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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise allowed for Maine to become a free state and Missouri to become a slave state. This helped maintain the balance of power between the North and South. -
Mexican American War
The Mexican American War was a war between Mexico and America over territory. This helped America gain land including parts of Texas and California. -
Wilmot Proviso
As a result of the Mex American War, the Wilmot Proviso banned slavery from any states acquired by the US from Mexico. The conflict over this proposal led to tensions between North and South. -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 was made up of 5 bills that tried to resolve sectional tensions in the US. This worked temporarily but ended up raising more sectional tensions. -
Fugitive Slave Law
This law allowed for slave owners to redeem their slaves after they have run away to another state.This angered the free-soilers causing lots of tensions between them and the South. -
"Uncle Tom's Cabin"
This anti-slavery novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe showed the horrors that slaves faced. This angered the south and supported the North causing tensions to rise. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
This allowed for the people of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether slavery should be allowed in their states. This caused tension because it was on the north side of the line and the north got mad when it was declared a slave state. -
Bleeding Kansas
Pro-slavery and anti-slavery people were fighting over Kansas leading to a series of violent attacks. This was the first violent attack because of the sectional tension leading to the civil war. -
Attack on Charles Sumner
Preston Brooks attacked Charles Sumner in his office because his offensive speech towards his uncle. Northerners saw this as a horrible crime while Southerners thought of him as a hero. -
Lecompton Constitution
This was a document by pro-slavery advocates to protect the slaveowners and make sure slaves continued to have no rights. This created sectional tensions because the north didn’t agree with this. -
Dred Scott Case
Scott tried to sue his slave owner by holding him as a slave in a free state. It was ruled that he is not considered a citizen. This caused tension because people argued that as a black man he doesn’t have rights. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
This was a debate between Lincoln and Douglas. Lincoln gave such good anti-slavery speeches that made him nationally prominant. This debate shows the influence of slavery on society and politics. -
John Brown's Raid
This was a slave revolt in the southern states. John Brown led a slave revolt to raid Harper’s Ferry. This caused tensions because the south still didn't agree that slaves should be free. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln won the presidential election by more electoral and popular votes. This was the last hope for the Republicans which they lost and it led to the civil war. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina was the first state to withdraw from the Union which led to other states also withdrawing. Six other states decided to also withdraw from the Union helping the confederate army number wise.
