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Underground Railroad
Online Textbook
This was the key to many of the slaves escaping slavery from the South and fleeing to the North. The most famous "conductor" is Harriet Tubman. She risked her life on 19 separate occasions to free slaves.Levi Coffin also helped by housing 2,000 free slaves in Indiana, and 1,300 in Cincinnati. This led to the Civil War because it led to the Fugitive Slave Act. -
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Mexican American War
Online TextbookWe entered this war when Texas entered the Union, which angered Mexico. The big dispute was about Texas's southwestern border, which the U.S. thought was the Rio Grande, but Mexico thought was the Nueces River. Mexico attacked first, once that happened, the U.S. declared war, and we won. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the war, giving the U.S. the territories that included California, Nevada, and Utah. No slavery. -
Wilmot's Proviso
Online Textbook
David Wilmot, a Pennsylvania representative, introduced a legislation in the House that stated, "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist" in the lands that we took from Mexico. This led to the Civil War because it divided Congress on whether they should pass this or not and between slavery in the South and none in the North. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Online Textbook
This law required the Northerners to return any runaway slaves back to the South. This would lead to the Civil War because the Northerners wanted to free the slaves, so this law angered them. -
Compromise of 1850
Online Textbook
California was admitted top the Union as free state, popular sovreignty for slavery in Utah and New Mexico, Texas border dispute with New Mexico solved, Texas gets $10 million, slave trade abolished in D.C., but not ownership, and strong federal enforcement on Fugitive Slave Act. Divided the sides even further. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Online Textbook
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" was a book that really started the Civil War. It was writtne by Harriet Beecher Stowe. She wrote this book through her exposure to runaway slaves and victims of the Fugitive Slave Law. She wanted the nation to feel what an accursed thing slavery was. This led to the Civil War because it outraged the South and gave the North hope. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Online Textbook
Kansas was the first battle ground between the North and South over the issue of slavery. The heart of this conflict was whether Kansas would be a free or slave state (like many conflicts). People from Missouri stuffed the ballot boxes so the South would gain an edge in the political race. This led to free-soilers to form their own legislature in Topeka. Within 2 years, armed battles would start. The dispute was about slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Online Textbook
First, Stephen Douglas said that Kansas and Nebraska would be open to popular sovreignty, but the South didn't like this. Then, he said that he would repeal the Missouri Compromise, and Nebraska would be northernmost, adjacent to free Iowa, and Kansas to the south, west of slave state Missouri. Pierce passed this to please the South. Led to the Civil War because North argued it would spread slavery even more. -
Ostend Manifesto
Wikipedia
This was a document that explained the rationale for the United States to purchase Cuba from Spain. This brought about a change in foreign policy, justifying the use of force to seize Cuba. This led to the Civil War because if we would have acquired Cuba, they would fight if it were a slave state or not. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
Online Textbook
Charles Sumner gave a speech called "The Crime Against Kansas" where he called the people from Missouri cheaters and also made fun of the South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, calling him an imbecile. This angered Preston Brooks, Butler's distant cousin, and so he chose to beat Sumner with a cane, defending his family's honor. This led to the Civil War because the actions that later followed angered them, forcing their hate. -
Dred Scott Decision
Wikipedia
This was a ruling by the Supreme Court that any African Americans and their descendants were not protected by the Constitution and could never be U.S. citizens. This was the first time since Marbury vs. Madison that they held an Act of Congress to be unconstitutional. He also said that since African Americans are not citizens, they cannot sue in court. This was strongly debated for years, making it lead to the Civil War. -
John Brown's Raid
Wikipedia
This was an attempt by white abolitionist John Brown to start an armed revolt by slaves by taking over the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry. He was defeated by U.S. Marines led by Robert E. Lee. This led to the Civil War because many thought Brown was insane, but they ended up believing he was a martyr, and the revolt just angered the South, causing more hate.
