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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 agreed that Missouri would enter as a slave state and Maine would enter as a free state to keep the Senate balanced. It also brought a brief lull in the debate of slavery. Sectionalism began to grow from the differences between the North and South's perspectives on slavery. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was an enslaved African American who's owner was an army doctor in Missouri. In the 1830's, the doctor moved to Illinois and then to Wisconsin Territory, where slavery was banned. When they returned to Missouri and the doctor passed away, Scott sued for his freedom. He claimed he should be free because he lived in places where slavery was illegal. After eleven years, the case reached the Supreme Court. They ruled him not free, as he was property. -
Compromise of 1850
Senator Henry Clay proposed that California would enter as a free state and the rest while the rest of the new territories would have no limits on slavery, but, the slave trade, not slavery itself, would be banned. Clay also pushed for a stronger fugitive law. Some Southerners talked about seceding from the Union around this time. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephen A. Douglas, the Illinois senator,proposed organizing the regions west of Missouri and Iowa with the territories of Kansas and Nebraska.Kansas and Nebraska were likely to become free states because of their location,but Douglas knew Southerners would object to admitting them as free states,as it would give more votes in the Senate for the free states Douglas proposed abandoning Missouri Compromise,and using popular sovereignty.But,during this,border ruffians crossed the border to election -
"Bleeding Kansas"- Sacking of Lawrence
In May 1856, 800 slavery supporters attacked Lawrence, Kansas.They burned the Free State Hotel and two newspaper offices and many homes. John Brown, an abolitionist, believed he was chosen by God to end slavery. The Lawrence attack infuriated Brown, leading him to "strike terror in the hearts of the pro-slavery people". -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
There was a series of seven debates between Lincoln and Douglas during the 1858 Illinois senatorial campaign, mostly concerning slavery. It was seemingly settled by the Missouri Compromise, but the Mexican War left new territories, and the issue was brought back up in the 1840s. The Compromise of 1850 temporarily lulled the issue, but the Kansas-Nebraska Act, a Douglas sponsored measure, made the issue flare up once more. Each debate was of something different. -
Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown, an abolitionist, led a small group into a raid on the Harpers Ferry armory. In 1837, Brown voiced his dedication to eradicating slavery. He also traveled to Kansas with five of his sons to fight against the proslavery forces.Proslavery men raided the abolitionist town of Lawrence.Brown and his sons attacked three proslavery cabins.He went back East to begin raising money for his vision of a slave uprising.On October 16,Brown overran an arsenal. Robert E. Lee overran Brown on Oct. 19. -
Election of Lincoln
Slavery split the Democratic Party, with the northern Democrats nominating Stephen Douglas. These Democrats supported popular sovereignty. Southern Democratic candidate was John C. Breckinridge. Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln. Many Southerners feared that with a Republican victory, slave revolts would be encouraged. Southerners questioned secession, and leaders in Congress worked frantically to work out a compromise. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
When South Carolina seceded, Maj. Robert Anderson and his 85 soldier force were positioned in Fort Moultrie near Charleston Harbor. On December 26, Anderson moved his command to Fort Sumter. After Lincoln's inauguration, Anderson only had six weeks of food left. On April 11, 1861, Confederate Brig. Gen. Beauregard sent aides to Anderson, to demand the surrender of the fort. Anderson refused. The next morning, the Confederate aides opened fire on the four and continued for 34 hours. -
Lincoln Inaugural Address
Lincoln inaugurated his first term as president. Douglas' had been inaugurated on February 18. Both men's inauguration address had presented a different view on on the question of whether a state had the right to secede.
