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2nd Great Awakening-Rise of abolitionism
Protestant religious revival. It focused on self-realization and the growing middle class of society. It led to movements such as the anti-slavery movement and women’s rights movement because people were beginning to believe everybody had potential and should seek out to reach that potential. -
Missouri Compromise
Created by Henry Clay, the Missouri Compromise combined the Maine and Missouri proposals into one bill. Maine was to enter as a free state and Missouri as a slave. It would also prohibit slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Purchase territory north of the southern boundary of Missouri. -
Gag Resolution
The House passed a resolution that postponed the actions and petitions related to slavery (Southern effort to postpone anti-slavery revolts). John Quincy Adams was one of the first to strongly disapprove of the resolution and its unconstitutionalism. He worked for years to get it removed. -
Election of 1844
James K. Polk, a strong supporter of annexation, was elected. He was out of the public eye for many years, but became popular because of his Democratic support of the annexation of Texas and reoccupation of Oregon. -
Annexation of Texas
In the 1820’s the Mexican government encouraged Americans to move into Texas to boost the economy. However, Americans had different views and were not loyal to the Mexican government like they hoped. This caused tensions. Texas gained its independence from Mexico in 1836. Texans eagerly wanted annexation by the United States, but Americans were hesitant to add another slave state to the Union. When James K. Polk became president in 1844, he annexed Texas. -
Start of Mexican American War
Many people opposed the war because they thought that Polk brought it on himself, staged the border incident on the Rio Grande, and they thought Polk settled for less than he should have with Britain on the issue of Oregon. continued on "End of Mexican American War" -
End of Mexican American War
The US gained California and New Mexico and got the Rio Grande border of Texas; in return they pad $15 million. -
Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay proposed that California be a free state; the formation of territorial governments in the rest of the lands acquired from Mexico, without restrictions on slavery; the abolition of the slave trade in the District of Columbia; and a new and more effective fugitive slave law. It rose much debate for years and was more a product of bargaining and self-interest rather than an agreement on national ideals. -
Creation of Republican Party
People of both the Democratic and Whig parties that opposed the Kansas-Nebraska act joined together to form the Republican party. Northerners were upset with the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and whigs were divided because many were anti-slavery. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
Stephen A. Douglas created a bill to add a new territory known as Nebraska. He stated that slavery would be determined in that area by popular sovereignty and he divided the area into Kansas and Nebraska (repealed Missouri Compromise). People who opposed the bill formed the Republican party. -
Bleeding Kansas
When Kansas was acquired in the Kansas-Nebraska Act people fled to the territory in attempt to make the area a slave state (vote by popular sovereignty). This caused a series of skirmishes between the pro and anti slavery people including the Pottawatomie Massacre. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott was a Missouri slave, but when his owner passed away and he became free because they lived in Wisconsin and Illinois (free states). Dred Scott sued his master’s widow for freedom. Later his owner’s brother claimed that he did not have the right to sue because he was not a citizen. Judge Taney ruled that he indeed could not sue because Scott was property. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
Lincoln was not a profound political figure like Douglas so he initiated debates to voice his distinct views to the public. His attacks on slavery made him profound against Douglas’ neutral view. Many people gathered to hear the passionate debates. -
Election of 1860
In 1860, Lincoln was elected as president with a majority of the electoral votes but only 2/5 of the popular vote. His election was a final straw for Southerners and many Southern states seceded almost immediately preceding Lincoln’s victory.