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Missouri Compromise
As Missouri was held in standing for being admitted as a state, controversy arose. The balance of free and slave states in the United States would no longer be equal. As a compromise Missouri was declared a slave state. Then in return Maine would be considered a free state to keep everything equal. Along with a new ruling being that slavery is outlawed above the 36° 30' latitude line in the remainder of the Louisiana Territory. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was an idea basing off the foundation of forbidding slavery. After the Mexican war when the president was negotiating the boundary between Mexico and the U.S.. On behalf of the anti-slavery forces, a Democratic Congressman, David Wilmot, proposed a new amendment. Stating that slavery would be prohibited in the new territory. The amendment caused national debate and either house passed the amendment; though, the efforts by democrats led to the creation of the Republican party. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
With the destruction of Mexico's capital, Mexico surrendered to the U.S. and seceded 55% of their territory. The U.S. had gained all of the reasons for going to war with Mexico. Yet, president Polk considered rejecting the treaty due to the large amount of Southerners gawking over the opportunity of new slave states. With Northern opinion and Southerner's influence, Polk reluctantly accepted. With the South hoping to rule much of Mexico's Spanish and Indian populations to use as slave states. -
Compromise of 1850
When California requested the join the U.S. as a free state, it reignited the debate over an unbalance of free and slave states. Everyone looked to the senate to settle the dispute. In which a series of bills passed addressing the issues of slavery. Slavery is decided based on popular sovereignty for newly admitted states. California entered the nation as a free state, along with prohibited slave trade in the District of Columbia, stricter fugitive slave laws, and settled Texas boundary dispute. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Abolitionist used the book to push their cause, while people in the South denounced the books portrayal of slavery. The novel's vivid portrayal of slavery revealed a new light as to the harshness of slave life. Although, the book also incited controversy over the character Uncle Tom. Seen as a traitor to his own race due to his complicit way of reacting toward the "masters". -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois proposed that the area directly west of Missouri should be divided into Kansas and Nebraska. Stating that the residents of the states should decide whether or not slavery is legal. Anti-slavery supporters were outraged as this went directly against the Missouri Compromise. Both KS and NE were above the line that outlawed slavery. Eventually passing, slavery supporters and opponents rushed to Kansas to gain a majority vote, quickly turning into violence. -
Bleeding Sumner
After the Kansas-Nebraska Act there was a civil divide in the state of Kansas over pro/anti slavery. A group of slavery supporters sacked the town of Lawrence, hoping to rid of a large number of abolitionist. The Lawrence raid led to more violent acts, mainly run by John Brown. Newspapers in the North overly exaggerated the events. Once, the topic of the Kansas events hit the senate floor, Sen. Sumners was beaten with a cane by Sen. Brooks due to his claims over the justification of Brown. -
Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott, a black man that had lived in a free territory, moved to a slave state in which he sued. The suit was held on the basis of his previous freedom in the free territory. Scott lost his case, then filed new suits that made their way up to the supreme court. The final ruling stated: enslaved people were not citizens of the United States, and therefore can not receive any protection from federal courts. Also ruled that congress had no authority to ban slavery in federal territories. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry was a siege of the United States arsenal as a form of revolt for the freeing of slaves. The abolitionist, provided his army with weapons, on the 16th of October, 1859, they took over Harper's Ferry; taking some people hostage and freeing slaves. The next day local militias gathered around the ferry, as both groups begin to fight and soldiers died on both sides. Eventually militia men retook the ferry, capturing the raiders with the help of U.S. marines. -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 was an integral election due to the possibility of Southern secession if a Republican were to get elected. With the Democratic party split into two as they could not decide which one of their candidates would be running, the majority vote was left with Abraham Lincoln. Out of the 4 candidates Lincoln, won with a substantial lead. This caused the start of the secession for the South, with SC leaving first then spreading to the rest of the states.