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The Missouri Compromise of 1820
Summary:The Missouri compromise calmed the issues between the north and south. The compromise was there would be 15 free states and 15 slave states. The Missouri compromise made a two part deal accepting Missouri’s request to become a slave state while declaring Maine a free state. Also an amendment was passed drawing a boundary line across the Louisiana territory dividing the free and slave regions.
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Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso proposed an American law to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico in the Mexican War. The Wilmot proviso was one of the main events leading to the American Civil War.This primary source was the document that explained everything that Wilmot proviso wanted to do. He wanted to ban slavery in any territory acquired from mexico. This law didn’t pass and slavery still existed. -
The Compromise of 1850
Initally California wanted to be admitted into the union as free state. This would offset the balance of free states and slave states. This made many people upset. Congress decided to pass a law called The Compromise of 1850. This compromise would admit California as a free state but in return New Mexico and Utah would be allowed to decide if slavery could be allowed in their state by using the idea of popular soverenity. https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=27&page=transcript -
Fugitive Slave Act
The fugitive slave act of 1850 allowed officials to arrest anyone accused of being a runaway slave. Suspects had no right to trial and if they were suspected they were automatically sent to jail. The slave catchers could seize fugitives even after many years after their escape. The fugitive slave act was the most controversial part of the compromise of 1850. -
Fugitive Slave Act (continued)
The slaves caught could face up to 6 months in prison and a $1000 dollar fine. Commissioners get 10 dollars for the right slave and 5 dollars for the wrong slave. In this primary source it states that “colored people” should stay away from watch men and police officers of Boston; these people could catch and capture slaves and send them to have their punishments. “Keep a sharp look out for kidnappers and have sharp eye open.” -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This book was about a enslaved black american man who was brutally beaten by his owner. Uncle Tom's Cain revealed the ways slaves were treated and people were not happy. After reading the book many people were inspired to become abolistionst and stop slavery once and for all. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/slavery-and-anti-slavery/resources/harriet-beecher-stowe-sends-uncle-tom%E2%80%99s-cabin-quee -
Uncle Tom's Cabin (continued)
This book could have been blamed for war because it made many northerners angry and made them turn against the south. Southerners clamied this book was propaganda and contained false information. -
Kansas Nebraska act
Summary: The kansas nebraska act states that kansas could decide whether or not they wanted to become a slave state by the vote of popular sovereignty. The south liked this, hoping kansas would be a slave state. The north was outraged they felt betrayed by douglas because he allowed more slave states. Violence acts began to happened to those who disagreed with others which gained kansas its name as bloody kansas. -
Kansas Nebraska act
Primary resource
Primary resource description: This document states that nebraska and kansas will be admitted as a slave or free state. -
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott was an enslaved man who at a time had been owned by a U.S army doctor. He had escaped to a free state in the north. When he was discovered he arguded that since he was living in a state where slavery was illegal. He went to trial and ultimately lost and was sent back to the sputh with his owner. The south rejoiced but the north was disappointed. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Douglas and Lincoln ran for senator of Illinois. Lincoln believed slavery was morally wrong and should not exist. He was favored by most of the north. Douglas however did not believe slavery was wrong and supported popular sovereignty. This debate turned the south and north against eachother. This would soon become another cause of the civil war. http://www.stjoe.k12.in.us/ourpages/auto/2011/11/14/53458274/Lincoln-Douglas%20Debates_%20Excerpts.pdf -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown was an abolitionist who attempted to lead a slave revolt by capturing Armories in southern territory and giving weapons to slaves. He used violence to stop slavery and was immediately, involved in the Pottawatomie Massacre, he was tried, convicted of treason and hung... he became a martyr. His motives were being against slavery and using violence and weapons to stop it. -
John Brown's Raid (continued)
He used this and thought violence would solve the problem. Later, he was taken, captured, and hung to death. This poster is a primary source and it is posting the anti slavery mass meeting. On this poster it says in bold letters that captain John Brown is to be executed. This was when he was captured and killed because of his remark against slavery. -
Lincoln's election of 1860
Summary: Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the united states over a hugely divided democratic party. Abraham became the first republican president in history. Although Lincoln only won 40 percent of the the popular vote he greatly beat John C Breckinbridge, John Bell, and Stephen Douglas.
Primary resource
Primary resource Description: Lincoln’s name was proposed at a convention. -
Southern Seccesion
After the Election the south felt the odds were stack against them. Now the presidents and congress opinions were against theirs especially regarding the issue of slavery. States in the south started writing declerations of seccesion. They wanted to break away from union. South carolina was the first to secede, six others followed. These states formed the Confederate States of America. -
Southern Seccesion (continued)
Their president was Jefferson Davis. Licoln tried to get the states to rejoin the union but the refused. This lead to them trying to starve the troops at Fort Sumter because they believed it was theirs. Licoln responded by sending food because he did not want to start a war. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/failure-compromise/resources/union-dissolved-1860
