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Missouri Compromise
Missouri wanted to be a union slave state, but the Northerners did not agree to that. Henry Clay compromised by making Maine free and Missouri a slave state. Every area north of the line 36 30 N latitude was free, however. -
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Compromise of 1850
The exact date of the Compromise of 1850 is unknown, but it was created in September. It comprised of 5 main parts. It allowed California to be free, divided the Mexican Cession into New Mexico and Utah, ended slavery in Washington D.C., enforced a strict fugitive slave law, and settled a dispute between New Mexico and Utah. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act required all citizens to return runaway slaves to their owners. Common people were rewarded $50-$300 and Judges were paid $500. This convinced Northerners that slavery was even more evil than they had originally perceived. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It promoted abolition in the North and revealed how bad slavery really was in the South. About 300,000 copies were sold, and it was made into a play. -
Bleeding Kansas
Abolitionists were angry that the Kansas territory was ruled a slave state by popular sovereignty. John Brown tried to make it a free state by sending Kansas settlers to fight for control over slavery. It was a very bloody border war; Guerilla warfare tactics were used. -
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott, a slave, lived in Missouri with his Master. Later on, he moved to Illinois and then Wisconsin, which were both free territories. Then, he moved back to Missouri. He sued for his freedom because he thought that if he lived in a free land, he should be free for his whole life. The Supreme Court ruled against him, and they made the decision to allow territories to have slaves. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown, a strong abolitionist, went from Kansas to the east coast. he tried to start rebellions among people who were against slavery also. He raided a Federal Arsenal and was captured/killed by General Lee. He was later called a martyr for dying for a cause. -
Election of 1860
The main candidates were Stephen Douglass, John Breckinridge, Abraham Lincoln and John Bell. Most southerners voted for Breckinridge or Bell. Lincoln was not even put onto the ballot in the Southern states; yet, he still won.
