-
Missouri Compromise
Declared Missouri as a slave state and Maine a free state. It also outlawed slavery above the southern border of the state of Missouri. -
Wilmot Proviso
An unsuccessful proposal in the United States Congress to ban slavery in the areas obtained from Mexico in the Mexican-American war. The tension created by tis proposal led to the civil war. -
Election of 1848 & the Free Soil Party
The election of 1848 was between Zachary Taylor and Lewis Cass, which Zachary Taylor went on to win. The Free Soil party supported free grants of public land to settlers as well as opposing the spread of slavery into the south. -
Compromise of 1850
Stated that:
1. California is a free state
2. Remainder of Mexican territory was pro slavery
3. Settled New Mexico border dispute in favor of New Mexico -
Fugitive Slave Act & Personal Liberty Laws
The fugitive slave law created a group of agents, whose job was to track down escaped slaves and return them to their owner. In response the Personal Liberty laws was passed in order to protect citizens from false arrest as "runaway slaves". -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A book published in 1852 which humanized slaves in the eyes of Americans. This book garnered massive support for the anti-slavery movement. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Created two new territories in Kansas and Nebraska. Congress allowed the two states to determine if they were pro or anti slavery. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a long drawn out conflict between the pro and anti slave constituents in Kansas. These conflicts turned violent and resulted in about 55 people dead. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
This series of debates between Lincoln and Douglas would decide who would be the senator of the state of Illinois. In the end Lincoln ended up gaining more recognition and would go on to become the senator of Illinois. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John brown raided Harper's Ferry in order to initiate a slave revolt. It was events like these that created enough tension for something as drastic as the civil war to take place. -
Election of 1860 & the Republican Party
The election of 1860 was won by Abraham Lincoln. The republican party was a new party created with the sole purpose of ending the spread of slavery. -
Secession of Eleven Southern Sates
Due to increasing tensions eleven states seceded from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America.