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The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri compromise explained that Missouri will enter as a slave state and Maine will join as a free state. The compromise also says that the 36' 30" line was supposed to decide if slavery was allowed in certain territories. -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 stated that California will join as a free state. The land that was gained from the Mexican cession had the right of popular sovereignty in regards to slavery. The compromise also said that there will be a more strict fugitive slave law. The slave trade also was ended in Washington D.C. Also, the border disputes between New Mexico and Texas were settled. -
Fugitive slave law
The fugitive slave laws were a big part of the compromise of 1850. The people in the free states hated these laws because they had to become part of the system of slavery. If someone didn't return a fugitive slave they would be fined up to $1000 or 6 months in jail. Some freed slaves were sent back into slavery because of these laws. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel that was written by Harriett Beecher Stowe. This book was written to show the horror of slavers and it worked. Many northerners began to change their views on slavery. The southerners didn’t like this book because they said that the book was full of lies. -
Kansas-Nebraska act
This act divided the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and it was decided that the slavery issue was going to be decided by popular sovereignty. This led to violence in the Senate. The northerners believed that this act repeals the Missouri Compromise. -
Potawatomi Creek Killings
Since there was a lot of violence in Kansas John Brown thought he was doing God’s work by riding to a small town with his four sons and killing 4 pro-slavery men. Even though a lot of northerners don’t believe in slavery they were appalled at what he did. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave in a Free territory but his owner moved back to a slave then passed away. Since this happened abolitionist attorneys took this to the supreme court for him but lost. They claimed that he was not a citizen but property. -
Lincoln-Douglass Debate
Lincoln believed that slavery should not spread to the territories and it should say how it was. He also believed that the nation would not survive the constant fighting.
Douglass believed that slavery should be decided by popular sovereignty. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown led 5 blacks and 13 whites to Harper's Ferry and planned to raid the arsenal and start a revolt. The thing is that none of the slaves revolted and Brown was arrested and hung. -
Election of 1860
Since the Southern states did not like Lincoln or his view he did not show up in any of the ballots. Even with the overwhelming support for Douglass Lincoln was still elected. Many of the states started to talk about seceding from the union.
