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Period: to
1800-1861
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The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri compromise is a compromise that states at what point slaves can and can't be held. Part of the Missouri Compromise is that Missouri is admitted into the Union as a slave state, but slaves can't be held above 36°30'. North of this line slavery is not permitted, but South of this line slaves can be held. This led to the Civil War because many people thought that the compromise had only pacified the Union not solved the actual problem. -
Compromise of 1850
This compromise was proposed by Henry Clay. The compromise let California into the Union as free New Mexico and Utah as slave states, also ended slave trade in Washington D.C., slave holders could keep the slaves, but no more could be sold. Congress adopted the compromise in September of 1850.North Carolina was unhappy because they wanted the matter of slavery to stay out of Congress, This led up to the Civil war because it was the first time a state had threatened to leave the Union. -
The Kansas and Nebraska Act
Stephan A. Douglass wanted to build a railroad to California so he suggested that Nebraska and Kansas be let in to the Union. The bill also said that it was up to the settlers of that area as to if they would have slaves or not. This bill scrapped the Missouri compromise entirely because the two territories were above the line.This led up to the Civil War because on May 21, 1856 settler poured into Kansas so they could stuff the ballot boxes to make Kansas a slave territory. -
Dred Scott Case
The Dred Scott case was a case brought up by Dred Scott. He was a slave, but wanted his freedom because he now lived in a free state, Wisconsin. By a vote of four to five Dred Scott didn't win his freedom. The Supreme Court said he wasn't free because the Fifth Amendment states property cannot be taken away without due law process. This led up to the Civil War because it showed no matter if the state is free the slave is considered property not a person, so they can't be taken away. -
The Election of 1860
The election of 1860 showed how divided the nation was. Republicans were behind Abraham Lincoln and Democrats were behind Stephan Douglass. Lincoln won, but he won with 40% of the votes. All of them were cast in the North, he wasn't on the ballot in ten southern states. This led up to the Civil war because now the President was against slavery. This meant the south was now the minority. A South Carolina newspaper said this could be "The loss of everything that made life worth living." -
Attack on Fort Sumter
On April 12, 1861; one month after South Carolina left the Union; South Carolina opened fire on Fort Sumter. After thirty-three hours of fighting the Fort took down the American flag and put up a white flag of surrender. As of that attack the compromises were over, and the Union had dissolved. This led up to the Civil War because it was the first time that showed there was no hope of saving the Union peacefully.
