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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri compromise was passed in order to keep the balance of power of congress between the slave and free states. This compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state and made Maine a free state. This compromise marked the beginning of the prolonged conflict of slavery that led to the civil war. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was a law passed that allowed for the capture and return of runaway enslaved people in the United Sates. It also allowed for penalties to be brought upon anyone who aided in their flight. This law caused the north to fight even harder and increase their efforts against enslavement. This law also prompted more activity along the Underground Railroad as the runaways made their way to Canada. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This book was written by a woman named Harriet Beecher Stowe. She had written this book to show the evils of enslavement. The book became a best seller and had a huge impact on the way that northerners viewed enslavement. This book led to the outbreak of the civil war since it helped further the cause of black activism. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a small battle fought between the proslavery and antislavery advocates. This battle was fought for the control over the new Kansas territories. This battle opened the possibility of slavery extending into new territories and caused the antislavery advocates to put more effort into winning and caused a tremendous impact on the want of the civil war. -
Dred Scott's Case
Dred Scott was a virginia slave who tried to sue for his freedom in court. overtime the Supreme Court found that since he was a slave he was considered a piece of property and had no legal rights. They also declared the Missouri compromise as unconstitutional. This decision by the Supreme Court threatened to recast the political landscape that had managed to hold off the civil war. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown's raid was a raid located at Harper's Ferry. John and his 19 supporters armed with "Beecher's Bibles" led a raid on a federal army in an effort to capture them and confiscate their weapons to hand out to the captured slaves in order to help them escape. This raid helped make any further accommodation between north and south nearly impossible and therefore became a very important impetus of the civil war. -
Lincolns Presidency
Lincoln believed that the south was becoming too powerful. He decided during his presidency that enslavement would not be extended to any new states or territories that were added to the union. This made the south angry and increased their want for the war. He also issued the emancipation proclamation that freed all slaves in the confederate and contested areas of the south.