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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 stated that it was suggested in Congress that slavery be restricted in Missouri as a condition of admission. This created huge problems for the southern states, since slavery was big in the south. This increased the tension between the North and the South because the South believed that slavery should be everywhere while the North believed otherwise. -
Nat Turner's Slave Revolt
In 1831, Nat Turner, a slave, led a slave rebellion that last a few days. It was considered the largest and deadliest slave uprising in U.S. history, and it spread a wide fear that caused white militias to retaliate against the slaves. This decreased the tension between the North and the South because a slave rebellion is what the north would have wanted. -
Texas Annexation
The Texas Annexation Treaty was defeated in 1844, well below the two-thirds majority necessary for ratification. James K. Polk, a democrat, was elected president in 1844 with a goal of ratification of annexation. This decreased the tension between the North and the South because the annexation of Texas did not have much to do with the relationship of the North and South. -
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a secret network of underground tunnels that Harriet Tubman used to help slaves escape in the mid-19th century. This decreased the tension between the North and the South because this was more of a conflict between slaves and the South. -
Kansas-Nebraksa Act
An act put in place that mandated popular sovereignty and allowed the settlers of a certain place to decide whether or not slavery would be allowed in that new state. This increased the tension between the North and the South because, once again, the South believed that slavery should be mandatory for all states, while the North believed you should be able to choose, which created problems. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
The Lincoln-Douglas debate were a series of seven debates between the Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln during the 1858 Illinois senatorial campaign. This increased the tension between the North and the South because these two candidates were in opposite parties when the north and south were typically split between parties.
