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Slavery in the South
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Gag Rule
The Gag rule was passed by congress to forbid the discussion of slavery. It was to make sure that congress could talk about more important information then worry about keeping or abolishing slavery. -
Frederick Douglass
Douglass was a famous runaway slave speaker and writer. In 1843, Douglas joined the anti-slavery convention and had a great influence on abolishing slavery. -
Wilmot Proviso
Wilmot Proviso was a document made by David Wilmot and failed to pass the Senate multiply times. The document proposed to banned all slavery in territories that the U.S. acquired in the war of Mexico. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was made up of five separate bills passed by congress. The compromise dealt with controversies about free and slave territories. -
Underground Railroad
The underground railroad was a series of routes and safe houses that helped slaves escape to free states. By 1850, about 100,000 slaves were successful in escaping through the underground railroad. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Fugitive Slave Act was part of the Compromise of 1850. This law allowed for escaped slaves who were captured to be brought back to their masters. The free states in the north were required to abide by this law. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was to allow people to open up new farms and to create a Midwestern Transcontinental Railroad. It also allowed the people to vote whether there was slavery or not. This then led to what is know as the "Bleeding Kansas". -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was an enslaved African American who tried to sue his owner for his freedom when they moved to a free state. Scott was unsuccessful because the Supreme Court ruled Scott's claim unconstitutional since slaves were not American citizens. Therefore not allowing them to sue in federal court. -
1860 Cencus
About one third of southern families owned slaves. Some states like Mississippi and South Carolina had almost half of their population made up of slaves. The need for slaves in 1860s was high because of how profitable slaves were. Sixty percent of the wealthiest families lived in the south. -
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was a famous writer and abolitionist. She is best known for writing Uncle Tom's Cabin. The book describes the harsh lives of African Americans who were slaves. The book was very influential in Great Britain and America.
