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Compromise of 1850
Who: Henry Clay, Daniel Webster (Senator from Massachusetts) and John C. Calhoun (Senator from S.C)
What: Congress had been debating over issues that did not follow the Missouri Compromise regarding the balance between slave and free states.
Where: Capitol
Outcome: Clay compromised to have a debate over which helped guide congress to applying the Compromise of 1860.
Sig.: This split the country even greater and caused some rivalry and disagreements between the North and the South. -
Fugitive Slave Law
Who: Congress
What: one of the laws whitin the compromise of 1850 that made sure all free blacks and fugitive slaves were returned to the South. The slaves were not given a trial by jury and had no defense.
Outcome: Sent many blacks to the South and also had an impact on sending slaves to Canada; increased use of underground railroad.
Sig.: This angered abolitionists and brought a lot of attention to the problems of slavery. Many more wanted to end the cruelty slaves recieved. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Who:Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois
What:He said he wanted to see Nebraska made into a territory and, to win southern support, proposed a southern state inclined to support slavery.It was Kansas.
Outcome:The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed each territory to decide the issue of slavery on the basis of popular sovereignty. Kansas with slavery would violate the Missouri Compromise, which had kept the Union from falling apart for the last 34 years.
Sig.:Kansas and Nebraska opened fresh wounds. -
Dred Scott vs Sandford
Who: Dred Scott and Chief Justice Roger B.Taney (Supreme Court)
What: It was looked at in in court to discuss if Scott was considered a slave still in free territory.
Outcome: Taney made it clear that because Scott was an African American and a previous slave, he was not a citizen and did not have the rights of a citizen. (Missouri Compromise = unconstitutional)
Sig.: Courts ruling on this case angered all abolistionists and made them even more determined to put an end to slavery. -
John Brown's Raid
Who: John Brown and his follower, Robert E. Lee
What: Brown had a plan to slowly capture slaves and take them to freedom up the App. Mnts. to the North.
Outcome: Brown's plan did not work and they were captured while trying to raid Virginia. Brown was placed on trial and sentenced to death after he was found guilty. He was hung on Dec. 2nd.
Sig.: The south became aware just how upset the abolitionist were with slavery and how rebelious actions would be taken for change. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Who: Harriet Beecher Stowe
What: A novel written about the reality and aspects of slavery. The brutality and creulity of slavery was brought to attention and angered both the South and the Nort.
Outcome: Became one of the best selling books of the 19th century and continued to remind many people of the poor treatment of African Americans.
Sig: Showed what was really happening to slaves and this resulted in many different opinions splititng the U.S even more and opinions that began the war.
