-
The Missouri Compromise
When the Louisiana Purchase territory was aquired, The Missouri Compromise was made to satisfy both the northerners and the southerners on the debate over slavery. This compromise seperated the north and south by the 36/30 line. Along with the Compromise the Tallmadge ammenment was made which stated that no other terriories could have slaves and that slaves could slowly emancipate. This law was never passed but made the southerners realize that the north was going to try to abolish slavery. -
War with Mexico
When the United Sates went to war with Mexico, because of their belief in Manifest Destiny, they wanted to aquire California, New Mexico, and part of Texas. In 1848 when the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed it gave southern slave holders even more land in the 36/30. This upset the northerners because they believed that the only reason the United States went to war was to gain more slave terriorty for the south, also this upset the balance in the senate of free and slave states. -
Wilmot Proviso
David WIlmot attepmted to pass a law that stated that all slavery should be banned in the land that we had gained from Mexico. Because of the the fact that there were more southern senators, this law was quickly shot down. This incident made the south aware that if the northerners ever gained more land the new senators could control the senate and abolish slavery immmediatly. -
Fugitive Slave Act
When the Compromise of 1850 was made one important part of it was The Fugitive Slave Act. This act stated that it was the northerners duty to turn in any free slaves that had escaped to the north Once the slaves were turned in there was no trial by jury and the commissioners were paid extra to return the slaves to the south. Northerners were schocked by the fact that slaves were not free anywhere in the United States. -
Kansas- Nebraska Act
The Missouri Compromise was repealed when the Kansas- Nebraska Act was passed hinting at the idea of popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty would give all territories the right to decided if they wanted to allow slavery or not. This act destroyed the Whig Party who then joined the Democrats to from the Republican Party. -
"Bleeding Kansas"
When a group of pro- slavery Missourians, that called themselves
"Border Ruffians", crossed the line and met with a group of anti slavery activists was the first time that there was actually physical fighting between the north and south. "Bleeding Kansas" showed that going back to being one united crountry would almost be impossible. -
Republican Party
After the fight between the north and south the Republican Party was formed in Ripon, Wisoconsin with their main goal being to abolish slavery completly. Whether the north meant it to be or not, the southerners took this as a declaration of war. -
Breakdown of the Two-Party System
When two parties were formed, one representing the south and one representing the noth, it showed the end of an era of the united states being united. -
Brooks vs. Sumner
When Sumner delievered an offensive speech towards Brooks, Brooks took it upon himself to give what he thought Sumner deserved. He beat Sumner with his cane until he was completly blacked out. The north was mortified with this beating but also mortified by how Brooks was turned into a hero in the southerners eyes. This fight also showed the entire United States that if the political leaders couldn't even act civil that there was no hope for the rest of the people. -
Dred Scott Case
When the Dred Scott case ruled that the congress had no right to restrict and slavery this defininatly gave the northerners something to worry about. They worried that if the southerners ever got the chance they would legalize slavery throughout the entire United States. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
When Harriet Beecher Stowe became a best selling author in 1858, many developed an entire new outlook on slavery. The northerners were shocked by this slaves description of slavery, realizing how morally incorrect slavery was. The southerners were furious and stated that this was an unfair depiction of slavery. This created even more tension between the north and the south. -
Lincoln vs. Douglas
The election between Lincoln vs. Douglas became one of the most controverial debates in history. Lincoln believed that everyone had to stand together, the United Sates could not be divided. While Douglas believed in popular sovereignty ( Freeport Doctrine) These two different opinions gave the north and south even more to argue about. -
John Brown
When the southerners found out of John Brown's plan to help a slave revolt occur in Harpers Ferry, Virginia they were sure that the northerners were aiding the slaves to rebel against their masters. This made the southeners very suspisous about the northerners intentions. -
1860- Presidential Election
When Lincoln won the 1860 elections against Brekinridge the south decided they had two choices, either abandon the union or give up everything they believed in. -
The Crittenden Compromise
The Crittenden Compromise was made to give one last effort in saving the union. This compromise stated that they should go back to the original Missouri Compromise. This compromise failed to attract support because the north and the south were already to spread apart, -
States Start to Seceed from the Union
After the fall of Fort Sumter, Lincoln made it clear that that they were going to fight to keep the south part of the union. After that statement the south states proceded to seceed.
