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Missouri Compromise
A compromise made to defuse the conflict arising with the admission of Missouri as a slave state. So Clay came up with the idea of adding Missouri as a slave state but then creating Maine and adding it as a free state. Keeping the balance of slave/free states. It also created a line of which states above will be free and states below will be slave. 2 Facts:
This compromise was made by Henry Clay.
The line was on the latitude 36°30 This event increased tension by increasing sectionalism. -
Nat Turner Rebellion
This event was a slave rebellion led by Nat Turner. Although it was only for a few days, the slaves ended up killing around 55-65 whites. Nat Turner went into hiding after the rebellion ended, but eventually was caught and hung. 2 Facts:
120 slaves were killed by organized militias after the rebellion.
Law was passed shortly after prohibiting the education of slaves and free blacks. This increased tension between the N/S by increasing the difference between how they think about slavery. -
The California Gold Rush
This was a mass movement that 10 years. That started in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It led to a mistreatment of Asians and Indians.
The Gold Rush transitioned into the wheat boom. -
Fugitive Slave Act
This act required Northerners to return runaway slaves to their owners in the South. If they failed to do so they could face a penalty form the government. 2 Facts -
Accused run-aways did not get any form of a trial, so a free black could be sent back.
The fugitive slave was amended and made stricter by the Compromise of 1850. This increased tension in the North and South because Northerners were infuriated at the fact that they had to enforce something they did not agree upon. -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 did many things to settle the dispute of North against South. Some of those things consisted of amending the Fugitive Slave Act, taking California into the Union as a free state, and abolishing the slave trade in the District of Columbia. 2 Facts:
This compromise was proposed by Henry Clay.
The compromise consisted of 5 separate bills. This compromise increased tensions in the North and South, because the North was not okay with the South capturing run-away slaves. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was the best selling novel of the 19th century. This helped fuel the abolitionists movement cause in 1850s.In its first year, it sold 300,000 copies in US. It also sold 1,000,000 copies in the Great Britain.
This increased tensions by inspiring a lot of black stereotypes. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act was proposed by Senator Stephen Douglas. He proposed this to get the South to agree with his plan to have a railroad built from his state of Illinois to the western frontier. The act added Kansas and Nebraska to the union but not as free or slave. But under the new idea of popular sovereignty. 2 Facts
Popular Sovereignty is the idea that a state's settlers can decide if the state will be free or slave.
This act tore the Whigs apart. It increased tension, by increasing sectionalism. -
Brooks Attacks Sumner
This event follows the beating of Sumner by Brook. Brook went to Sumner while he was writing in his seat, angered by the speech he gave, and started to hit him continuously with a crane. He only seized to hit him when the cane broke. 2 Facts:
Sumner suffered trauma and debilitation for the rest of his life.
The South cheered Brooks attack, and said it was sociably justifiable.
This split the North and South apart in Congress as they decided punishment. -
Dred Scott Case
This event followed Dred who was a slave living in a free state with his owner. As they were about to move, he went to court saying since he has been living in a free state he should have emancipation. The court said no black man slave or free can become a U.S citizen.
2 Facts:
John Emmerson was the owner of Dred Scott.
Dred Scott filed for freedom with his wife.
This heightened North and South tensions, the North was outraged by the decision. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
This event consisted of 7 debates against Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. These debates were based on issues of slaver in the United States.
2 Facts:
Stephen Douglas won the debates.
These debates were for the seat of Illinois.
This event didn't directly increase tension. But Stephen's time in the senate increased tension in the North and South. -
Raid on Harpers Ferry
This event was a attempt to start a armed slave rebellion. The man who attempted this was John Brown. It was a complete failure he only rallied up 22 men, and he was defeated shortly by the U.S Marines.
2 Facts:
The Lt who stopped John Brown was Israel Greene.
Brown asked Harriet Tubman, and Fredrick Douglas to join his raid. -
Election of 1860
This election was against Lincoln and Breckinridge. Lincoln was in the Republican Party and Breckinridge was in the Southern Democratic Party.
2 Facts:
Lincoln won by more then double the popularity vote.
Lincoln won without a single electoral vote from the south.
Increased tension, by showing the South hat they had little say in the choosing of this president. -
“Bleeding Kansas”
A string of bloody fights by the Anti-Slavery and Pro Slavery members. These fights were over the dispute of Kansas being free or slave.
2 Facts:
These battles lasted for 7 years.
Ended with Kansas being admitted as a free state.
Increased sectionalism between North and South. Angering the South about the increase of free states.
