-
Missouri compromise
The northern and southern politicians have heated debates over the growth of slavery. Henry clay or the great compromiser settles this debate. The Missouri compromise were a series of laws that helped maintain the balance between slave and free states. -
The nullification crisis
Southern states felt like the tariffs were unfair and only supported the north. Vice President John Calhoun said any states could nullify a federal law unconstitutional. The federal government denied south Carolinas argument and they threatened to secede. Henry clay came up with a compromise and lowered the tariff. -
Compromise of 1850
Congress had many heated debates as if the the new territories won from mexico would be slave or free states. Henry clay made a compromise that California would be admitted as a free state and Congress would not pass laws banning slavery from the rest of the territories. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850 by the congress and it permitted the capture of African Americans who had fled to the north to escape bondage. These 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 anitslavery government was attacked by proslavery forces. To avenge this attack, extreme abolitionist John brown murdered several oh his proslavery neighbors -
Dred Scott decision
Dred Scott was a slave who fought and sued for his freedom. He argues that since he is in a free territory, he should be free but the court ruled that he was not free because of his residence in Illinois or Wisconsin. Also because he was an African American and they are not considered citizens. He was his owners property, and property couldn't be taken away. -
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 on Harpers Ferry, Virginia to arm the slaves. Brown put word out for slaves to join him but none did. Brown and his men were captured and killed. Abolitioniststs 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 and the south doesn't trust him to abolish slavery. Southern states start to secede from the union shorty after Abraham is elected.
