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Missouri Compromise
*By 1818, Missouri territory had a large enough population to be admitted as a state. Most settlers were from the south.
*James Tallmadge (New York, House of Representatives), proposed an amendment to prohbit importing slaves into Missouri and would gradually emancipate all Missourian slaves. the bill passed in the House, but not in the Senate.
*A bill to admit Maine as a state was combined with the bill to admit Missouri. The bills passed separately.
*Slavery prohbited in lands north of 36 30 N -
Mexican War
*US annexes Republic of Texas, Mexico sees this as a declaration of war.
*President James K. Pole sends John L. Slidell to Mexico, authority to purchase New Mexico and California for $30 million.
*After an attack leaves five US patrol troops dead, Congress declares war 1846 May 13.
*1847 September 14, Mexico City captured, Mexico surrenders.
*Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; US purchases NM and CA for $15 million, pays $3 million more in damage claims, US-Mexico border set at Rio Grande River. -
Compromise of 1850
*Five bills intended to simmer down North-South tensions.
*First bill, California admitted as free state.
*Second bill, New Mexico and Utah would sue popular soverignty to decide on slavery.
*Third bill, Texas gives up claims to its lands in modern NM, recieves $10 million to pay off debt with Mexico.
*Fourth bill,slave trade abolished in District of Colombia.
*Fifth bill, Fugitive Slave Act requires all citizens to help return escaped slaves to their owners, denied trial to escaped slaves. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
*Kansas and Nebraska would vote on whether slavery would be allowed. Infuriates Northerners.
*Pro- and anitslavery settlers rush to Kansas to alter outcome. Proslavery wins, but antislavery charges them with fraud, doesn't accept results.
*Antislavery settlers hold another election, proslavery settlers refuse to vote. Two opposing legislatures in Kansas.
*Violence erupts, territory gains nickname "Bleedin Kansas".
*Congress does not recognise pro-slavery legislature, KS not allowed to ener US. -
Lecompton Constitution
*Proslavery factions meet at Lecompton Constitutional Convention to write a document.
*Proslavery constitution approved 1857 Dec 21. Pres. James Buchanan declares he supports proslavery legislature.
*1858 Jan 4, second ratification vote held, freestaters reject Lecompton Constitution.
*1858 Feb 2, Lecompton Constitution approved.
*English Bill tries to force acceptance of Lecompton Constitution, defeated by pro- and antislavery factions. (1858 Aug 2) -
Harper's Ferry
*John Brown, militant abolitionist, sets out for Harper's Ferry with 21 men. Captures federal armoury and arsenal, then a rifle supplier of the government.
*Brown's forces round up 60 prominent citizens on the town as hostages, hoping slaves will come out. None do.
*Local militia pins down Brown's forces, President Buchanan dispatches troops uner Robert E. Lee.
*Fight quickly ends, seven are captured, including Brown.
*Brown speaks the the Union,sparking antislavery feelings. -
Election of 1860
*N. Democrats elect Stephen Douglas, S. Democrats elect John C. Breckinridge
*Constutitional Union (former Whigs) nominates John Bell, have popularity in Border States, fail to win any sort of true popularity.
*Republican Party selects Abraham Lincoln.
*Willian H. Steward (R) leads in initial votes, Lincoln wins on third ballot.
*Lincoln visits South, preaches value of Union. Says he will use force if needed.
*Lincoln only wins North states, but wins electoral collage by large margin. -
South Carolina Secdes
*South forced many compromises threatening to dissolve Union, Northern politicans sick of compromising.
*Souther education emphasizes Constitution and honoured states' rights leaders, such as Thomas Jefferson and John C. Calhoun.
*1860 Nov 10, four days after election, SC calls for convention to consider secession.
*1860 Dec 20, SC Congress unamiously passes and states SC is no longer part of te Union.
*Six other states of the Deep South secede- Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Lousiana, Texas. -
Abraham Lincoln Inaugurated
*Abraham Lincoln arrives in Washington DC in secret
*Two weeks earlier, Jefferson Davis had been inaugurated as President of the Confederate Staes of America (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas)
*Lincoln addresses the crowd, states he has no right to interfere with slavery in the states.
*Lincoln compares the central idea of secession to anarchy.
*Lincoln vows that he will try to restore the Union/ -
Attack on Fort Sumter
*Considered the first battle of the American Civil War.
*Battle lasted less than two days, little tactical significance, greatly symbolic.
*Begins with Confederate shelling of the fort, Union returns fire.
*Throughout the day, boyh sides exchange shots until nightfall. The next morning, fires catches in Fort Sumter. Major General Robert Anderson force to surrender.
*No reported casualities.
*Anderson considered national hero when he arrives in New York, tours northern states to gether troops.