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Mexican/American War
Mexican-American War
Mexico had been warning the U.S. that they would go to war if they had annexed Texas. Mexico had not recgonized Texan independence. During this time the U.S. tried to persuade Mexico from declaring war. In 1845 Texas joined the U.S. as a state the Mexican government broke democratic relations with U.S. -
Wilmot Proviso
Wilmot Proviso
Bill introduced by David Wilmot which would ban slavery in any territory. This bill had failed twice to be passed by the Senate. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Known as most controversial act this stated that any runaway slaves are to be brought back to their masters. This would cause tensions with the North as abolitionsts nicknamed it, "Bloodhound Law." -
Compromise of 1850
List of 5 bills that defused four years of confrontation between the slave states of the South and the free states of the North. -
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Underground Railroad
Network of secret routes and safehouses used by slaves in the 19th century which helped slaves escape to the North. An important figure during this event was Hariet Tubman who was a worker in the Underground Railroad who freed about 70 or more slaves. -
Uncle Tom's cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Book published in the 1800's describing the life of a mother and her son taken by slaves and escaping to the North. -
Ostend Manifesto
Ostend Manifesto
Document written stating that the U.S. could purchase Cuba from Spain and that the U.S. could declare war if Spain refused. This outraged the North believing that it was a Southern sttempt to expand slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Bill which allowed opening new lands for settlement which in result, created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Another main purpose of this act was to decide which territories would have slavery and those that would not allow slavery. This resulted in pro and antislavery groups to flood into Kansas and arguing of increasing or decreasing slavery causing a war between the two groups. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Series of violent confrontations and battles fought between anti slavery groups and pro slavery groups. These battles took place in mainly Kansas territory and small towns in Misouri. These battles that were fought were mainly for the purpose of deciding whether Kansas would be become part of the union as a free state or a slave state. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleeding_Kansas
American politician who was nearly killed by Preston Brooks by being beaten vigirously with a cane for ridiculing slaveowners as pimps. -
Dred Scott decision
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Ruling by U.S, constitution stating that slaves could never become U.S. citizens or ever be protected by the constitution.
