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Underground Railroad
The underground railroad was a series of secret passages and routes formulated with the intent of aiding African Americans in escaping slave labor with the help of individuals known as conductors, who made sure slaves were sheltered and safely transported. With Harriet Tubman being most well known for her risk in aiding the African Americans escape from slave labor. -
Wilmot Proviso
Democratic representative David Wilmot formulated a bill proposing the abolition of slavery, claiming that no involuntary labor shall be permitted within any territory gained by Mexico. Although, this proposal brought uncertainty to white southerners, as they believed the Wilmot Proviso would soon affect slavery all throughout the South, leading to the abolition of slavery. -
Popular sovereignty
Popular Sovereignty was the proposal brought into light by senator Lewis Cass that each territory could determine whether or not to accept slave labor within a state. Northerners supported this idea as it allowed for an easy abolition of slavery. And on the contrary, this policy was supported by the South as they could freely instate slave labor. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 consisted of 5 bills proposed with the purpose of appealing to those who were pro slavery (Southerners), and those supported the abolition of slavery (Northerners) with the intent of preventing further conflict between the two regions. -
Fugitive slave act
The fugitive slave act instated in 1850 brought on the idea that all slaves could be considered fugitives or escapees, and could be punished for the act with no way to speak up for themselves or prove their case in court as there weren't any laws in place protecting African American slaves for they weren't considered American citizens -
Uncle Toms Cabin
Author Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a book centered around her experience, and viewpoint on slavery with the intent of bringing light to the immoral concept of slave labor. Selling millions of copies, Harriet Tubmans literature successfully aided in altering the northern belief regarding slavery, despite the southern outrage over the books release, claiming the reading to be "false" and littered with misinformation. -
Bleeding Kansas
Slaveholders who moved from Missouri to Kansas in search of rich soil used for slave labor were met with an antislavery group supplied with weaponry hoping to fight back against slavery. Which quickly came to the attention of Missouri senator David Atchison, who ordered men to move into Kansas territory and attack a stronghold of abolitionists, resulting in a miniature Civil War between the two states. -
Dredd Scott case
African American slave Dredd Scott took his slaveholder to court over the idea that he should be granted freedom because he lived in a free state. Although the case was dropped over the idea that African Americans could not make a claim in court because they did not have any civil rights as they weren't considered American citizens. -
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Upon Lincoln being chosen to run for Senate in 1858, he was quick to make his point regarding slavery known in his campaign. Claiming that we needed to choose one or the other, and there could be no in-between with slave labor. However, this idea opposed Fredrick Douglas's beliefs with his support of popular sovereignty. A series of debates were created to settle these ideas, where Lincoln eventually brought Douglas to a stalemate. -
John Browns Raid
Abolitionist John Brown took the matter of slavery into his own hands, devising a plan to infiltrate Harpers Ferry where he would free any enslaved persons he found, and arm them with weapons seized from the town. However, his attempt at justice was met an end up on his capture, and eventual death sentence.