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Missouri Compromise
The Northern and Southern politicians have heated debates over the growth of slavery. Henry Clay settled the debate. The Missouri Compromise were a series of laws that helped maintain the balance between slave states and free states. -
The Nullification Crisis
Southern states like South Carolina felt that the 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, they threatened to secede. Henry Clay came up with a compromise and lowered the tariff. -
Compromise of 1850
After the war with Mexico, congress had many heated debates, as to whether the new territories won from Mexico would be admitted as slave states or free states. Henry Vlay was the one that helped make a compromise. California would be added as a free state, and the slave trade would be abolished in Washington D.C. Congress would not pass laws bannin silvery from the rest of the territories won from Mexico. -
Fugitive Slave Law Act
The Fugitive Slave Law Act of 1850 was part of the group of laws referred to as the Compromise of 1850. in this, antislavery supporters gained the admission of California as a free state, and the prohibition of slave trading in the Distict of Columbia. People suspected of bein a slave could be arrested without a warrant. This law affected the north because slaves who were free could be brought back into slavery. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe on March 20, 1852 had a huge impact on America. This book had a major influence on the way the public viewed slavery, specifically showing the horrors of slavery. Harriet's main goal of writing this book was to convince her large Northern readership of the necessity to end slavery. It sold 300,000 books by the end of the year. -
Bleeding Kansas
Before Kansas was to enter the Union, a vote was going to be made on for the representatives. 5000 people from proslavery Missouri came and voted for proslavery representatives in Kansas illegally. As a result, Kansas had a proslavery legislature. Then, the anti slaverly opponents started their own government, but were attacked proslavery opponents. In result, John Brown killed 5 men with broad swords with his men. -
The Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave that sued for freedom. However, the court ruled that Scott was not free based on his residence in a northern state, African Americans were not considered citizens, and that Scott was property of his owner. The court declared that the freedom provision under the Northwest Ordinance was unconstitutional. -
Election of 1860
As result of Abraham Lincoln winning the Election of 1860, southern states began to secede from the Union shortly. Lincoln's statements said that he would do nothing to abolish slavery in the south, resulting in southerners not trusting him.
