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Wilmot Proviso
Representitive David Wilmot of Pennsylvania proposed a bill, known as the Willmot Proviso. Northern and Southern reaction: Many Northerners suspected that Southerners wanted to take territory from Mexico in order to extend slavery. They feared that this would upset the balance between free and slave states. To prevent this, the bill called the Wilmot Proviso was proposed. Caption: A picture of the Wilmot Proviso bill. -
Compromise of 1850
In march of 1850, California applied to be admitted as a free state. With California as a free state, slave states would become a minority in the Senate just as they were in the House. Northern and Southern reaction: The proposed addition of new states threatened the balance of the power in congress between the North and South. Both sides worried about what would happen when California became a state. Caption: A map of the Compromise of 1850. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Under this law, accused fugitives could be held without arrest warrant. They had no right to a jury trial. Instead, a federal commissioner ruled on each case. Northern and Southern reaction: Southerners backed the Fugitive Slave Act because they considered slaves to be property. But one aspect of the act especially enraged Northerners: it required them to help re-capture runaway slaves. Caption: A poster of the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel that presented the cruelty and immorality of slavery. The novel describes the escape of a slave named Eliza and her baby across the Ohio River. Northern and Southern reaction: Stowe's book was popular in the North. But white Southerners argued that the book presented a false picture of the South and slavery. Caption: The cover of the book "Unlce Tom's Cabin." -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
In 1854, Senator Douglas drafted a bill to organize the Nebraska Territory. This bill became known as the Kansas-Nebraska Act. It proposed to divide the territory into two parts- Nebraska and Kansas Northern and Southern reaction: When news of this act got out many Northerners were outraged because it would open up a Northern area to slavery; Southerners were overjoyed for the same reason. Caption: A map of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. -
The formation of the Republican Party
The Republican Party was both anti-slavery and a sectional party that sought to protect the interests of the North. Northern and Southern reaction: Some of the Southern whigs joined the Democratic Party. Others look for leaders who supported slavery and the Union. The Northern whigs joined with the other rivals and formed the Republican Party. Caption: The offical logo of the Republican and Democratic Parties. -
Bleeding Kansas
There were more pro-slavery then anti-slavery settlers in the Kansas Territory. After five thousand residents of neighboring Missouri came and voted illegally, Kansas legislature was filled with pro-slavery representatives. Northern and Southern reaction: Nebraska was so far north that its future as a free state was never in question. Missouri would become the battleground. The reaction from the North was immediate. Caption: A picture of the battleground -
Caning of Charles Sumner
In may 1856, Charles Sumner of Massachusetts spoke against the pro-slavery forces in Kansas. In his speech, Sumner's insulted A. P. Butler, a senator from South Carolina. He attacked Sumner, who was sitting at his desk in congress. Northern and Southern reaction: Brooks was cheered in the South. But Northerns were shocked at the violence in the Senate. Caption: A picture of Charles Sumner. -
Dred Scott Case
Scott had been an enslaved prisoner in Missouri. However, he had lived for a time in free territories before being taken back to Missouri. After his owners death, Dred Scott argued that he was a free man because he had lived in territories were slavery was illegal. Northern and Southern reaction: Dred Scott v. Sanford reached the Supreme Court in 1856 Caption: A picture of Dred Scott. -
Attack on Harpers Ferry
Brown and his 18 followers-13 whites and 5 blacks-captured the Harpers Ferry arsenal. Brown then sent out the word to rally and arm local slaves. But no slaves joined the fight. U.S Marines attacked Brown at Harpers Ferry. Some of his men escaped, but Brown and 6 others were captured, and 10 mean were killed. Northern and Southern reactions: Southerners were enraged by Browns actions and horrified by Northeren reactions to his death. Caption: A picture of the historic Harpers Ferry. -
Election of 1860
In April, the Democratic convention was held in Charleston, South Carolina. It was clear that the northern and southern Democrats had very different ideas about slavery. The Democratic Party began to split along sectional lines. Northern and Southern reactions: Southerners wanted the party to defend slavery in the party's platform.Northerners wanted the platform to support popular sovereignty, Caption: A map of the Election of 1860. -
Secession
Southerners had warned that if Lincoln won the presidency, the Southern states would secede. On December 20th, 1860 South Carolina became the first state to secede. Northern and Southern reactions: Northerns considered the secession of the Southern states was unconstitutional. The Southerns complained that Northerns intended to use their majority to force the South to abolish slavery. Caption: A map of the progress of the secession.
