-
The Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was a bill that proposed to ban slavery in many territories. This bill proposed to ban slavery in any territory that the United states acquired from the War with Mexico. Slaveholders argued that slaves were property protected by the Constitution. -
Free-Soil Party
The Free-Soil Party was a political party dedicated to stopping the expansion of slavery. This party wanted to stop the expansion of slavery. It made slavery a key issue in national politics. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was a law that helped slaveholders recapture runaway slaves. People accused of being fugitives could be arrested without warrant. The law also required that Northerners return runaway slaves to their masters. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 as the effort by Congress to settle the issue of slavery in the territories that arose when California was admitted as a free state. The law would also let some territories decide for themselves about slavery. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
An antislavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.The novel dealt with the moral issues of slavery. It described slavery as cruel and immoral. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was a law that split the Nebraska Territory into Kansas and Nebraska and allowed people to vote on slavery in these territories. Stephen A. Douglas suggested that the decision to allow slavery in these territories should be decided by Popular Sovereignty. -
Senator Charles Sumner Speech
Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts delivered a speech against the proslavery forces in Kansas. During the speech, Sumner insulted Senator A. P. Butler from the South Carolina. The speech offended Preston Brooks, a relative of Butler. Brooks came to the defense of Butler and the South. -
John C. Fremont
John C. Fremont was a republican party candidate in the 1856 presidential election. The people supported him because he was in favor of admitting California and Kansas as free states. He was also a young, handsome war hero.
