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Missouri Compromise
The missouri compromise was an act signed by the federal government to balance to the number of slave and free states in the US. Missouri was admitted as a slave state while Maine was admitted as a free state. The missouri compromise also birthed the missouri line which ran along the 36 30' latitude line through the louisiana territory. All territory above the line was free, and all territory below it was a slave state. This act also balanced the senate. -
Wilmot Proviso
Congressman David Wilmot of Pennsylvania first introduced the Wilmot Proviso to the U.S. congress on August 8th of 1846. At the time, the U.S. had just acquired territory from Mexico after their victory in the Mexican american war. Due to the height of the feud over slavery, it was uncertain what would be done about the new territory. The Wilmot Proviso requested that the U.S. would declare the new territory as free instead of slave territory. However, it was declined by the house. -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 was an act signed by the U.S. on January first of 1850. The act would make California a free state and therefore part of the union. It would also give the territories of New Mexico and Utah the choice between becoming a free or slave state. Lastly the act would allow any new territories established following the Mexican-American war to decide if they were to be a free or slave state. This compromise also had a direct effect on the future "Fugitive slave act". -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was a continuation of the Compromise of 1850, although being passed many months later. The act would benefit the south. All slaves who escaped their masters and flead to free were still claimed property of their master. This meant that any slaves discovered by residents of free states were required to return the slaves to their masters. Housing escaped slaves would become a federal crime. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was an anti slavery book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book features a character referred to as Uncle Tom who is enslaved. Tom is treated poorly his whole life but always keeps good spirits. On an auction boat in New Orleans, Tom saves a young white girl named Eva. In return, Eva's father purchases Tom and he is given a much better life. The book is written to develop empathy for Tom by readers, and display hardships of slave life. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska act would be federally passed on May 30th 1854. The act would create the two new territories of Kansas and Nebraska. The act would also repeal the Missouri Compromise and give the two states popular sovereignty. Outrage over this led to the event known as bleeding kansas. Bleeding Kansas was a civil uproar between free and pro-slavers over whether Kansas would be a free or slave state. -
Pottawatomie Massacre
On the night of May 24th, radical abolitionist John Brown led a group of abolitionist troops, including five of his sons, into Kansas. They captured five pro-slave men from their cabins and murdered them along the bank of the Pottawatomie Creek. John Brown would never directly admit to the massacre although he hinted towards his involvement. Outrage from the south called for justice in the act. More tension grew and more violence would follow this event. Seen as the prelude to war in Kansas. -
Scott vs Sandford
Scott vs Sandford was a court case in which Scott, a slave sued his master, Sandford. Sandford brought Scott into the state of Illinois, a free state, and kept Scott as a slave. Scott sued him claiming that he was now a free man because he was in a free state. The outcome of the case claimed that the Scott was still a slave because he was purchased while in a slave state and the constitution protected property rights. It also ruled that Africans were not real citizens, therefore had no rights. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown's Raid was an abolitionist raid on the federal armoury of Harpers Ferry Virginia. The men attempted to create a revolt among the enslaved men of the south. They had hoped this would destroy the institution of slavery. Instead, the raid only led to outrage among the south. As tension was already high, this raid was the sign that the succession would lead to brutality and war. -
The Election of 1860
The election of 1860 made U.S. senator Abraham Lincoln of the newly founded Republican party, the president of the United States. Lincoln won the majority with 40% of votes in a 3 way battle. Lincoln was a member of the north and an abolitionist. The south knew that their rights to slavery were in danger, so they had to work fast. Knowing they only had one option, they succeeded from the U.S. to form the CSA, confederate states of America. Lincoln warned the south that this would mean war.