-
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise truly revealed the deep-seated division between free and slave states. There was balance in Congress, but it really showed how contentious the extension of slavery would be-a basis for future disputes. Henry Clay (Pictured) is often given the credit for the passage of this compromise. Image source: Library of Congress -
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
The violent uprising by enslaved people heightened Southern fears of rebellion and led to the passing of stricter slave laws. The rebellion polarized the nation further, with Southerners demanding more control and Northerners getting increasingly critical of slavery's inhumanity. Image source: Britannica -
Compromise of 1850
The Fugitive Slave Act alienated Northerners because it called on them to aid in returning escaped slaves, thus stirring abolitionist sentiment. At the same time, allowing popular sovereignty in new territories made the debate over slavery's expansion even more contentious. Image Source Britannica -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act overturned the Missouri Compromise and rekindled sectional controversy, as pro- and anti-slavery forces clashed aggressively in Kansas. The "Bleeding Kansas" that ensued displayed the impossibility of political compromise over slavery. Image source: Maya Inca Aztec -
John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry
This armed attempt to initiate a slave uprising sent shockwaves of terror through the South, convincing many that Northern abolitionists were bent on destroying their way of life. The raid made the possibility of compromise appear even more remote, if not impossible, and war unavoidable. Image Source: National Park Service