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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a law passed to tide the senate over. When Missouri became a state, Northerners argued with the Southerners over weather or not Missouri should allow slavery. Northerners argued that is should be an abolition state, while the Southerners argued that they should have the right to chose if they allowed slavery or not. They determined that land North of the 36' and 60' latitude would have slavery banned. The compromise was mainly made to determine power in the senate. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was a law passed after the Spanish-American War. This law was proposed after the war. It stated that all new land gained from Mexico would be slave-free. This caused a great stir among the congressmen and senate. It eventually did not pass. -
Mexican-American War
From 1846 to 1848, America was at war with Mexico over the land now called Texas. They were fighting over who would have it. Mexico lost the war and gave the land up to America. Along with states arguing about whether or not to get rid of slavery, this war put even more pressure on the government. With all the new land they acquired from the war, people were debating over whether or not Texas should allow slavery. -
The Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 was another no slavery bill with some exceptions. When California joined the United States, it joined as a free state. However, the opposing parties were arguing over this. They made a compromise that some territories could chose weather or not they would allow slavery. This compromise as created a boundary between Texas and other United States territory, which enacted the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe about an enslaved family attempting to escape a plantation. Stowe was a white woman from the north, so it is debated if she should be representing the experiences of African Americans. Despite the controversy about Stowe's views, this book did a lot to push for emancipation. it showed the readers the grief and turmoil those who were enslaved, and was a stable in the fight to end slavery. -
Kansas- Nebraska Act
The Kansas- Nebraska act was a bill passed in the senate. It was proposed to possibly reenact slavery in states that had already banned it. The act was passed, therefore furthuring the debate of slavery in the United States. The man Who proposed this bill used the constitution to his advantage. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a series of events in Kansas leading up to the civil war. They were a series of confrontations and battles between proslavery and antislavery supporters. It lasted around five years from 1954 to 1959. Around 55 died in these confrontations. The rival governments were clashing over rights in the state specifically. -
Scott vs Stanford
Dred Scott was a former slave who escaped from slavery to the free side of Missouri. He then filed for freedom, saying that he was in fee territory and therefore a free man, and lost. His former owner argued in court that no descendants of slaves could be citizens according to the constitution. The court ruled in his former owner's favor. They also stated that Missouri compromise was unconstitutional and that slaves were rightfully an owner's property. This greatly put a dent on civil rights. -
John Brown Raid
John Brown was an abolitionist in Virginia. He led an small army of fellow abolitionists to fight against slavery. He was planning to spark a rebellion in the south, and supply slaves and freedom supporters with firearms and ammunition. Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful due to a poorly thought out plan and no rations. They managed to seize a harper's ferry before being detained in the next town by a militia. -
The 1860 Election
The election of 1860 was a very controversial election for many reasons. Slavery and state rights were on the ballet. Abraham Lincoln, even though there were many candidates. The vote was split between both democrats and conservatives. As a result of Lincoln's win, many southern states withdrew from the unions.