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Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was designed to reduce tensions over slavery between the North and South. A stricter Fugitive Slave Law that mandated the return of escaped slaves to their owners and the resolution of a border issue between Texas and New Mexico were also included in the agreement to please the South. Tensions over slavery continued. (Class Notes) -
Strader vs Graham
In this case the Supreme Court itself rejected an appeal from the Kentucky Supreme Court, which had decided that Kentucky slaves that were temporarily transported to Ohio were still considered slaves under Kentucky law. This is a valid event because this court finding impacted the one made in the Dred Scott Decision. (McPherson 171) -
Uncle Toms Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin, released in 1852, served as an important starting point for the American abolitionist movement. The book tells the tale of Uncle Tom, a good-hearted and religious African American slave. The novel illustrates the harsh realities of slavery, the ethical dilemmas of slave owners, and the injustices experienced by enslaved people via Tom's experiences. The book sparked outrage in the South and was extensively read in the North, where it fueled anti-slavery fervor. (Class Notes) -
Kansas Nebraska Act
Established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed for their colonization. Popular sovereignty is the idea that the act gave the settlers in these areas the freedom to determine whether or not to legalize slavery. The Missouri Compromise of 1820, which forbade slavery in the northern Louisiana Territory, was essentially annulled. This led to "Bleeding Kansas," a horrific battle in which pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces fought for control of the region. (Class Notes and resources) -
Anthony Burns Escape
Burns escaped North in search of freedom, but he was captured by federal officials due to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which mandated that fugitive slaves be returned to their owners. The case attracted national attention.Burns was taken back to Virginia under strict protection after a federal court ordered his return to his owner in spite of the objections.Many abolitionists were deeply upset by the incident, which also heightened tensions between the North and South. (McPherson 119) -
Caning of Summer
Representative Preston Brooks attacked Senator Charles Sumner on the Senate floor. In an anti-slavery speech, Sumner attacked senators who supported slavery, including Senator Andrew Butler, Brooks' cousin. Brooks pushed back by confronting Sumner in the Senate chamber and attacking him with a cane. The nation was stunned by the incident, which brought to light the severe sectional divide over slavery.The event widened the divide between the North and South in the North.Notes and provided texts -
Joseph E Brown elected Governor in Georgia
Joseph Brown's election as governor of Georgia in 1857 showed that the Democratic Party was thriving in his state and proved the declining fortunes of the Whig-American opposition, even though he was not yet a passionate secessionist. Key components of the secessionist ideology were still popularized by Brown's campaign platform and his plans as governor. These ideas were popular within non-plantation districts. This proved the state's commitment to slavery. (Varon 203) -
Knoxville Commercial Convention
De Bow announced and stated the south was economically and infrastructurally strong enough to separate from the north, reassuring extremists ideas in the election of 1856. This contributed to the Civil War because it gave the south a stronger platform for their argument favoring slavery. (Varon 203) -
Dred Scott Decision
After living with his owner in free territory, Dred Scott, a slave, filed a lawsuit to be freed. Scott had no grounds to file a lawsuit in court because he was not considered a citizen of the United States.The case was heard by Chief Justice Roger Taney. Additionally, it ruled that Congress lacked the power to outlaw slavery in the territories. Abolitionists were enraged by the ruling. It worsened tensions between states, which helped the Republican Party gain ground. (Notes and provided texts) -
The Panic of 1857
States in the North were especially hit by the economic depression that caused the panic, but the South was mostly spared because of its ability to rely on cotton exports. Regional inconsistencies in economic reliance were brought to light by the economic slump, which also highlighted sectional tensions between the North and South. This contributed to the build up of the Civil War because it showed the south's economic strength. (McPherson 189)