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Missouri Compromise
Missouri joined the Union as a slave state during the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The compromise also divided the Louisiana Purchase into free and slave territory. The compromise prevented slavery from occurring North of the latitude 36 Degrees 30’, but made it legal South of that line. There was a lot of controversy over where the line should be drawn to make it fair. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 helped to settle the debate over California. Henry Clay created the the compromise that included 5 parts. The compromise included:
1. Admitting California as a free state
2. Deciding whether or not the Mexican Cession would be a slave state using popular sovereignty
3. Texas was to give up claim to all land east of the Rio Grande in exchange for the government paying their debts
4. Abolish Slave Trade in the Capitol
5. Stricter Fugitive Slave Laws were to be put in place. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 allowed African Americans who had entered the North either as a runaway slave or a free man to be brought back down to the south and given back to the owner or to be sold on the slave market.
A consequence was also put on anyone who helped a slave escape to the North. Jail time was given along with a fine. Many felt this was unfair. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Many books and articles were being published in 1852 including Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The book exposed people to slaves were treated in the South. Both the North and South were outraged when the book came out. The North believed that the slave were being treated horribly and that slavery needed to stop. The Southerners felt slavery was a way of life, they felt slavery had been portrayed wrong. In the end the Southerners were horrified and the Northerners were inspired. -
New Political Party - Republican
The Republican Party was created when many people from the other political parties disagreed with their parties beliefs. The people came together to start a new party that shared the same beliefs. The new party received little support because many didn’t agree with their beliefs. -
Nebraska - Kansas Act
Many books and articles were being published in 1852 including Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The book exposed people to slaves were treated in the South. Both the North and South were outraged when the book came out. The North believed that the slave were being treated horribly and that slavery needed to stop. The Southerners felt slavery was a way of life, they felt slavery had been portrayed wrong. In the end the Southerners were horrified and the Northerners were inspired. -
Bleeding Kansas
As a result of the Nebraska-Kansas Act hundreds of people flooded to Kansas so they could vote for slavery to win. The majority ended up being pro-slavery. The anti-slavery people living in Kansas boycotted the legislation and made their own in Topeka. As the tensions rose a massacres and civil wars broke out killing many. -
The Election of 1856 - Buchanan
The election of of Buchanan as President further added to the conflict because he wasn’t against slavery and because he had carried 14 of the 15 slave states in the election. Many thought that this was unfair and the Northerners did not approve of him because of his beliefs. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision was over whether or not Dred Scott should be a free man or not. He had lived with his owner in a free state for some time and when he died he then belonged to the widow. He wanted to sue for his freedom. This case went to the U.S. Supreme Court which was a majority of Southerners. The court ruled that he was not a free citizen and therefore did not have the right to sue, they also decided the time he had lived on free soil did not make him a free man. Northerners were out -
LIncolns Views on Slavery
Lincoln had many views on slavery, they were:
1. He didn’t have a problem with slavery he just didn’t want it to spread.
2. He believed that African Americans were “entitled to natural rights”
3. Though he believed this he was not in favor of social equality. -
Raid at Harpers Ferry
John Brown wanted to help more people escape slavery. He wanted to get weapons in order to arm the slaves and then they would move along as an army freeing more slaves. His plan was to capture the arsenal and then arm the slaves. Once he had captured the arsenal no slave came to his side to be freed. The Southerners attacked John Brown and captured him. They killed some of his other men including his sons. Northerners mourned his death while the Southerners felt threatened. The Southerners felt -
Secession from Union
After Lincoln was elected President many of the Southerners were so angry that they didn’t want to be a part of the Union any longer. They decided they wanted to formally withdraw from the Union or succeed. South Carolina was the first to do so. Many of the Northerners felt that they could not leave the Union so abruptly. -
Election of 1860 - Lincoln
Lincoln won the Presidential race by winning 180 of the 183 electoral votes from the free states. Many were angered that he became president because he hadn’t campaigned nor won over any of the Southern states. The Southerners were furious because of it. -
New Nation - Confederate States of America
After South Carolina succeeded from the Union many other Southern states followed including, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. The split from the Union and created their own nation called the Confederate States of America. Their new capitol was in Montgomery, Alabama and their first President was Jefferson Davis.
