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Antebellum Period
The period of U.S. history leading up to the Civil War -
Election of James K. Polk
The democrats selected Governor Polk, a slave owner from Tennessee, as their nominee for the election of 1844. Polk supported the annexation of Texas and wanted to claim all of the Oregon territory. Many northerners were opposed to expansion in the south because it would expand the institution of slavery. -
Manifest Destiny
The phrase manifest destiny was coined in 1845 by John L. O' Sullivan and represented the ideology that it was the destiny of the United States to expand to the Pacific Ocean in order to form a continental country. As the country expanded out west, fierce debates over which states would be pro or anti slavery would tear the country apart. -
Wilmot Proviso
During the Mexican War, Congressman David Wilmot of Pennsylvania proposed a ban on slavery in any new territories that might be acquired through the war. His proposal passed through the House of Representatives before being shot down by southern senators as well as a few pro-slavery senators from the north. This created a schism among Democrats who were antislavery and Democrats who were pro-slavery. -
Free Soil Party
The Free Soil Party was a short-lived but influential party that aimed to prevent the expansion of slavery into western territories. Martin Van Buren was the party's first presidential nominee and although he lost, the Free Soil Party did manage to get several representatives in congress and some state legislatures. The party eventually joined into the Republican party in 1854. -
Admission of California as a Free State
In 1849 California applied for statehood as a free state. Fierce debates took place in Congress over whether the government had constitutional authority to regulate slavery in territories and over individual property rights. The idea of popular sovereignty was proposed and California eventually reached statehood as a result of the Compromise of 1850. -
Fugitive Slave Act
As a part of the Compromise of 1850 a Fugitive Slave Act was passed which gave federal support to slave catchers and even resulted in some free blacks being enslaved without a jury trial. As a result of this act, some abolitionists in the North turned to violence and many states began passing personal-liberty laws to give more rights to all of the people living in those states. -
Republican Party
Due to all of the turmoil caused by the issue of slavery, a new party was formed out of ex-Whigs, Free-Soil members and abolitionists. This new Republican Party championed social mobility, a society based on farmers and artisans, and was antislavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Senator Douglas of Illinois wanted to organize the territories acquired in the Louisiana Purchase in order to build a railroad from Chicago to California. Southerners were opposed to this as they had wanted to expand slavery into new territories and wanted the link to California to connect with a southern city. In order to appease the south the Missouri Compromise was repealed and the two newly formed territories would be open to popular sovereignty -
Ostend Manifesto
Three American diplomats met in Ostend, Belgium to attempt to purchase Cuba from Spain and they threatened to use force if Spain refused their offer. This was supported by southerners because it would add another slave state to balance the senate and it would help prevent a slave rebellion from happening there. However, the negotiations failed and the Pierce administration was criticized by Republicans Northern Democrats. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott, a slave, tried to sue for his freedom on the grounds that he had lived in a territory where slavery was prohibited. When his case reached the supreme court, the judges ruled against Scott 7-2. Roger Taney attempted to justify the decision by saying an African-American could not be a national citizen and therefore had no right to sue in a federal court. This still remains one of the most controversial supreme court decisions. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican president despite receiving less than 1% of the popular vote in southern states. Even though he was one of the more moderate Republicans on the issue of slavery, which is why he was chosen as the nominee, many southerners feared this election signaled the beginning of the downfall of slavery in the United States.
