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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise declared Missouri a slave state. It prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30' north except within the boundaries of the proposed state of Missouri. -
Whig Party
Organized by opponents of President Andrew Jackson. The Whigs supported the supremacy of Congress over the presidency. -
Know-Nothing Party
It was a political party in America that was active in 1845-1850s. It was started by the overwhelming amount of Irish and German immigrants. It tried to lessen the amount of immigration. -
Wilmot Proviso
Attempt by opponents of slavery to prevent its introduction in the territories purchased from Mexico following the Mexican War. It never passed both houses of Congress -
California
California becomes the 31st state on this day. -
Fugitive Slave Act
It declared that all runaway slaves be brought back to their masters. The law was seen as a compromise to preserve the Union. -
Compromise of 1850
A set of laws that attempted to give something to both sides (the Union and the Confederacy). It admitted California as a free state but it also allowed some newly acquired territories to decide on slavery for themselves. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin-- Published
An anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was the best-selling book of the 19th century and "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War". -
Bleeding Kansas
A series of violent events in Kansas and Missouri. It was between Kansas (absolutionists) and Missouri (slaveowners) and Kansas were victorious. -
Kansas and Nebraska Act
It created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. It also allowed the state to decide if they wanted to make it a free or slave state. -
Sumner- Brooks Incident
Brooks was a Congressman from South Carolina that was known for beating Senator Sumner on the floor of the US Senate. He beat him with a cane when Sumner singled out Brooks family. -
Attack on Lawrence, KS
This was the first casualty of the American Civil War. Nobody died but one person was wounded. -
Pottawatomie Creek
Some absolutionists went out and killed 5 pro-slavery settlers. They did this in response to the Sacking of Lawrence. -
Dred Scott v Sanford
This case declared that no African American were citizens and were not protected by the Constitution. The court also declared the 1820 Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, thus permiting slavery in all of the country's territories. -
Harper Ferry - Brown Captured
It was an attempt by white abolitionist John Brown to start an armed slave revolt by seizing a United States Arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia. He was captured but helped start the civil war.
