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Missouri Compromise
Missouri wanted to become a state, but that would upset the free state-slave state balance. To help with this, Henry Clay created the Missouri Compromise. It said all territory north of the southern border of Missouri was free, and all territory south of it is slave. It happened because people wanted to ensure the slave-free power was equal. Also, Missouri was granted statehood as a slave state and Maine was as a free state. -
Wilmot Proviso
After the Mexican-American War ended, there were many territories that could become either slave or free states. David Wilmot created the Proviso in order to make them all free states. It passed the House of Representatives, but was defeated in Senate. Many Southerners were angered by it. They saw the bill as an attack on slavery from the North. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was also created by Henry Clay. It allowed California to be admitted as a free state. It allowed Utah and New Mexico to decide their slavery laws based on popular sovereignty. It also banned the slave trade-but not slavery-in Washington D.C. Finally, it created the controversial Fugitive Slave Act. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act allowed free Africans in the North to be captured and returned to the South as slaves. If challenged, free Africans would have no rights at court and would simply be enslaved. People in the North were also required to turn in slaves to the South if they saw a slave. It was meant to show slavery was fine to the Northerners, but it made them hate it even more. Meanwhile, the South was very happy to see this rule come into play. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe to describe the horrors of slavery. The North was shocked about the information and had never imagined slavery to be so brutal. On the other hand, the South thought that the entire book was propaganda and was entirely false. This book led to a larger split between the North and the South. Lincoln even greeted Stowe with, “So you’re the woman who began the war.” -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Kansas was deciding if they are free or slave through popular sovereignty. Abolitionists and pro-slavery people wanted to defeat the other side to get more representatives in government. More representatives would allow the winning side to pass pro- or anti-slavery laws. Therefore, abolitionists moved from the north to Kansas. Shortly after, pro-slavery people moved in. Tensions between the two groups rapidly grew, leading to many conflicts. It eventually progressed to fighting. -
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott was a slave. His owner kept him as a slave when he lived in slave states. Scott sued the government, arguing that he should have been freed as soon as he went to a free state. The Supreme Court ruled that he was still a slave because he was considered property, and the government had to protect a citizen's life, liberty, and property. They also said that because territories are not states, the government had no jurisdiction there, so they are all slave areas. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates were a series of political debates running from August 21 to October 15, 1858 that were a result of the battle for a seat in Congress. The seven debates were often well-attended by onlookers. During the debates, both candidates would insult each other and their thoughts. In the end of the debates, Douglas won a seat in Congress. However, Lincoln became famous and which eventually helped him with the election of 1860. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown’s Raid was a failed attempt at arming slaves in the South and inducing a rebellion. Brown also killed many slavery-supporting families. His plan failed and the majority of his men were killed on the spot. Eventually, Brown was taken to court, where he was sentenced to death for treason and murder. People in the North mourned his death, while Southerners were overjoyed by his fate. -
Southern Secession
The South seceded because they thought they no longer had representation in government. They were entirely against Lincoln-he didn’t receive a single vote as he wasn’t on the ballot. Lincoln offered chances for the South to rejoin the Union, but the South declined and proceeded to send troops to the U.S. Soon after, the Battle of Fort Sumter occurred, which marked the beginning of the Civil War. -
Lincoln Election of 1860
The election of 1860 started on November 6, 1860 and had in four parties running. Lincoln (Republican) was anti-slavery. Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat) was for popular sovereignty. John Breckinridge (Southern Democrat) wanted slavery in the territories, and John Bell (Constitutional Union Party) was pro-slavery. Lincoln won all free states, Breckinridge won most slave states, Bell won three states in the upper south, and Douglas only won Missouri. Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4th, 1861.
