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Missouri Compromise
Introduced Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. It's purpose was to maintain the balance of power in the Senate, but was repealed in 1854 by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. -
Mexican American War
The war between the United States and Mexico over the annexation of Texas and where it ended. The two year war resulted in an American victory, in which lots of land was gained for the states. -
Compromise of 1850
5 separate bills that gave the north and south territories in the west, reaching as far as California. Attempted to settle conflicts between slave and free states over the land. -
Fugitive Slave Law
A key part of the Compromise of 1850 that favored the south by authorizing the capture and return of runaway slaves in all of the U.S. However, the north refused to enforce it. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
A law allowing citizens in these territories to vote and decide whether they wanted slavery in their states. Led to an outpouring of northerners and southerners who wanted their vote to be superior. -
Bleeding Kansas
A mini civil war between the different sides of slavery from 1856-65. Occurred after the Kansas Nebraska Act, as it caused flooding of northerners and southerners trying to prevent and expand slavery. -
Attack on Charles Sumner
When Preston Brooks (a pro-slavery democrat) used a cane to attack Charles Sumner due to a speech which ridiculed slaveholders. The attack almost killed Sumner. -
Lecompton Constitution
A proposed constitution written by pro-slavery advocates that allowed slaveholding and limited African American rights. -
Dred Scott Case
A Supreme Court case that decided slaves were not and could never be a true American citizen, even if they lived in a free state. Known today as one of the worst Supreme Court decisions ever. -
John Brown's Raid
A raid led by John Brown to initiate a slave revolt in many southern states by taking over Harper’s Ferry in Virginia. -
Election of 1860
Election involving Abe Lincoln and John Breckinridge which was highly controversial due to the ongoing opinions of slavery. Lincoln won and became the 16th president. -
South Caroline Secedes
South Carolina became the first slave state to secede from the United States, claiming it was because of the free states’ refusal to enforce the Fugitive Slave Acts. Led to more of the south seceding.
