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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise made Missouri a slave state and Maine a free state. This was done to consider the balance of power in the Senate so that the North could not rule the South and vice versa. This, then determines that north of the 36, 30 parallel, all states would be free except for Missouri. This is the start to sectionalism in the United States. The Missouri Compromise determines the physical division of the U.S. based on the North's and South's differences in opinion. -
Compromise of 1850
This compromise admitted California as a free state and no more slaves can be sold for the North. In return, the South passed the Fugitive Slave Act, allowing slave owners to capture runaway slaves wherever they are and popular sovereignty would determine whether a state would be slave or free in western territories. This started to create an unbalance in power and bring tension between the North and South. This continued to divide America and started making both sides more independent. -
Kansas and Nebraska Act
This act repealed the Missouri Compromise and allowed popular sovereignty in the Kansas/Nebraska territories. In Kansas, an election was held and there were fraudulent actions in the election causing an unreliable outcome where the state was voted to be a slave state. So another election was held and becoming a free state was the re-vote. This brought tension among the people in Kansas since both sides had been voted for in the elections causing riots and division between the states/territories. -
Lawrence Kansas / Pottawatomie Creek Riots
At Lawrence Kansas, a pro - slavery group scared everyone out of the town and then burned it to the ground but nobody was hurt. At Pottawatomie Creek, John Brown, an extreme abolitionist drug people out of their homes and executed 5 people because of the Kansas election outcome. Brown was seen as a hero in the North and a murderer in the South. This was another violent dividing factor in our country. It made states want to leave the United States as they were not being heard on their beliefs. -
Panic of 1857
The Panic of 1857 is most well known for declining the international economy due to domestic economies over-expanding. During this crisis the South was more of an agrarian society which allowed them to rebound from this economic drop quicker. However, the North was more of the trade center of our country and because of this, it took a big hit when the economy dropped. This showed the South they may not be the most powerful but they can hold their own ground, helping their argument for secession. -
Dred Scott vs. Sanford
In this case, Sanford paid Dred to sue him because he realized it was not enough just to free Dred, all slaves should be free. They made it to the supreme court and argued but the court ruled slaves are property and can't sue. They lost the case and actually made things worse because the case proved the South's point that slaves are not people. But the North wouldn't accept it leading the South to want to secede. This created even more tension and division leading people to do crazy things. -
Harper's Ferry, Virginia Rebellion
The rebellion was led by John Brown. Brown raided an armory with thousands of guns and killed the guards on duty. He wanted to grow an army to overthrow the South's slavery beliefs. He waited at the armory thinking God would send him people to fight but the army showed up and captured Brown. This was the last straw for the South dealing with violent actions like these. They soon realized the Civil War was inevitable and wanted to fight for what they think is right through division and secession.
