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The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was crafted by a man named Henry Clay from Kentucky. He said that the US should admit Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain the balance of free and slave states. It also drew an imaginary line across the Louisiana Territory at latitude 36 degree 30'. North of this line, slavery was to be banned forever except for in Missouri. South of it, slavery was allowed. This led to war because neither side was happy. -
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Crucial Events in the 1800s
This timeline shows some of the major events to occur in the US during the 1800s. These events are the Missouri Compromise (1820), the Compromise of 1850 (1850), the Nebraska-Kansas Act (1854), the Dred Scott Case (1857), the Election of 1860 (1860), and the Attack on Fort Sumter (1861). All of these events were crucial in deciding our nation's future. -
Compromise of 1850 Continued
Lastly, it calls for a strong fugitive slave law that would make it easier for slave owners to find and reclaim their runaway slaves. This led to war because it supported the southerners more and it made it harder for northerners to help slaves escape. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 settled the argument over fugitive slaves, slavery in the territories, and the statehood of California. Once again, the compromise was drafted by Henry Clay from Kentucky. He stated that California should be admitted as a free state, but New Mexico and Utah would be organized territories open to slavery. It also ends slave trade in Washington D.C. but allows slaveowners there to keep their slaves. -
The Nebraska-Kansas Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was proposed by Stephen A. Douglas. He wanted a railroad built to California, and he thought the project as more likely to happen if Congress organized the Great Plains into Nebraska Territory and open the region to settlers. Since the territory lay north of the Missouri Compromise, he did not mention slavery. The southerners in Congress only agreed to support the bill if he made some "slight" changes. The final bill created two territories, Kansas and Nebraska. -
Nebraska-Kansas Act Continued
It scrapped the Missouri Compromise leaving it to the settlers to decide whether or not to allow slavery. This was called popular sovereignty. This led to war because it made northerners unhappy by allowing the settlers to decide if slavery was allowed scrapping the Missouri Compromise. -
The Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott, a slave, took his master to court saying that his stay in Wisconsin, a free state, made him a free man. This meant that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. The court ruled that he was still a slave and had no right to take his master to court because he wasn't a citizen. This led to war because the Missouri Compromise was ruled unconstitutional, and slavery was now allowed were it used to not be. This upset the northerners. -
The Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 ended with Abraham Lincoln winning, but with only 40% of the votes. In 10 of the southern states he wasn't even on the ballot. All of the votes were from the North. Abraham Lincoln didn't take office until March 4, 1861. With the win, the North could now abolish slavery, but Abe said himself that he wouldn't bother the issue. -
Election of 1860 Continued
This led to war because the South didn't want Abe to be president, and even said if he tries to abolish slavery, then they will become their own country. -
The Attack on Fort Sumter
On April 12, 1861, the South opened fire on Fort Sumter. It was a federal fort in Charleston Harbor. After 33 hours of heavy shelling, the defenders replaced the stars and stripes of the American Flag with a white flag of surrender. The news in the North unleashed a wave of patriotic fury. This attack on Fort Sumter led to war because it showed the North that the South was no longer all talk. It showed that the South would do anything in its power to allow slavery.
