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Wilmot Proviso
The bill aimed to outlaw slavery in territories taken from Mexico. The bill passed in the House of Representatives but was defeated in the Senate thus causing a division in Congress. Although, not a success it led to the formation of the Free Soil Party. -
Period: to
The Nation Breaking Apart
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Compromise of 1850
There was an issue over if California should be admitted as a free or slave state. They came up with a compromise that would appeal to the North and the South. To please the North, they admitted California as a free state and abolished slavery in Washington D.C. To please the South, they would not pass laws regarding slavery in the territory won from Mexico and they included the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Bill was Drafted by Stephan A. Douglas. It was to split the Nebraska territory in to Kansas and Nebraska. The residents voted to decide whether slavery should be allowed. But they were unaware of what would come of it... -
Bleeding Kansas
People came from all around to the Kansas territory to vote for territorial legislature. Proslavery forces and Antislavery forces fought against each other for three years. It was known as "Bleeding Kansas". -
Caning of Sumner
Senator Charles Sumner made a speech in congress insulting proslavery forces in Kansas, including A.P. Butler. Preston was a relative of Butler, and was highly offended by the way Sumner made fun of him. He then attacked Preston. -
Dred Scott vs. Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri. His owner borought him to a free state and back to Missouri where his owner was to die. He then sued for his freedom because he had been to a free state. The case made it to the Supreme Court only to rusult in Dred not being able to sue because he was not a U.S. citizen. -
Attack on Harpers Ferry
John Brown, an Abolitionist, captured the U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He tried to spread the word of his rebellion to other slaves . He planned on inspiring other slaves but no slaves joined the fight. John Brown was captured and later executed. -
Election of 1860
The Election really came down to Lincoln in the North and West and Breckinridge in the south. Lincoln won but the South feared that he would ban slavery although he clearly stated that he wouldn't.
