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Missouri Compromise
When Missouri wanted to be a state, there was a huge debate over if it was going to be a slave state or a free state. This state would upset the balance of free and slave states. Henry Clay made a compromise that stated Maine would separate from Massachusetts and be admitted as a free state. Missouri would enter the Union as a slave state. The remaining territory of the Louisiana Purchase, which lay north of the 36-30 parallel, would be closed off to slavery. -
Wilmot Proviso
A plan made for the purpose of eliminating slavery in the new land that was acquired in the Mexican War (1846-48). Wilmot’s plan was mostly powered by his anger with President Polk because they felt like the entire Cabinet and national agenda were dominated by southern minds and southern principles. This would never become a law. -
The Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 was used to relieve tension in the north and south (about slaves). There were 5 laws that said California is a free state. The laws were New Mexico and Utah would use popular sovereignty to decide if the states were free or slave, the slave trade will be banned in Washington D.C, congress would pass the fugitive slave law, and Texas would give up the land in New Mexico for 10 million dollars. It caused more trouble by braking the line of the Missouri compromise. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was an act where any official was able to arrest anyone accused of being a runaway slave. The people living in the North were forced to help capture runaways.
The people that were being accused of being runaway slaves were not allowed to have the rights of trial. Even after many years have passed since a slave ran away they were still able to be accused of being a runaway slave. It was the most controversial part of the Compromise of 1850. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe that was about a slave that was abused by his owner. Harriet Beecher Stowe was the daughter of an abolitionist. So she learned a lot about how wrong slavery is and how it can really affect people. The book was blamed for the Civil War because it connects to the Civil War. This book caused many people to support the abolitionists. -
Kansas Nebraska Act / Bleeding Kansas
The act where people in the north and south were fighting over slavery. The north was against the act and the south supported the act. The south was hoping that the new territories would become slave states and the north felt like Douglas had betrayed them into allowing there to be more slave states. -
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott was a slave who tried to sue for his freedom. He had lived in two places with his owners that moved around in free states. In court, he argued that he was technically free because he was living in the north where slavery was outlawed. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ruled on the case, he decided that Dred Scott was not free because he is property protected by the US government and that he couldn't even sue for his rights because he's a slave, therefore he's not a US citizen. -
Lincoln Douglas Debate
A series of debates in seven different Illinois cities where Douglas had not already spoken in. It was these debates that started Abraham Lincoln's interest in politics and presidency. These debates were for one of two Illinois's senate seats. After lincoln lost these debates and the seat in senate, this path eventually lead him to the presidential office. -
John Brown's Raid
John brown had such strong opinions on slavery that he was willing to die for his cause. He and a small army of men tried to take over a federal arsenal and get slaves to rebel and join his fight for their freedom, but none showed up to help. Quickly reinforcements were called in to take back the arsenal and 2 towns people died and 8 of brown's men died. These men included his sons. -
Lincoln's Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas went through an entire series of debates where they traveled throughout the country and discussed things such as slavery. The debates helped Lincoln become a national figure and eventually helped him win the election of 1860. After he was elected people began to question whether a new president could help hold the country together. This election was one of the most important election in American history. -
Southern Succession
Within 3 months of Lincoln’s presidency, seven states seceded from the union(like South Carolina). Lincoln then tried to compromise, but it ended up just being failed attempts. This will soon lead the the American Civil War.
