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Missouri compromise
The Missouri Compromise abolished slavery above the 36th parallel for any new states organized while any new states below would allow slavery. This established a literal split in the United States between Northern States and Pro-Slavery southern states. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion was a slave uprising in Virginia. The Rebellion was one of the most brutal rebellions and as a result southern states like Virginia heavily enforced slave codes while northern states saw how uncontent slaves where in the south. This draws another firm line between Northern and Southern state views towards slaves. -
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Polk's Presidency
Polk was a Democrat elected president due to his expansion policies. Polk wanted to expand westward and into mexico to acquire more territory. This would be the first time the missouri compromise would be questioned if new mexico territory should allow slaves. -
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Texas expansion and Mexican War
Under Polk's Presidency the United States expanded Texas into Mexico by Force to allow more territory to have slavery. This was shunned upon by abolitionists and anti-imperialists who were mostly housed in the northern states. As a result of acquiring new territory by force, debate broke out regarding the Missouri compromise. -
Wilmot proviso
The Wilmot Proviso stated that new territories gained from Mexico would not allow slavery. One reason for this was to remove justification and incentive for imperialistic territory expansion. The Wilmot Proviso was established almost immediately after the Mexican American War began. This is important because debate over whether new states will have slaves or not was still happening even though the Missouri compromise stated new states would have slaves. -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 was a compromise devised by Henry Clay that instituted popular sovereignty in new states gained from Mexico as well as establishing the fugitive slave act. However, California was declared a free state. This helped keep both sides together and the union remained intact. -
Kansas-Nebraska ACT
The Kansas Nebraska Act was put into place in order to organize territory so the U.S. could have a railroad. The Kansas-Nebraska Act meant the Nebraskan and Kansas territories would have popular sovereignty even though this would violate the Missouri compromise of 1820. With the Missouri Compromise removed, it was now up to settlers to determine if slavery would advance north. The boarder state Kansas would later be home to an event referred to as "bloody Kansas due to this popular sovereignty. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas took place due to settlers fighting over whether the popular sovereignty there would result in Kansas being a slave state or a free state. This conflict escalated until protests become very violent and eventually Kansas was a free state due to popular sovereignty. This was a large southern loss and bleeding Kansas was a crucial reason for secession. -
Dred Scott case
The Dred scott case was a case that started in 1847 where a slave sued in court and was ruled not able to sue in court. Dred Scott was granted freedom by stepping onto free territory but he was not allowed to be free. This resulted in anti-abolitionists rallying because the Missouri Compromise was not followed. This is a main reason for the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. -
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President Buchanan's Term
President Buchanan was president right before the civil war. His presidency faced the secession of 7 states which started out gradual and picked up pace. During this time his term was almost done and as the secession worsened he did nothing knowing Abe Lincoln was on his way into office. This meant Abe Lincoln would have to pick up Buchanan's slack.
