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Missouri Compromise
A compromise that Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, while Maine would be admitted as a free state. Any states admitted above the 36' 30' line would be free, any below would be slave. This would keep the balance of slave and free state representation in congress. This would begin to spark sectional between the North and South between the U.S. which would lead to the Civil War. -
Mexican-American War
United States annexed Texas, Mexico refused to comply and they went to war. Important because it resulted in the Southern Border of Texas being the Rio Grande and also the acquisition of New Mexico and California. -
Wilmot Proviso
In the first year of the Mexican-American War, Pennsylvania Congressman David Wilmot proposed a bill be amended to forbid slavery in any new territories acquired from Mexico. Ultimately was never passed into law, but got the slavery debate going once again. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Strengthened the previous slave act. Northerner authorities were now required to return escaped slaves to their masters. Angered Northerners as they believed that the government was openly supporting slavery. -
Compromise of 1850
California was admitted as a free state, Texas gave up claims to land disputed by NM and was paid $10 Million, Slave Trade banned in D.C., Fugitive Slave Law. Encourage Northerners to seize and return escaped slaves to the north, which furthered hostilities. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A book about a Slave named Tom and the life he leads as a slave. Portrays slave owners as cruel and inhumane. Leads to more people wanting the abolition of slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Senator Stephen A. Douglas introduced a bill to split Nebraska into 2 parts, and allow each territory to decide whether it's slave or free through popular sovereignty. Led to abandonment of Missouri Compromise and angry Northerners claiming the government was surrendering to the "slave power'. -
Bleeding Kansas
Fighting broke out between antislavery farmers and pro settlers from Missouri in the state of Kansas. Pro slavery Missourians attempted to establish a homestead in Lecompton. This is so significant that some consider this the true start to the civil war, as this is when the fighting truly starting. -
Charles Sumner Attacker
Charles Sumner attacked the Democrats, and South Carolina senator Andrew Butler. Preston Brooks, Butler's nephew, proceeded to beat him over the head with a cane. This outraged the North, but the South commended him for it, and he received several canes to replace the one destroyed in his attack. This furthered the divide between the north and the south. -
Lecompton Constitution
President Buchanan wanted Congress to admit Kansas as slave state, in 1858, the proslavery document was overwhelmingly shut down by antislavery settlers. Led to further divide between north and south. -
Dred Scott Vs. Sandford
Dred Scott was taken to Wisconsin from Missouri and returned after 2 years. Scott argued that his residence in free territory made him a free man. The court determined that he was property, not a citizen, and therefore had no rights. -
John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry
In 1859, a small group of men attacked the small town of Harper's Ferry in Virginia. They wanted to give weapons to slaves so they could start an uprising. -
Crittenden Compromise
This plan was a proposal to reestablish the Missouri Compromise line and extend it westward to the Pacific coast. Slavery would be prohibited north or the line and permitted south of the line. Southerners in the Senate were willing to accept this plan, but the compromise would have required the northerners to let slavery expand. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Slavery is the issue debated by both candidates. Douglas wanted slavery determined by popular sovereignty and Lincoln accepted slavery where it currently was but did not want it to expand into the new territories. Douglas ultimately won, but Lincoln made a strong showing. Would lead to Lincoln's inauguration, the kickoff of the Civil War. -
Election of 1860
Presidential race between Douglas and Lincoln Was important as it was to test survival of the union. -
South Carolina sucedes from the Union
The election of Lincoln was the final nail in the coffin for South Carolina to leave. Sets the precedent for the formation of the confederacy. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Confederate army attacked the Union army at Fort Sumter after wanting them to leave the fort. They refused so the South attacked. The Union surrendered at this battle and left the fort. This is the first official battle of the Civil War.
