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Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of people that helped slaves escape to the North and Canada. This system allowed hundreds of slaves to escape to the north every year. It is estimated that the south lost about 10,000 slaves from 1810-1850. -
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Mexican-American War
The neighboring countires of Mexico and the U.S. went to war. After losing at the Alamo, the U.S. rallied and did not lose another batter in the war. As a result of the U.S. victory, Mexico lost nearly half of its territory. The U.S., once again, expanded the country, and became a continental powerhouse. -
Wilmot Proviso
David Wilmot, a democrat from Pennsylvania, proposed an ammendment. The ammendment stated that in any land that the U.S. aquired from Mexico, slavery would be banned. -
Free Soil Party
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Compromise of 1850
In this compromise, California became a free state, the land aquired from mexico was split in two- New Mexico and Utah (slave vs. free was decided by popular sovereinty vote), slave trade was banned in Washington D.C., the Fugitive Slave Act was passed, and the Texas-Mexico border dispute was settled. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Part of the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act allowed California to enter as a free state, and forbid trade in the District of Columbia. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Novel writted by Harriet Beecher Stowe in which he goes against slavery. This helped build the base for the civil war. This novel influenced the American people, mainly abolitionists, and many of the British as well. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Bill proposed by Stephen A. Douglas in which the United States instituted the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. In fear of sectionalism in the two territories, they made the bill into a law. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, which left the dicision of free vs. slave in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska in the hand of the inhabitants of the territory, otherwise known as popular sovereignty. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Dispute in which Border Ruffians from Missouri would go over to Kansas and vote for the territory to allow slavery. This made the anti-slavery Free Soilers outraged, and started a conflict. In the middle of this conflict was whether Kansas would enter the country as a free or slave state. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
In Charles Sumner's Speech, Crimes Against Kansas, he addressed two senators, Stephen Douglas and Andrew Butler, who he thought were involved in this dispute. Outraged anout what Sumner had said, Preston Brooks (Butler's associate) went to Sumner and beat him nearly to death with a cane. The nation became even closer to the Civil War as this event symbolized Americans going crazy and fighting with one another. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a black man who had lived in Wisconsin and Illinois, which were both free territories. He later returned to his home state of Missouri, hoping to become free. He appealed to the Supreme Court, and wanted to sue. Taney, the judge of the Supreme Court, ruled that Scott did not have any rights because he was black, and could not sue. The northerners were outraged with this decision, while the south found it appropriate, and were happy with the ruling. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown was an abolitionist who moved frequently around the country. Because of his strong belief against slavery, Brown devised a plan to arm slaves, gather a militia, and lead a revolt against the government at Harpers Fairy. However, he was not successful with this plan. Most of his men were either captured or killed. John Brown was tried in the Supreme Court, where he was found guilty and sentence to prison.
