-
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri compromise was an effort by Congress to defuse the sectional and political rivalries triggered by the request of Missouri late in 1819 for admission as a state in which slavery would be permitted. Due to much of new territory was south of the line set by it, it gave the south a majority vote in the Senate and an advantage in the Electoral College. -
Nat Turners Rebellion
Known as Turners rebellion, Turner led slaves in raid on white families in Southern Virginia. In attacks on four plantations, the rebels killed more than 50 white people. Virginia, which was not primarily a cotton state, briefly considered ending slavery in order to ease the threat. Instead, it joined other southern states on tightening restrictions on slaves after Turners Rebellion. Some states even prevented blacks from moving freely or even meeting fellow friends. -
Who was John Brown?
John Brown was a radical abolitionist who believed in the violent overthrow of the slavery system. During the Bleeding Kansas conflicts, Brown and his sons led attacks on pro-slavery residents. News of the raid electrified the North and outraged the white South. Brown was tried and convicted of treason. Popular expression of support for Brown was widespread in the North before he was hanged on December 2, 1859. -
The United States annexes Texas
After winning the Independence from Mexico, Texas voted to be annexed by the United Stated. To annex means to "join" or "attach". Most Southerners and Democrats supported it while Northerners and Whigs generally opposed it. They feared that the addition of even one slave state would shift the balance of power to the South. As did many people in the both the North and South worried that the annexation would lead to war with Mexico. -
The Mexican American War
One month after the annexation of Texas, Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the United States. Thus, making the Mexican Government taking the first towards war. Fighting over the border of where Texas and Mexico lands and the resentment over the annexation of Texas, Mexico declared war. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe was a Treaty signed by the United States and Mexico, ending the Mexican war. The terms were as followed:
1. Mexico gave up its claim to Texas and recognized the Rio Grande as the southern border of Texas.
2. Mexico gave New Mexico and California, which together made up more than two fifths of its territory, to the United States.
3. The United States paid Mexico $15 million
4. The United States agreed to pay claims made by American citizens against Mexico. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was an agreement designed to ease tension caused by the expansion of slavery into western territories -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Salve act was apart of the Compromise of 1850. It was a law ordering all citizens of the United States to assist in the return of slave. It would deny a jury trial to escaped slaves. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was a law that called for the creation of these two new territories and states that citizens in each territory should decide whether slavery would be allowed there. Stephen Douglas proposed it because it supported the practice of popular sovereignty. -
"Bleeding Kansas"
Starting in 1855, violence broke out in Kansas. It was a series of violent political confrontations in the United States. involving anti-slavery "free staters" and pro-slavery elements in Kansas between 1855 and 1861. -
Who was Dred Scott?
Dred Scott was a slave and social activist who served several masters before suing for his freedom. The legal case in which the Supreme Court on March 6th, 1857, ruled that Dred Scott who had resided in a free state and territory was not thereby entitled to his freedom.
