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Underground Railroad
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The Undergroud Railroad was a connection of "stations" to lead slaves to Canada, were they would be free from slavery. This movement only worked at night, because slave catchers were always looking for escaped slaves. 3,200 people were involved in the underground railroad. This led to hundreds of slaves being freed from slavery forever. -
Wilmot Proviso
Information about Wilmot ProvisoDavid Wilmot was extremely against the expansion of slavery into the states gained from Mexico. He proposed to the Congress that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist" in area gained from Mexico. At this time President Polk and his southern roots and beliefs dominated the government, meaning slavery over-ruled abolitionism. This would lead to the Civil War by putting more space between the abolition supporters and the slave supporters. -
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Mexican-American War
Mexican-American War InformationAmerica believed they had a given right to expand their contry from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They called this belief Manifest Destiny. The first war fought over the expanded land the Americans wanted was against the Mexicans. From this war the United States gained the land of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. This would lead to disputes over land, and further fights about non-slave or slave states when they are issued into the union. -
Free Soil Party
Extra Info<a or href='http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASfreesoil.htm' >More Info</a>
The Free Soil Party was a political group whose main focus was ending the expansion of slavery. This group was created people supporting anti-slavery in the Whig and Liberty parties. This party disrupted the common election and eventually had 12 congressmen active in the government. This party would help set up the Compromise of 1850. -
California Gold Rush
More InfoAfter it was uncovered that there was gold in California, many people fled to that state to become rich quick. This included immigrants from China, Ireland, England, and even freed slaves. These diverse people took up 5% of all miners in California, while the other 95% was young, and white, males. The white men frequently attacked the minorities and created a great divide between the people. Also, the mining pushed native americans out of the native land. -
Compromise of 1850
Compromise of 1850 Information -This was set up by Henry Clay.It inducted California into the union as a non-slave state, and in return to the south, no laws would be placed to prohibit slavery in Utah and New Mexico.Also,the capitol was banned to trade slaves, but still allowed to own them. Lastly,the fugitive slave law was made,stating Northerns had to return run away slaves. This lead to the Civil War because Northerns would not enforce it. -
Fugitive slave act
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The Fugitive Slave Act said that any Northerner to uncover a runaway slave would be enfoced under law to give them back to the owner. The North did not take to this law and would not enforce it. This would increase tension between the North and South (Not for slaves and For slaves) -
Uncle Toms Cabin
More Information on Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's was an author of many stories exposing hardships of slavery. Her stories had been published and flourished in the North. In the South her stories were not excepted. Her novels lead Northeners to see what truely goes on in slavery. This greatly effected the civil war by making more people aware of how cruel slavery was. This also hightened sectionlism in the North and South. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
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Settlers needed Nebraska to become a territory before they could own land in it. Nebraska was not going to be deemed a territory untill the South could have a chance at getting it to be a slave area. The Kansas-Nebraska Act reapled the 36*90' parrellel line that determined where slave states stop and non-slave states begin. It was replaced by popular sovereignty. This Act would lead to the first war agianst the North and South. -
Bleeding Kansas
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The Kansas-Nebraska Act had created the biggest gap between the North and South yet. Each basically having there own political party. Following a rigged election for pro-slavery, anti-slavery supports elected a seperate govenor and legislator in Topeka. War at this point was inevitable. With two governments in one state, war was about to break loose. -
Oslend Manifesto- http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h147.html
Along with expanding in the continental US, the south wanted to try and take over Cuba as a slave territory. The Oslend Manifesto was a document written telling spain that either they could pay, or the United States would take cuba's labd, owned by spain, by force.Buchanan was a major factor in this document, even though the plans to take over Cuba never went through. He gained major support from the South and would be elected to represent them in Congress. -
Caning of Sumner
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The Caning of Sumner all began when Charles Sumner, senator of massachusetts, defended Kansas against the "bogus" election that had deemed it a pro-slavery territory. He commented about the bad people in the South, especially Andrew Butler, South Carolina's senator, and long time foe. To rebuttle against this verbal attack, Butler's distant cousin, Brooks, came into Sumner's office using a cane and attacked him untill restrained. -
Dred Scott Decision
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The Dred Scott court case had been to declare independence to a slave who had lived in free lands for over 7 years, Dred Scott. The Supreme court was loaded on the pro-slavery side.Dred Scott was denied his freedom, and the Supreme Court also stated that the entitial slavery law,saying that slavery was not allowed in nothern states,was unconstitutional.This would create more tension between the North and South. -
John Browns Raid - http://www.ushistory.org/us/32c.asp
John Brown lead may slaves and anti-slavery supporter on raids into southern homes and killed many plantation owners. His raids soon ended only 36 hours after they began, but the political effects would last much longer. The North took Brown's side saying it was a couragious deed, and the South saying he was a murderor.This led to a massive northern support for Lincoln, and small southern support. Lincoln went onto win presidency, and S. Carolina seceeded from the union. Starting the Civil War. -
Transcontinental Railroad
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The Transcontinental Railroad consisted of two railways: the central Pacific and the Union Pacific. These railways connected the northwest states to the western states, meeting in Utah. These railroads made westward expansion more possible. Westward expansion was one of the main reasons for the Civil War.
