-
The Compromise of 1850
A time period in which the American government purchased new territories to temporarily defuse relationships between pro slavery and anti slavery states. The states would be even in amounts of pro and anti slavery states, not leaving either side to feel as if they were out numbered. -
Bleeding Kansas
Kansas was split into 3 groups, pro slavery, anti slavery, and abolitionists. But violence broke out, furthering tensions across the states. People throughout the state went into fights, even to guérilla warfare over the matter. The violence took the lives of 55 people, and the conflict lasted until 1861. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, reopening the slavery conflict. It also sought to organize territories. -
Preston Brooks vs Charles Sumner
Two senators Sumner and Brooks would get into a fight, Sumner being beat by Brooks’ cane. The fight arose due to Sumners view on Kansas’s stance on it they should join the states as a free or slave state. In his speech he degraded pro slave senators, attacking everything from family to wives to appearance and views. Brooks, not finding Sumner to be a gentleman, chose to beat Sumner instead of asking to duel. -
Dred Scott vs . Sandford
Dred Scott vs. Sandford was a Supreme Court case in which a slave, Dred Scott, sued his master as he was moved from slave owning territory to free territory. But the court sided with his master, therefore impacting all black Americans. This case decided that black Americans were not citizens and were not protected by the constitution or bill of rights. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
A series of 7 political debates between presidential candidates. Lincoln was accused of being an abolitionist, or wanting to rid American of Slavery. Douglas was then accused back of wanting to nationalize slavery. These debates reflected the larger whole of the issue country wide. -
John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry
An abolitionist, John Brown, led a group of abolitionists to a ferry to attempt to seize the vehicle, only for 10 to die to the marines and various violence efforts. Brown was arrested after the dust had settled over the 2 day long raid. He and the survivors would go onto fight and defend in the civil war. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln
In 1860, as tensions between the North and the South grew, Abraham Lincoln was elected into presidency. He didn’t win the popularity vote, but he won the over the Electoral College, winning a 4 way election. His abolitionist ideals would be the final match to ignite the civil war.