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Missouri Compromise
The missouri compromise was an invisible line that separated the free states from the slave states. It was called the missouri compromise because it bordered missouri. States that were north of the boundary had to be free, states south of the boundary could choose to be free or slave. The picture is of the actual Missouri compromise document. -
Missouri Compromise (2)
This line caused much controversy and the rules relating to the line were often broken. Many slaves thought that the line meant guaranteed freedom if crossed, therefore, many slaves attempted to escape to the north. When the slave owners figured out where the slaves were going, they were outraged. The owners needed something to change, so a law was put in place that stated that slaves had to be returned to their masters if found. -
Wilmot Proviso
Politicians were arguing over how to end the Mexican, American War. A representative from Pennsylvania named David Wilmot proposed a solution. He suggested that all states that came from the Mexican Cession should be free. The bill passed through the House of Representatives but not the Senate. People in the south disliked this proposal. It was seen by Southerners as an attack on slavery from the north. The picture is of the intro to the Wilmot Proviso -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 forced the government to admit that california was a free state rather than a slave state. This act made sure to stop slavery in Washington DC the nation’s capital, many people saw this as un-american. The act allowed potential growth of slavery in the north as well as slowing of slavery in the south. The picture is of the compromise of 1850 document. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The slaves owners were unhappy with the way the slaves were escaping so the enacted the fugitive slave act. This act made it so any slaves that had escaped to the north (no matter how long they had been there) and had been caught, must be taken back to their owners. The slave owners didn’t need to have proof that a person was their slave prior to their escape while they took the person! The picture is of a newspaper advertising for lost slaves. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin.
This was a book written about the horrors of slavery. It gave many people a first glance of what slavery was like. It was an attempt to start to diminish slavery in the US. This book finally got people thinking about stopping slavery because after reading it the people were horrified. The picture is the actual book uncle Tom's Cabin. -
Kansas & Nebraska Act
As the conflict over slavery continued it made it´s way to the territories of Nebraska and Kansas. The southern states did not allow the western territories to join since they would be above the missouri compromise line and they would be a free state. A senator named Steven Douglas helped pass the act. The picture is a political map from 1854. -
Dred Scott Case
This case was taken to the supreme court by an African american named Dred Scott. Dred was a slave who was working for his master in a state where slavery had been outlawed. Dred believed that this wasn't fair so he went to court and sued his master. He was instantly dismissed because the court claimed that an African american had no place in a court room and had no right to sue. The picture is of a newspaper about Dred Scott from 1857. -
Lincoln & Douglas Debate
This was a debate between the republican party (unlike the one we know today) and the democratic party. As stated in the name it was a debate between Lincoln and Douglas. This debate included the topic of slavery and was debated upon for hours. Eventually it was said that Douglas had won the debate but Lincoln eventually went on to win the presidency. The picture is of a political cartoon from the time period. -
John Brown's Raid
This raid was lead by an abolitionist named John Brown. He wanted to start the end of slavery because of his religious beliefs. He thought that the best way to do this was to fight along with the help of his sons and some slaves. The slaves never came and his sons fought poorly without the backup so they were all eventually killed and the mission was a complete disaster. The picture represents the fight that John Brown wanted to have. -
Lincoln Wins the Presidency.
Lincoln winning the presidency rose tensions around the country. Because of his belief that there was no place for slavery in the west, many people in the country were upset. Despite loosing many debates to other people, Lincoln won the presidency. Having a president like this rose tensions so much that states were rumored to secede from the nation. This is a newspaper from when Lincoln won the presidency. -
Southern Secession
After Lincoln won the presidency, the south was outraged because of his beliefs. The south supported slavery of course and Lincoln did not. There was an obvious conflict and there were rumors of secession in the south. As slavery slowed the south became more enraged and finally snapped, they announced that they were seceding from the north. North Carolina seceded and the rest followed suit. They all coalesced to create a new country. This was a map from the time period.
