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Northwest Ordinance
Established a government for the northwest territory and created a system for admitting new states into the Country. Caused tensions because it was one of the first acts against slavery as it prohibited it in the territory. Also started sectional tensions because the North was going to get more states out of the territory and they would have more power.(Political/Social) -
Missouri Compromise
There was a debate over whether Missouri should be a slave state, and Congress wanted to keep the balance of free and slave states equal. Missouri was admitted as a slave state while Maine became a free state. The compromise didn't get rid of the problem of slavery, but instead pushed it down the road to be dealt with later. (Political) -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner and a large group of slaves killed around sixty whites over the span of two days. Turner and fifty-four other slaves were tried and executed and around 200 more were killed by mobs of furious whites. This event caused lawmakers to severely limit the little rights slaves already had. This caused tensions because the North was angered by the amount of innocent blacks killed in retaliation to the event. (Social) -
Gag Rule
Occurred in the House of Representatives and prohibited members from discussing the issue of slavery from 1836-1844. Also automatically tabled/postponed petitions regarding slavery without hearing them. (Political) -
Amistad Case
A group of kidnapped Africans revolted on a slave ship and killed most of the crew. John Quincy Adams defended the Africans and won the case. Important because it helped the abolitionist movement gain support. It also created higher tensions revolving around slavery because the slave trade was still going on even though it should have been illegal. (Political/Economic/Social) -
Annexation of Texas
Texas broke away from Mexico and was annexed by the U.S. The South supported the annexation because it would most likely be a slave state and also give them an advantage in Congress. The North obviously opposed this because they wouldn't benefit from the annexation and they wanted to keep it as an independent entity. The annexation contributed to the coming of the Civil War because it significantly contributed to the Mexican-American War. -
Wilmot Proviso
Legislation proposed by David Wilmot that would make all territory acquired from Mexico into free territory. Even though the bill was never passed, the debate about it led to the beginning of serious threats to secede. (Political) -
Mexican War
Started because of the annexation of Texas by the U.S. The two countries couldn't decide whether Texas' border would be the Nueces River or the Rio Grande. Caused sectional tensions because new states and territories were entered into the country and the North wanted them to be free while the South wanted to expand slavery into them. (Political/Economic) -
California Gold Rush
Large amounts of gold were found in California and it attracted thousands of people to the state. The rapid population growth allowed California to apply for statehood in 1850, and it became a free state. Worsened sectional tensions because it gave the North an advantage in Congress and worried the South that Utah and New Mexico would also become free states. Worsened tensions over slavery because slave owners wanted to bring their slaves with them to mine for gold. (Economic/Political) -
Compromise of 1850
Proposed by Henry Clay in order to prevent further conflicts between the North and South. It admitted California as a free state while letting Utah and New Mexico decide if they would allow slavery or not. It included the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which allowed slave owners to capture African Americans in the North. It crated a new Texas/New Mexico boundary and ended the slave trade in Washington D.C. Outraged the North mostly because if the Fugitive Slave Act. (Policial/Economic/Social) -
Fugitive Slave Act 1850
Passed as part of the Compromise of 1850, and required slaves to be returned to their owners even if they were in free states. Also made the federal government responsible for finding, returning, and trying escaped slaves. The act contributed to the tensions leading to the war because it essentially made people pick sides on the issue of slavery. Also enraged the North because they were no longer a safe haven for slaves. (Political/Economic/Social) -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Published by Harriet Beecher Stowe and focused on the cruelty of slavery. The publishing of the book fueled abolitionists and helped put Lincoln into office, and the war occurred shortly after. Also greatly divided the North and South and showed that they were built on completely different standards. (Political/Social) -
Ostend Manifesto
Three U.S diplomats advocated for the seizure of Cuba and wanted to declare war on Spain if they refused to give it up. Led to tensions because the South was looking for new territory to expand slavery, which meant the issue would only grow. (Political/Economic) -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Territorial Act that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Created by Stephen Douglas and it repealed the Missouri Compromise as well as allowing Kansas and Nebraska to decide if they would allow slavery or not. It led to uprisings like Bleeding Kansas and overall angered the South. It also destroyed the Whig Party, divided the Democrats, and created the Republican party. (Political) -
Dred Scott Decision
A slave named Dred Scott sued for his freedom after his master had died while he was in free territory. The court had ruled that even though he was in free territory, he was not entitled to freedom. Taney said that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional, which meant that free territory was not really free and that blacks could still be taken back and enslaved. Infuriated abolitionists and led to an increase in sectionalism and tensions between the North and South. (Political/Social) -
John Brown and The Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown was an abolitionist who was involved in Bleeding Kansas and went to drastic measures to free slaves. His raid at Harpers Ferry failed and he and others involved were later executed. However, the raid worsened sectional tensions and made it nearly impossible for the North and South to come to an agreement. (Political/Social) -
Crittenden Compromise
The compromise was an attempt to establish slavery as a permanent institution in the U.S. It would have re-established the 36 -30 line established by the Missouri Compromise. The compromise also would had made it illegal for Congress to make any amendments to it, which would keep them from getting rid of slavery. The compromise showed that the two sides would not meet each other's needs and that conflict and secession would follow. (Political/Social)