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Underground Railroad
Established in the early 1800s, the Underground Railroad is a network of secret routes, passageways, and safe houses. It was used by the slaves to escape from their masters to other parts of the United States. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a document that ended an ongoing debate of whether or not Missouri would be a slave state. Both sides had twenty two states under their control so either side having Missouri would upset the balance. -
Abolitionist Movement
A series of events throughout the 1830s, that influenced many people to become more aware of how unjust slavery was. This included events such as the Fugitive Slave Act and the publishing of Harriet Stowe's novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin". -
Fugitive Slave Act
A part of the 1850s compromise. This stated that any escaped slaves caught in any area, including the North, had to be returned to their owners. This heightened the North's fears of a slave power conspiracy. -
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Stowe
A bestseller book published in 1852. Written by a white abolitionist, this book depicted the evils of slavery. It succeeded in opening the eyes of many Americans to a new vision of slavery. -
John Brown and Bleeding Kansas
A series of violent acts between the North and South over the territorial ownership of Kansas. John Brown was the leader of the North in these battles. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who brought a case to the supreme court asking for citizenship in the US. His request was denied. -
Election of 1860
Essentially, it was the election of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Southerners worried that having Lincoln as the president would abolish slavery. -
Southern Secession
After President Lincoln's election, the Southern states feared that the government was getting too powerful. They decided to secede from the United States and form the Confederacy. The Union fought for the states to come back and the Civil War broke out.
