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Compromise of 1850
Texas becomes smaller, federal government takes some of Texas’ national debt, California joins the union as a free state, and all territories get to choose by popular vote whether slavery is legal. This was political because it passed five laws that were all very carefully planned to maintain a balance of power and prevent war. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was an anti-slavery book read by thousands. This book changed society because everyone read it and it influenced their views. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
Repealed the Missouri compromise and gave Nebraska and Kansas popular sovereignty. -
Creation of the Republican Party
A new party was formed to stop the Kansas Nebraska act and prevent the spread of slavery -
Bleeding Kansas
Violence that broke out over whether slavery should be legal in the Kansas territory -
Caning of Charles Sumner
Discussions in the House of Representatives got so heated that a pro-slavery representative caned an anti-slavery republican. This was political because it took place in congress. -
Dred Scott decision
Supreme Court Case that said that slaves are property and can be taken into free states without being freed. -
A House Divided Speach
Lincoln identifies slavery as a moral and a political issue that threatened the continued existence of the United States. He quotes the Bible as he says, “a house divided against itself cannot stand” -
Election of 1860
Election that made Lincoln the president and started the civil war.