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Missouri Compromise
Henry Clay invented the Missouri Compromise, which was a line drawn under Missouri that marked where slavery was and wasn't permitted. Above the line there was ro be no slavery, but below the line slavery was legal. This compromise was created to settle disputes over where slavery was to be allowed after the Ohio River, which marked the slavery and free line, met the Mississippi river. In 1820, to keep sates from seceding, Congress voted to pass this compromise. It led to the Kansas-Nebraska Act -
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Ch 21 Timeline: 1820-1861
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Gag Rule
In 1830, Congress refused to hear or listen to any antislavery requests because according to Congress, the national government couldn't control slavery in the states. The Gag Rule prevented J Q Adams from asking Congress to pass his antislavery proposal. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion was an organized rebellion aginst Southern white people, thats was organized by Nat Turner. This was the last violent slave rebellion, but many other lsaves rebelled in smaller, simpler ways. Disgusted with slavery and white Southeners, Nat Turner planned to kill every white man he could find. This led to stricter slave laws, which led to more angry Northeners that were morally against slavery. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was an ammendment made by David Wilmot to the bill sent to Congress by president James Polk asking Congress to fund the war with Mexico. This ammenmedment to the bill stated that of the land aquired, none could allow slavery. This bill led to controversy and Northerners and Southerners to continue fighting over the territory. Congress decided instead of the Proviso, to extend the Missouri Compromise line. Around the same time, California applied to the Union as a free state. -
California Applies for Admission into the Union
California applied to Congress for admission into the Union. However, California's constitution stated that it would come in as a free state. This angered Southerners, but delighted Northeners. Stuck in the middle, Henry Clay invented a new plan. This application led to the Compromise of 1850. -
Compromise of 1850
An effect of the deadlock over the application of California as a free state made this compromise important. Henry Clay, also the creator of the Compromise of 1820, suggested a plan to fix this problem. In his plan, California entered as a free state, New Mexico and Utah territories were allowed to vote on allowing slavery, this was followed by ending the slave TRADE in Washington, D.C., it also called for a fugitive law. This compromise led to the Fugitive Slave Trade Act. Congress adopted plan -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
Unlce Tom's Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe after she had a vision of a slave being cruelly killed by his master. The book was filled with realistic fictional slave stories that brought about mixed emotions. Northeners became even more angry with slavery and Sotheners cursed the author and book. This emotionally seperated the South and the North with mixed emotions. -
Ostend Manifesto
This was a document sent by the American diplomats to the Secretary of State.The document urged the Secretary to pressure the presdient into seizeing the countyr of Cuba if Spnaih refused to sell it. When this information was leaked to the public, Northeners were angry because they believed that President Pierce was just trying to adopt another slave state to make free states and slave states uneven. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Wanting to get a railroad built to California starting from Illinois, Senator Stephen Douglas created a bill that he sent to Congress that organized the Great plains into the Nebraska Territory. In revision, Douglas's bill created two territories, the Nebraska and Kansas Territories. This act also abolished the Missouri Compromise by allowing the states to choose whether slavery was permitted in their state or not. This gave hope to Sotheners and worried Notherners with the possibilities of... -
Kansas-Nebraska Act: Continued
...slavery spreading across the new territories. This led to the bloodhsed in Kansas, and Senator Sumner of Massachusetts's offensive speech against Senator Douglas of Illinois and Senator Butler of South Carolina. -
Attack on Lawrence, Kansas
Proslavery activists decied to take matters inti their own hands, in order to drive anitslavery activists out of Kansas, so that they could vote to make Kansas a slave state. In a violent attack proslvery citizens burned Larence Kansas, Kansas antislavery headqurters. This connected to other events because it led angry antislavery activists in Kansas to plot a revenge against the proslavery actvists ld by John Brown. -
Attack on Senator Sumner in Congress
After Senator Sumner gave an angry speech attacking mainly Senator Douglas of Illinois and Senator Butler of South Carolina, Butler's nephew attacked Sumner in the Senate. This attack was brutally violent and ended with Sumner unconsious. This sevent led to Southeners sending the nephew canes to replace the one he used when beating Sumner, while enraging and proving the Northeners point that Southeners were violent and brutal. -
Dred Scott Case
The Dred Scott was brought before the Supreme Court by a slave named Dred Scott from Missouri, who had been taken to Wisoncin by his master. The case involved a few question including was Scott a free man because he traveled to a free state: Wisonsin, was Scott a citizen and therefore did he have the right to bring a case before the courts. Chief Justice Taney also added the questions could Congress make laws concerning slavery in territories, and was the Missouri Compromise Constituional. -
Dred Scott Case: Continued
In a 5 (Southerners) - 4 (Northeners) decision, Taney was was declared not a citizen, nor could any other African American become a citizen ever and was not a free man because the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. This delighted Southeners, but angered Northeners even more which pulled the nation apart more. -
Republican Party is Born
United by the idea that slavery was morally and ehtically wrong, the Republican party was born. The founders of this party were antislavery activists. This party nominated Lincoln for Illinois Senator, which he did not win. However, this party's strong support helped gain Lincoln the presidency because the other part of the country was divided into three other political groups, therefore the Republicans could out number each thrid of the country. -
Lincoln Runs for Senator
As the republican party nominee, Lincoln ran for Senator of Illinois. In this campaign, Lincoln challenged his opponent, Stephen Douglas, to a series of debates . Lincoln ran for the republican party in hopes of putting a stronger antislavery message in national government. Although he didn't win, Lincoln did continue with his political carrer and ran and won presidency, which led South Carolina to secede from the Union. -
John Brown's Raid
Insteadof waiting for Congress to tke action on abolishing slavery, Brown took matters into his own hands and attempted to take over a federal arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia. His plan was to arm slaves and lead a slave rebellion. Unfortunately for Brown, all of his men were killed or captured. This event also led to the hanging of John Brown because he was convicted of treason. -
Lincoln Elected President
Because about half of the nation was split into three political groups, the other half, the republican party, was able to have enough votes to elect Lincoln. For some, Lincoln's presidency meant great change, but for others it meant extreme actions. Becuase Lincoln was elected South Carolina was the first to secede from the Union and many other Southern states followed. -
South Secedes
Starting with South Carolina, the south began to secede from the nation due to Lincoln being elected president. After years of compromise, the South decicded that it was time to leave the Union. They then joined together to turn the South into the Confederate States of America. This secession was linked to the Civil War because it was the last straw that led to a bloody war. -
Civil War Begins
Itching to fight, the South started the Civil War with an attack on Fort Sumter. Just a month after the Confederacy formed, the south opened fire on Fort Sumter and after 33 long hours of shelling and the Union soldiers trying to defend the fort, the Union soldiers raised the white flag of surrender. This was the last straw for Northeners- they were ready to begin the fight back. This was the beginning of the Civil War.
