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The Missouri Compromise
In 1820 Missouri Applied for statehood as an slave state. This would throw off the balance of free and slave states and give more power in congress to slave states. So congress came to a comprise of adding Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state, and prohibiting slavery above the 36'30 parallel. By doing this it pushed along the issue of slavery down the line and divided the north and south as slave and free. -
Nat Turners Rebellion
In late august of 1831, a slave by the name of Nat Turner led a slave rebellion in Virginia that killed about 60 white people. The rebellion lasted about two days. After which any rights black slaves had were taken away. This caused a hatred for blacks in the south and would help prevent/slow any future abolitionist groups from growing in southern states -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a large free state to balance Texas being admitted as an large slave state a few years earlier. The compromise also allowed the New Mexican territory to choose if it wanted to be a slave or free state. The fugitive slave act was passed which forced free states to help the slave states track down escaped slaves. This meant that even people who disagreed with the institution of slavery had to participate in it. -
Uncle Toms Cabin
In 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Toms Cabin. An fictional book that exposed the horrors of slavery. This book became the 2nd best selling book in 1800s america. The book dramatically increased northern support for abolitionism -
Dred Scott vs Sanford
In 1857 Dred scotts "Master" brought him and his family to Indiana, a free state. So Scott sued for is freedom in the supreme court. In the decision it was decided that since Scott is a slave he is a piece of property and has no human rights. The case also declared that limiting slavery below the 36'30 parallel was unconstitutional. This caused tensions to increase between freed blacks and the south, and the north and south. -
John Browns Raid
John Brown was an Abolitionist who wanted violent action against slave owners in the south. In October of 1859 he raided a armory in Kansas and tried to cause a slave uprising before being captured and hanged. The south saw him as a terrorist while the North saw Brown as a Martyr. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln
In 1860 Lincoln was elected president of the united states. Lincoln belonged to the Republican party which believed strongly in abolitionism. Despite Lincoln saying other wise the south believed that Lincoln would try to outlaw slavery, so one by one the south seceded.
