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Missouri Compromise
The Northern and Southern politicians have heated debates over the growth of slavery. Henry Clay, the Great Compromiser, settles the debate by saying that Maine would be admitted as a free state and Arkansas would be open to slavery. The Missouri Compromise were a series of laws that helped maintain the balance between slave states and free states. -
The Nullification Crisis
Due to the passing of tariff laws of 1828 and 1832 Southern states felt that tariffs were unfair and only supported the North. Vice President John C. Calhoun said any state could nullify a federal law it considers unconstitutional. When the federal government denied South Carolina's argument, South Caroline threatened to secede. Henry Clay came up with a compromise and lowered the tariff. -
Compromise of 1850
Congress had many heated debates as to whether the new territories won from Mexico would be admitted as slave states or free states. Henry Clay once again helped make a compromise between the North and the South.- California would be admitted as a free state and the slave trade would be abolished in Washington D.C
- Congress would not pass laws banning slavery from the rest of the territories won from Mexico.
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Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850 by the Congress. The act permitted the capture of African Americans who had fled to the north to escape bondage. These laws heightened tension, and set the stage for John Brown's Raid and the American Civil War. -
Bleeding Kansas
5000 people from nearby proslavery Missouri came and voted for proslavery representatives in Kansas illegally. Anti-slavery opponents started their own government. The anti-slavery government was attacked by proslavery forces. To avenge this attack, extreme abolitionist John Brown murdered several of his proslavery neighbors. -
The Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his freedom. He argued that because he lived in a free territory that he should have been emancipated. The court ruled and declared the following...- Scott was not free based on his residence in either Illinois or Wisconsin
- African Americans were not considered citizens when the Constitution was drafted in 1787
- Dred Scott was the property of his owner, and property could not be taken from a person without due process of law
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Attack on Harpers Ferry
John Brown wanted to inspire slaves to fight for their freedom. He planned to capture the arsenal at the army base in Harpers Ferry, Virginia to arm the slaves. Brown and his men were captured, and ten were killed. Abolitionists saluted John Brown as he was put to death, the issue of slavery had raised tensions in America to the breaking point. -
The Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln wins the election, despite his statements that would do nothing to abolish slavery in the South, Southerners do not trust him. Southern States begin to secede from the Union shortly after Lincoln is elected.
