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The Missouri Compromise
When Missouri applied for statehood as a slave state caused national debate. If Missouri was added as a slave state it would give slave states a majority. Congress reached a agreement called the Missouri Compromise, in which Maine would be added as a free state and Missouri would be added as a slave state. -
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Antebellum Period
The Antebellum Period was the period in American history before the civil war from 1830s-1861. -
Nat Turner Rebellion
In Southern Virginia in 1831, a slave named Nat Turner started a rebellion that spread through several states. For two days, Turner and approximately 70 people rebelled and killed around 60 white people. 55 slaves, including Turner, were executed for rebelling. Nat Turner's rebellion had been the bloodiest slave rebellion. -
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Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War started because of the United States' dream of manifest destiny and their expansion West. The people of the United States believed it was their right to expand across the whole continent and they could just conquer the people living their and take the land for themselves. -
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The Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was a law proposed by David Wilmot during the end of the Mexican-American War. If it was passed, it would have made slavery in the land the United States got in the Mexican-American War. Wilmot fought for this law to be passed for 2 years and even tried to attach it to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, which was a treaty that ended the Mexican-American War. The law did not get passed however its debate led to discussion of the South's succession. -
The Compromise of 1850
After the discussions of the Wilmot Proviso made national relations rocky, Henry Clay and Stephan Douglas made the Compromise of 1850. The compromise said that California was a free state but also strengthened the Fugitive Slave Law, which said northerners had to return runaway slaves the the South. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act established these states as territories and it allowed the residents of the territories whether it was an enslaved or a free state. Many Northerners and Southerners moved to these states in order to help their side in the debate. -
The Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott vs Sanford was a very famous court case. Dred Scott was a Virginian slave who tried to sue for his own freedom. The court found that Scott was property and did not have legal rights. -
John Brown’s Raid
John Brown was an abolitionist who wanted to take violent action against the South in order to end slavery. He led a raid on the federal army at Harpers Ferry, Virginia in order to steal the weapons there and distribute them to the slaves. Robert E Lee led a small force of US marines and 7 people were killed. On October 27 Brown was tried for treason and hung. -
Abraham Lincoln’s Election
Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860. He won by many votes despite not being included on Souther ballets. He was a republican and had anti-slavery ideas. 6 months after he was elected South Carolina seceded the Union and 6 states followed in the spring. -
The Battle at Fort Sumter
After secession, many forts, like Fort Sumter in North Carolina, became outposts. Abraham Lincoln decided to send fresh supplies to the fort. Confederate ships opened a 34 hour attack on the fort.
