased; fear and rage were at an all time high. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
An antislavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The novel focuses on the struggles of slaves and America, aiming to show that slavery was not just a political contest but also a great moral issue. As a result, the North increased protesting on the enforcement of the Fugitive slave act, and the South became enraged. While the novel increased tensions, it also helped to change the view of African Americans. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Divided the area into two territories: Kansas in the South, Nebraska in the North. Repealed the Missouri Compromise (1820) and established popular sovereignty for both sides. As a result of these changes, there were many violent uprisings taking place in Kansas. pro and antislavery activists went to Kansas and tried to sway the vote, an event known as "bleeding Kansas". Overall, while the act was intended as a peaceful settlement, it served only as a prelude to Civil War. -
Scott V. Stanford
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that enslaved people were not citizens of the United States and, therefore, were not guaranteed protection from the federal government or the courts. The ruling also stated that Congress had not right to ban slavery from a federal territory. This decision was important because it not only enforced popular sovereignty, but it also would also allow slavery to run free throughout the United States. -
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John Brown's Raid
On October 16, 1859, John Brown raided Harper's ferry for a span of 2 days in order to incite a slave revolt in the South. While the raid was unsuccessful, it convinced many peaceful abolitionists to take on more militant measures to achieve their goals. Additionally, the hanging of John Brown and his companions further incited rage and tensions between the North and South. -
The Election of 1860
Lincoln, against all odds, won the election of 1860. His win was extremely contentious, only winning 40% of the popular vote but winning out through electoral votes. This controversial win drove tensions to an all time high. Southern states began seceding from the Union left and right. In fact, tensions were so high that many people argue that it was the catalyst to push the U.S. to Civil war.