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Louisiana Purchase
Made official in the spring of 1803, this purchase expanded the land holdings of the United States greatly, thereby leading to a question that would not be asked for a few decades. Will these states allow slavery? Source -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a bill that prohibited slavery above a certain latitude, shown here. It set the tone for negotiations between the two sides that were quickly becoming enemies. Source -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
This revolt led by former slave Nat Turner consisted of a roving gang of slaves killing various whites. The rebellion was quickly supressed, and Nat, his gang, and hundreds more slaves were hanged or murdered. This revolt led to a chronic fear in the south, a fear that the slaves would rise against their masters. Source -
Underground Railroad
In reality, being a string of safe houses and secret paths, the Underground Railroad had little to do with trains. Slaves wishing to escape would band together and take a dangerous journey to freedom. This event actually spanned twenty years, but in 1850 one scholar estimates that 100,000 slaves had escaped to the north, or various other destinations. Source -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a set of five bill that were passed to calm the waters regarding the Mexican American War, more specifically the territory acquired. Its most serious effect was the Fugitive Slave Act, something that upset the north immensely. Source -
Fugitive Slave Act
Freed blacks in the north were no longer safe after this act was passed. It allowed bounty huinters to capture escaped or freed slaves and return them for a profit, an action that greatly angered many abolitionists, along with a number of politicians. Source -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Publication
This book was a shocking glimpse into the horrific life of an abused slave, and its publication greatly motivated the north. It sold millions of copies in the years that followed, and the anti-slavery movement gain thousands of volunteer activists, as did the United States Army, in the years to come. Source -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act led to the creation of Kansas and Nebraska under the premise of Popular Sovereignty. This led to the violence later referred to as Bleeding Kansas. Source -
Bleeding Kansas
After Kansas was to be admitted as a state that would chose its side in the matter of slavery, thousands of armed northerners, and many southerners set off to Topeka, to cast their ballot, or bullet. Some cities burned, many men died, and this event brought to light the violence men were capable of when defending a cause they believed in. Source -
Dred Scott Decision
Scott sued for his freedom, and the verdict handed down was:
A free negro of the African race, whose ancestors were brought to this country and sold as slaves, is not a "citizen" within the meaning of the Constitution of the United States. That's about it. [Source](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2933.html) -
House Divided Speech
An extremely charged speec given by Lincoln, this oration was called morally right but politically incorrect. It gave many Southerenrs the sense that Lincoln would be a poor fit for the country, considering the position they were in. Source -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Abraham Lincoln and Steven Douglas, both candidates for the Illinois Senate seat, held a series of public debates. These debates contained every hot topic of the era, and led Douglas to the Senate, but Lincoln to the White House. Link -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown, a raving mad abolitionist, staged a raid on an armory at Harper's Ferry. Bringing a force of 18 men and many times that number in weapons, he easily capture the fort, and Colonel Lewis Washington, great-grandnephew of George Washington. Soon however, the U.S. Marines arrived and quashed the uprising, then sentenced Brown to death. His actions made the South fear the North more than ever. Source