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Missouri Compromise of 1820
In 1820, Maine was annexed as a free state as part of the Missouri Compromise. Missouri was also annexed but as a slave state due to the Missouri Compromise. Every new state south of the 36x30 line would be a slave state. All new states north of the 36x30 line would be a free state however Missouri was an exception. To make the Southern States happy, Congress made it that slaves that escaped to the north would be brought back if they were caught even from Union states which are against slaves. -
Nat Turner Slave Rebellion 1831
The Nat Turner Slave Rebellion was a rebellion which spread the fear in the south. It caused the deaths of 60 people and resulted in a retaliation for the rebellion, even to those not involved. At least 51 of the people killed during the rebellion were white. The rebellion occurred during the month of August 1851.The rebellion ended up spreading fear in the south and was our first sign of abolitionists in the U.S. -
The Compromise of 1850
Due to Texas being annexed to the United States, California was admitted as a free state. The United States also gained Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada with California due to the Mexican Cession. Other territories could decide when they applied for statehood if they wanted be a free or slave state. This is something called Popular Sovereignty. The Compromise of 1850 included the Fugitive Slave Act which made it a crime to help runaway slaves even in the non slave states. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin 1851
Uncle Tom's Cabin is a book made by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book was made in 1851. Uncle Tom's Cabin described the horrors of slavery. Many people in the south saw it as propaganda. It caused many people in northern states to become much more opposed to slavery than they were before. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was an act which did two things. It divided Nebraska into 2 territories which are modern day Nebraska and Kansas. The slavery in the territories were decided by the voters using popular sovereignty. It was published on May 30th, 1854. The act caused Bleeding Kansas. It also caused the democratic party to lose support in the north while gaining support in the south. While, the Republican Party was created and gained power from those opposed to slavery. -
Dred Scott Decision 1857
The Supreme Court of 1857 ruled that African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in Federal Court for freedom or anything else. The Supreme Court ruled that slaves are property. They ruled that the Missouri Compromise was not legal. They stated the government could not require states to be free or slave. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry 1859
John Brown led a failed raid on the arsenal in Harper's Ferry. The purpose of his raid was to arm slaves. He ended up being captured for his anti-slavery revolt. Then, he ended up being hanged after getting convicted for conspiracy and treason. He was trying to arm the slaves and was opposed to slavery. He raided a federal arsenal causing him to still face a punishment. -
1860 Presidential Election
The Republicans promised that the spread of slavery would be ended. Also they promised that they would give free land in the west for settlers. Abraham Lincoln was elected as president and won the election against the Democrats. Southern states decided to secede from the United States. The first thing Lincoln did was to make secession illegal. The first shots were fired at 4:30 AM on Fort Sumter.
