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Wilmot Proviso
A democratic congressman from Pennslyvania, David Wilmot, added an amendment to a military appropiations bill that proposed that new territory the United States acquires as a result of the war with Mexico, will be closed to slavery. The bill was passed by the House, but rejected by the Senate. This event added to the tension and conflict about the issue of slavery between the North and the South. -
Popular Sovereignty
Allowed residents within the newly acquired land by the United States as a result of the war with Mexico to vote on the issue of slavery. This was thought to be the way to solve the conflict, however this only fueled the fire, and caused tensions between the North and South. -
Free-Soil Party
The Free-Soil party opposed slavery expanision into the U.S terrtories. Free Soilers did not oppse the abolition in states slavery already exsited. But didn't want slavery to expand in the western land they gained. They wanted to keep the new western land free of slaves, and blacks. The formation of this party made tensions between North, and South worse. -
Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay shaped the Compromise of 1850, and hoped it would solve conflicts such as the controversy between free and slave states. At first the senate rejected Clay's proposal, which was then proposed again, and voted into law. The significance of this event is this proposal was an effort, yet again to solve conflict over slavery, and prevent sectional differences. -
Stephen A Douglas
Senator from Illinois, Stephen A Douglas took it upon himself to pass the compromise of 1850, after it had been rejected by the senate. Henry Clay had presented his comprimise as a package, Douglas unbundled this package, and introduced each resolution individually, thus making passage of the bill significantly easier. This event is important because the compromise was supposed to solve sectional differences and disputes over slavery. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Under this law fugitives were not entitled to a trial by jury, despite the sixth amendment provision. Federal commisioners charged with enforcing the law recieved a $10 fee if they returned a fugitive, $5 if they freed the slave. Anyone helping a slave was liable for a $1,000 fine, imprisionment for six months, or both. An obvious incentive to return slaves, which was opposed by many Northern states, causing more tension between the North and the South. -
Presidency of Franklin Pierce
When Franklin Pierce became president in 1852 he had passed the Kansas- Nebraska Act. Passing the Kansas- Nebraska act which repelaed the Missouri Compromise, and opened the issue of opening the expanision of slavery, causing more disputes among the North and South. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin/ Harriet Beecher Stowe
A best selling Novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe conveying the message that slavery is not just a political contest, but also a moral struggle. Northern abolitionists increased their protests against the Fugitive Slavery Act while Southerners criticized the book. This novel added to the controversy over slavery. -
Underground Railroad/ Harriet Tubman
Free African Americans and white abolitionists developed a secret network of people who would hide fugitive slaves at great risk to themselves. Conductors hid slaves in secret tunnels providing them with food, and clothing and escorted them along the unground railroad. The most well known conductor, Harriet Tubman helped 300 slaves and later became an advocate for abolition. Differing opinions on the issue of slavery continued as time went on. -
Know-Nothing Party
The Know-Nothing party was an American party of people who were frightened by the increase in immigrants. People in the Know-Nothing Party wanted a longer naturalization period. However the Know-Nothing Party had been split over the issue of slavery. Northern Know-Nothings edged towards the Republican Party, and the Southern Know-Nothings looked for another alternative to democrats. This is signifcant because the United States was becoming increasingly split over the issue of slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephen Douglas proposed a bill to congress that would divide the land acquired as a result of the war with Mexico into two territories, Kansas in the North, Nebraska in the South, and repeal the Missouri compromise and establish popular sovereignty for the two territories. This event was an effort to solve sectional differences. -
Republican Party
The Republican Party was united in opposing the Kansas- Nebraska Act, and to keep slaves out of the new territories. The Republican party took in Free-Soilers, antislavery Whigs, Democrats, and Nativists. The Republicans main competition was the Know-Nothing Party. They wanted to refocus people on the issue of slavery, thus causing more disputes over the issue of slavery and more differences among the North and South. -
Presidency Of James Buchanan
James Buchanan was a ambassador to Great Britain, so he was out of the country for the Kansas- Nebraska Act. He was the only true nationalist to balance power between the north, and the south. This is significant because it made it clear that the Democrats could win the presidency with a national canidate who could compete in the North without alienating Southerners. It also showed that tension was increasing among the parties. -
Dred Scott V. Sanford
Dred Scott was a slave, who sued his owner for his freedom. . Dred Scott had thought that since his owner had brought him to free states, and territory he was a free man. The court ruled that being in a free territory doesn't make a slave free. The court had also declared the Missouri Comrpomise Unconstitutional. The significance is that the issue of slavery was continuing to cause disuputes, and showed that there was a grey area in which territory was free territory and slave territory. -
Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner
Charles Sumner delievered a speech in the senate attacking his colleagues for their support of slavery, and was especially agressive towards senator Butler of South Carolina. Butler's relative, Preston Brooks went to the senate chamber and attacked Sumner, beating Sumner with his cane. This is significant because this shows that violence was not limited to Kansas, and the conflict of slavery was becoming more violent. -
John Brown
After violence erupted in an antislavery town in Kansas reached abolitionist John Brown, who had the mistaken impression that a proslavery group in Lawrence killed five men, Brown wanted to get revenge. 200 people were killed and triggered many other incidents throughout Kansas. This is significant because the issue of slavery was becoming violent. -
Bleeding Kansas
The name the Kansas territory recieved as the issue of slavery became increasingly violent in the area. The territory became a battle ground between antislavery and proslavery forces. This event is significant because as time went on the issue of slavery continued to cause tension and conflict and the dispute over slavery became increasingly violent. -
Freeport Doctrine
When Abraham Lincolin had asked Douglas "Could the settlers of a territory vote to exclude slavery before the territory became a state?" The response became known as the Freeport Doctrine. The response said that any territory could exclude slavery by refusing to pass the laws supporting it. This is significant because this is an effort to solve conflicts over the issue of slavery. -
Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown was studying slave uprisings that had occured in ancient rome, and the French island of Haiti. On the night of October 16th 1859 John Brown had led 18 men both black, and white into Harpers Ferry. Local troops had killed 8 of Brown's men, then U.S Marines had stormed the engine house and killed two more men. Brown was turned over to Virgina to be tried for treason. This event is significant because this is a violent reaction to the conflict of slavery. -
Election Of Abraham Lincoln
When Abraham became president in 1860 he did not want slavery to exist in any new territory. The south had felt that it was being threatened. When Lincoln was elected South Carolina had ceded from the Union. This is significant because the South broke away from the United States and Lincoln was trying to get rid of slavery. -
Formation of the Confederate States of America
Delegates from secessionist states met in Alabama, where thay had formed the Confederate States of America. The confederate constitution resembled the United States. The most important point was that it "Protected and recognized" slavery in new territories. Also each state had to be " Sovereign and independent." The south spliting from the union was the start of the civil war. -
Presidency of Jefferson Davis
Senator from Mississippi elected President of the Confederate States of America. At his inauguration in Montgomery he said "The time for compromise has now passed." This is significant because the United States is diving, and it is now clear that the North and South's tensions are greater.
