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Battle of Buena Vista
battle took place during Mexican-American war, fought near town Buena Vista. Within United States army 5,000 men were to invade northeastern Mexico by General, Zachary Taylor. General Antonio López ordered 14,000 troops. López troops were poorly trained, resulting in U.S. winning. This event is important because it highlights territory win and the impact that not how many troops their may be, but how they are trained matters.
Britannica -
Compromise of 1850
introduced by Henry Clay, that contained 5 bills. The compromise was a solution of tensions in the United States. Within this compromise, the laws were to admit California as a free state, new fugitive slave laws which included forcing people to aid against their will. An important figure to this is Stephen Douglass, who was an advocate for popular sovereignty in Mexican territory north, along with the south (McPherson, 112) -
Fort Laramie Treaty
Treaty signed in 1851 between the United States government and native nations of the great plains. Treaty's purpose was the governments attempt to preserve the increasing amount of white settlers from moving west. The treaty resulted as a fail, breaking their promise they made and Indian nations fighting each other for food. This event shows importance for an attempt of peace between 2 nations but failed. Colorado Encyclopedia -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Book created by Harriet Beecher in 1852, written as a direct response to the Fugitive Slave Act. While the book touched upon as slaves were treated, and the problems behind slavery, southerners were to not own the book. If the southerns or slave owners were to own the book, they would get into trouble. The book was not only seen as a critique to southerns, but benefitted Northern families in a way. Southern cities also felt that the book was a way of spreading false information (Varon, 242-246) -
Gadsden Purchase
event after the Mexican-American war, between the United States and Mexico, agreement that occurred stating the U.S. purchasing a piece of land. This purchase is considered to be the only expansionist achievement. This purchase occurred by Gadsden striving to purchase territory for a railroad route from New Orleans to the Pacific (McPherson, 99). This event is important because it shares the changes that were made to the U.S. and its political development. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Act signed by Franklin Pierce, that was meaning to put an end to a spread of slavery into more territories. The creation of these two new territories soon repealed the Missouri Compromise. Within these two cities, they varied. Douglass implied Nebraska to be a free soil state, while Kansas would be open to slavery. Charles Sumner, abolitionist who spoke upon this act releases speech "The Crimes Against Kansas", stating Kansas shall be a free state. (Varon, 251-252) -
Caning of Sumner
attack on senator Sumner, who was an important figure within the anti-slavery movement. The attack was caused 2 days after his speech, "The Crime Against Kansas", where Preston Brooks entered the Senate chamber, attacking Sumner with a Guttapercha cane that left him bleeding and unconscious. Sumner was viewed as a leading voice that strived to admit Kansas as a free state. (Varon, 268). -
The Pottawatomie Massacre
Massacre that took place during bleeding Kansas. This event is considered to be one of the leading results to the cilvil war. John Brown along with 5 of his sons and 3 others murdered five proslavery men, due to the loss of Lawrence, Kansas. This event is important because it had an increase of violence during what is considered Bleeding Kansas, along with the abolitionist movement. The Kansas City Public Library -
Dred Scott Decision
Scott, born a slave in Virginia, owned by an army doctor. Scott argues that servitude as a slave is invalid. Scott states, "It is extralegal, gratuitous, unprecedented, and illegal" (Varon, 295). To Scott, men were being treated as property and unfairly. To abolitionists, they interpreted the "Dred Scott Decision" as a opportunity. This later resulted in tension increase against the north and south where citizens were no longer able to be protected, and will never be U.S. citizens (Varon, 302). -
The Lincoln-Douglass Debates
debates that took place in seven Illinois towns from August to October in the year 1858. These debates are considered the most political discussions within United States History. These debates focused mostly upon slavery, since they had different views and opinions on this topic, furthermore that also discussed the expansion of slaved territories (Varon, 315). This topic is important because it shares the importance of different views regarding slavery.