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The Economy of the North and South
Manufacturing made up the northern economy. People worked in factories. In the South, the economy was agricultural, farmers grew cotton and other crops to make money. -
The Wilmot Provisio
The Wilmot Provisio was proposed in 1846 by David Wilmot. He stated that all territory gained from the Mexican-American war should have a ban on slavery. The proposal passed in the House but failed in the Senate. -
Free-Soil Party
The Free-Soil Party was founded by anti-slavery Whigs and Democrats. They wanted a ban on slavery in the territories gained in the Mexican-American War . -
Election of Zachary Taylor
The election of 1848 had three candidates. The democrats had elected Lewis Cass, the free-soil party elected Van Buren and the Whigs elected Zachary Taylor. Cass suggested the issue of slavery should be decided by popular sovereignty. This did not ensure that the South would not gain to much power. In the end Zachary Taylor won the election. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 allowed California to become a free-state and allowed the citizens of the Mexican Cession to decide if slavery was going to be banned. Slave trade was also outlawed in D.C. -
The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act allowed government officials to capture people they believed were runaway slaves. The slaves did not get a trial and any white male who said they owned them could claim them. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe describing the horrors of slavery. Southerners didn't like the book because they were portrayed as bad people. -
Republican Party
The New Republican Party was established in 1854. They wanted to stop slavery from spreading to the western territories. This party became powerful in Congress because 105 of them were in the House of Respresentatives. The republican candidate for the election of 1856 was John Fremont. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
A man named Stephen Douglas suggested creating two territories, the Kansas territory and the Nebraska Territory. Those two territories would have free states. Slavery would be decided by popular sovereignity. -
"Bleeding" Kansas
This was the result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The fight over Kansas becoming a free state or a slave state caused many outbreaks of violence -
Senator Charles Sumner Attacked
Charles Sumner was attacked because he denounced proslavery in Texas. He said some bad things about Andrew Butler. Butler's nephew beat him with a cane. It showed how far people would go to protect slavery. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford Case
Dred Scott was a slave owned by a man who had lived in places where slavery was illegal. Scott wanted his freedom. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of his owner because Scott didn't have any rights and Congress didn't have the power to ban slavery in any territory. Northerners were upset because slavery could spread -
The Lincoln and Douglas Debate
Lincoln and Douglas were running against each other for a spot in the Senate. Lincoln had challenged Douglas to many debates. Some of them were on the issue of slavery- Douglas believed slavery should be decided by popular sovereignty. Lincoln believed slaves had the same rights as any man and that Americans should keep slavery out of the territories. Douglas won the election. -
John Brown Attacks Harper's Ferry
John Brown attacked Harpers Ferry because he wanted the ammunition that was held there. He was planning to get African Americans to join his revolt. He and his followers were captured and he was hanged on December 2, 1859. He was considered a hero in the North. -
Political Parties Divide
The Democratic Party divided into the Northern Democrats and the Southern Democrats. The Northern democrats did not want to accept slavery in the territories. -
The Election of 1860
The election of 1860 had four candidates. The republicans chose Lincoln, the northern democrats chose Douglas, the southern democrats chose Breckinridge and the Constitutional Union Party chose Bell. Lincoln won in every free state and won the election. -
Southern States Secede
The Southern States thought they wouldn't have a voice in the government because Lincoln was elected. Congress would be against their beliefs. On December 20th 1860 they passed a declaration stating that the union between the slave and free states was dissolved. South Carolina was the first to leave. -
The Crittenden Plan
The Crittenden Plan was proposed by John Crittenden. It was an attempt to compromise with the South. When it was presented to Congress it did not pass. -
The Confederate States of America
There was a meeting in Alabama to discuss the new nation. It was called the Confederate States of America. By March, they had a constitution and a president,