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Missouri Compromise
Henry clay proposed a solution, that Missouri be admitted as a slave state, and Maine be admitted as a free state. The bill also provided for slavery to be decided by popular sovereignty in the admission of new states. However, this compromise hardly helped resolve the brewing tensions between the North and South. -
Wilmot Proviso
Immediately after territories were acquired from the Mexican-American War, David Wilmot proposed that slavery and labor should be banned in all territories. Although this bill was rejected by congress out of fear of Southern Secession, the South was still outraged. -
Election of 1848 & the Free Soil Party
The free soil party was created in 1848, and their goal was to limit westward expansion of slavery. Their party was best in urban cities, that had Northern Abolitionists, such as New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The party voted Van Buren as their president, and while he lost, the party's main focus of preventing slavery to the west was somewhat successful, as well as being a key part of the growing anti-slavery movement that eventually turned into the Republican Party. -
Compromise of 1850
With new states and territories constantly being made, Henry Clay proposed a solution to fill the needs of both the North and South. The acts called for the admission of California as a "free state," provided for a territorial government for Utah and New Mexico, established a boundary between Texas and the United States, called for the abolition of slave trade in Washington, DC, and amended the Fugitive Slave Act. However, this act still upset the North, where slavery spread to their states. -
Fugitive Slave Act & Personal Liberty Laws
Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which gave slaveholders the right to catch runaway slaves with federal and Northern help. The Act required citizens to help track them down, and this angered the North, as both sides began to divide from each other. Many people believed that the North and South could never coexist. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe, an author, and abolitionist, inspired by the Fugitive Slave Act, wrote and published Uncle Tom's Cabin, a brilliant book about the horrors of slavery by evil men. This book became very popular, and was the best-selling book of the century next to the bible. Northern men saw this a book of fire, and hope, and this sparked more anger and protest for ending slavery. The South however, were spooked, and were terrified about the effects this book left on the people. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Senator Stephen A. Douglas proposed a transcontinental railroad and the creation of the Nebraska territory. However, Southerners vetoed this bill in fear of Nebraska becoming a free state. Douglas then proposed splitting the land into Kansas and Nebraska, and letting the states decide if they wanted to be a free or slave state. This act directly repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, and many Northerners saw it as a step towards the U.S keeping slavery for good. -
Bleeding Kansas, 1854-1860
Kansas became a place of war, and fighting between pro and antislavery people, each creating their own constitution. However, the North became even more outraged when the South created the Lecompton Constitution, which contained more laws defending slaveholders. Kansas developed the name "Bleeding Kansas" because of how violent things got. The U.S Army was even sent to try to dissolve the fighting. -
Lincoln vs. Douglas Debates
Lincoln claims that the U.S can only be pro and antislavery, there is no in between. Douglass attacks Lincoln's supposed radical views on race, claiming his opponent would not only grant citizenship rights to freed slaves but allow Black men to marry white women. Lincoln tries to capitalize by attacking popular sovereignty, and attempting to gain support by even saying he would allow Southern states to have slaves. However, Lincoln and the Republicans would lose the election. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown, a northern abolitionist, was angered by the South's laws, and the government. He, and 16 other white and black men moved to a house in Harpers Ferry, and manage to start a rebellion, killing 11 white men before getting caught, and sentenced to hang. However, while in prison, Brown wrote letters, statements, and other pieces of information that thrilled the North, and sent a chill through the South, sparking more hatred between the two sides. -
Election of 1860 & the Republican Party
In 1860, Lincoln was elected President, and Although Lincoln received less than 40% of the popular vote, he easily won the Electoral College vote over Stephen Douglas, John Breckenridge, and John Bell. Southern men did not like this news, and many accused him of supporting Northern abolitionists, in getting rid of slavery. -
Secession of Eleven Southern Sates, 1860-1861
Southerners were now scared for their life, and they saw Lincoln's election as northern support for John Brown, and failure to support the fugitive slave act. The Southern states all voted to secede. However, the South even tried to hold on to hope, as the Crittenden Compromise is shot down by Lincoln. Eventually, Lincoln threatens Military action, and sends troops, but Jefferson Davis overtakes the fort. Both sides are now ready for war.
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