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Underground Railroad
Red. Network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved people in efforts to escape to free states. Tensions increased because this angered the southerners because people were helping free their slaves. -
The Missouri Crisis
Red. Crisis arose when Missouri submitted its application to become a state and declared that it would be a slave state because there was no clear line marking the boundary between free and slave territory west of the Ohio. This increased tensions because it caused controversy over if Missouri should be free or slave state. -
Missouri Compromise of 1820
Blue. Main was admitted to the union as a free state while Missouri was admitted as a slave state to maintain the balance between slave and non-slave states. -. This decreased the tension because it made both sides of the argument with slaves happy by making one a slave state and the other a non slave state. -
The Liberator
Red. A publication that talked about the moral ills of slavery. This increased tensions because pro-slavery supporters were very angry about this because more people were joining the anti-slavery group. -
Nat Turners Slave Revolt
Red. Nat turner lead a group of enslaved people in a revolt that ended in the death of 55-60 whites. This increased tensions between the north and south because a large amount of white men were killed by these slaves. -
Texas Annexation of 1844
Red. The Republic of Texas voluntarily asked to become a part of the United States, and the government of the United States agreed to annex the nation. This increased tensions because immediately after the annexation of Texas, Mexico declared war on the Union. -
The Wilmot Proviso
Red. The Wilmot Proviso was designed to eliminate slavery within the land acquired as a result of the Mexican War. This increased tensions because it threatened to eliminate slavery and the southerners were enraged by this Proviso. -
Compromise of 1850
Blue. Defused a four-year political confrontation between slave and free states regarding the status of territories acquired during the Mexican–American War. This decreased tensions by settling the disputes about the territories obtained during the Mexican- American War. -
Fugitive slave law
Red. This law stated that runaway slaves had to be returned to the owner. Anyone who tried to help the slave escape would be penalized. This increased tensions because this angered the Northerners who were trying to help run-aways. -
Publication of Uncle Toms Cabin
Red. Uncle Toms Cabin was an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. This increased the tensions because it personalized the political and economic arguments about slavery. -
Formation of the republican party
Red. Anti slavery Wigs met in the upper-midwest states in Wisconsin and established a party to oppose the spread of slavery. This increased tensions because it created more suporters of the anti-slavery party and had more arguments against the south. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
Red. Allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. This increased tensions because it caused pro-slave and anti-slave people to both try to settle in kansas and soon erupted in violence. -
Bleeding Kansas
Red. A series of violent political confrontations between pro and anti-slavery groups. Increased tensions because people have started physically fighting each other over the slave argument. -
Dredd Scott Supreme court decision
Red. The decision was made and affirmed the right of slave owners to take their slaves into the Western territories. The decision inflamed regional tensions, which burned for another four years before exploding into the Civil War. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
Blue. A series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, and Senator Stephen Douglas, the Democratic Party candidate. These debated would shape political discussions for years after. Tensions decreased because both parties were trying to resolve the issue and put forth their ideas. -
John Browns Raid at Harpers Ferry
Red. This was an effort by white abolitionist John Brown to initiate an armed slave revolt in 1859 by taking over a United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. This increased tensions because he seized the federal armory and arsenal and was fighting against slavery. -
Election of 1860
Red. Lincoln defeated southern democrats for the presidency. This increased tensions because the southern slave states feared that Lincoln would repeal slavery.
