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Underground Railroads
Underground RailroadsFor many African Americans an escape from the South was the Underground Railroad. There were "conductors" who helped transport slaves in secret, while the slaves were provided with food and shelter. Harriet Tubman was one of the most famous conductors. This had been one of the events that lead to the Civil War because the North was part of the slaves running away. As one can predict, the South was very enraged by this. -
Wilmot Proviso
Wilmot ProvisoThe Wilmot Proviso was an amendment made by David Wilmot that said that in any territory the United States gained from Mexico, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist ever. Although, some Southerners felt they had a right to bring property with them wherever they went. The North didn't agree and this led to a major debate. -
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Mexican American War
Polk had directed a four prong attack to the heart of Mexico. Next, Kerney led troops to Santa Fe in August, which caused the governor to flee. He then went to join Fremont in California. Next, Zach Taylor crossed the Rio Grande and finally Winfield Scott's troops went to the capitol. After we had obtained the land, it was mainly the South that had wanted it to become a slave state. This happened to cause yet another debate about the creation of slave states. -
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Free Soil Party
Free Soil PartyThe Free Soil Party was a political party in America that didn't last very long. Most of the members were against slavery and from the Whig and Democratic party. Their main goal was to make slavery unallowed in states and remove slavery laws against freed African American slaves. This outraged the North, obviously, which also played a part in the Civil War. -
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California Gold Rush
California Gold RushFirst started when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. This had cause many people to move west to attempt to find gold and make themselves rich. Unfortunately, many people weren't lucky. This had sent the economy into a plunge due to all of the people that had moved westward. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Fugitive Slave ActThis law stated, that a slaveholder or slave catcher only had to point out alleged runaways to have them taken into custody. Those who were accused had to go to federal commissioner and testify, even if they were let free years ago, they had no way to prove it. Northerners were mad about this because they wanted slaves to get away, and this made the South angry. This made it clear, that slavery played a huge roll in the events leading to the Civil War. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's CabinUncle Tom's Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. She had been exposed to runaway slaves and she heard about the tragic reports about the victims of the Fugitive Slave Law. This made her want to write something that would make the whole nation realize how horrible slavery is. The story came out and sold 300,000 copies. Many people in the South were outraged and claimed the book had false information in it and said it even caused the Civil War. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Kansas-Nebraska ActStephen Douglas wanted to get rid of the Missouri Compromise so he could open up the Great Plains for settlement. He knew it would cause a big problem so he tried to gain Souther support by offering Nebraska as popular sovereignty. Therefore, the state could decide if they wanted slavery or not. Then he had tried to offer dividing the region into two territories, but this made the Northern Democrats and Whigs mad. Even though no one agreed on this, it was passed anyways. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding KansasBleeding Kansas had been a series of events involving anti-slavery and pro-slavery elements. This had involved the debate of Kansas becoming a slave state or not. Later, the events were recognized by the Kansas-Nebraska act. The major role this event played, was just a set of feuds between people for and against slavery. -
Ostend Manifesto
Ostend ManifestoThe Ostend Manifesto is a document written to explain why America had wanted to purchase Cuba from Spain. America had planned to declare war if Spain didn't agree. The South of course wanted Cuba to be a slave state, because of the Kansas-Nebrasaka Act people were'nt sure how to make it a slave state anymore. The North obviously had been against the idea of slavery. This had also led to another debate about being a slave state or not and how to make it one if that became the decision. -
The Caning of Charles Sumner
The Caning of Charles SumnerCharles Sumner, a Senator, gave a speech accusing pro-slavery senators of forcing Kansas into being a slave state.He had mentioned senator Andrew P. Butler and personally attacked him in his speech. A man named Preston Brooks, later went up to Sumner and hit him in the head with his cane. Many Southerners thought Brooks was a hero and sent him canes to replace the one he broke when he hit Sumner. This basically symbolized the country snapping, which played apart into the hate in the Civil War. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott DecisionDred Scott v. Sandford. Dred Scott was a Missouri Slave who had been taken North to work in free territory for several years. After going back to slave territory with his slaveholder, he sued him. He thought that since he was in the free territory, it would make him a free man. Sadly, this wasn't how it had played out. The North became very upset after it was stated free territory wasn't for everyone.
