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The Three Fifths Clause
This clause stated that for every 5 slaves in a state, only three would be counted and included in the population census. This increased the political power of slaves holding states and created a norm early on of inequal regulation enacted by the government. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise drew a line from east on west along the 36th parallel. It divided the nation into one slave half and one free half. It did this by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It also maintained congressional balance. -
Nat Turners rebellion
Nat Turners rebellion was the deadliest slave revolt in U.S. history. It was a rebellion on enslaved Virginians that took place in South Hampton County, Virginia. Led by Nat Turner, the rebelling slaves killed between 55 and 65 white people. They were confronted by a group of militia and the rebels became disorganized and scattered. As a result, Virginia legislators enacted more laws to limit the activites of African Americans. -
The Gag Rule
The House of Representitives used the Gag Rule to prohibit discussions and debates on topics of anti slavery. It was adopted at the beginning of each Congress in 1837, 1839, 1841, and 1843. At first only a few congressmen opposed this law, otherwise it was widely accepted by government members. -
Compromise of 1850
This act had 5 main parts. The first was that California was admitted to the Union as a free state. The second was that the remainder of the Mexican cession was divided into two territories and the third was a payment of $10 million for Texas and New Mexico. The fourth was the Fugitive SLave Act being put into action. The fifth and final part was the buying and selling of slaves being abolished in the District of Columbia. -
Fugitive Slave Act
This act required slaves to be returned to their owners, even if they were in a free state. The act also made the government responsible for finding, returning, and giving a trial to the escaped slaves. This act was part of the Compromise of 1850. -
Bleeding Kansa
Bleeding Kansas refers to a time period when there was many outbreak of guerilla warfare between pro-slavery and anti-slavery people. It happened when Kansas entered the Union as a free state. These attacks and the fighting lasted from 1854-1859 and some 55 people were killed. -
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott was an enslaved African-American who sued for his freedom. he claimed he was free because he resided in a free territory where slavery was prohibited. The ruling of the case was shocking. The Supreme Court upheld slavery in the United States territories, denied the legality of black citizenship, and declared the Missouri compromise unconstitutional. -
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network created and used by enslaved black Americans to find freedom. The Underground Railroad was responsible for freeing apporoximetly 70,000 slaves by relocating them to the north and to their freedom. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation three years into the civil war. It declared slaves in confederate areas “forever free”. Though this didnt inherently end slaves, it took a big blow to slavery throughout the south.