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It is believed that President James Polk had ordered to provoke the war around April of 1846. When it ended in February of 1848, the nation gained Texas, New Mexico, Utah, California, Nevada, and Arizona. The Wilmot Proviso was an act that would have banned slavery in the new territories; however, it never passed the senate. This led to the Civil War because it was a catalyst for popular sovereignty and the people wanted their view on slavery in the new states.
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Proposed by Stephen A. Douglas. Ended the slave trade in D.C, but allowed for Texas to join as a slave state and California as free. Introduced the Fugitive Slave Act that the south liked because they wanted the north to be involved in slavery. This meant the USA was no longer safe for free or enslaved Black and African Americans. The tensions between the north and south increased due to the slavery involvement being nationwide. -
A law was created during the Compromise of 1850. The Fugitive Slave Law would let northerners take free or enslaved African Americans into slavery. Slave catchers or anyone who returned slaves were paid to capture enslaved people. -
A number of safe houses and roads for runaway slaves led to the northern territories and Canada. Became more popular in Canada as the Fugitive Slave Law was enforced. Started in 1800
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One influential book for abolitionism was Uncle Toms's Cabin. It highlighted the horrors of slavery and influenced many northerners into becoming abolitionists and anti-slavery. Books allowed for further spread of word in anti and pro-slavery beliefs. -
Established to promote settling and entice settlers into moving into new territory that was Kansas and Nebraska. New settlers were allowed to vote in order to choose their state's stance on slavery. -
After the Kansas Nebraska Act, the sectional crisis significantly worsened. Kansas became a battleground for voting polls and people were violent. 1855-1859 -
Charles Sumner and Preston Brookes were debating in the South Carolina Senate. Preston is offended by something Charles said regarding black women and almost beats him to death with a cane. -
The political party that was against slavery and one Abraham Lincoln eventually joined. Started in March of 1854 -
A constitution made by pro-slavery men and slaveholders that would uphold their rights as slaveholders and did not include free Black Americans. -
The sectional crisis was egregious and the economy was failing. The economy was unstable and people thought that slavery was helping or hurting it. This would increase tensions between the north and south. -
A court case between a slave and his enslaver. Dred Scot, a slave from Missouri, sued Sanford, but the court ruled he could not sue because Black Americans were not considered citizens and therefore could not be involved in the court. -
John Brown, an abolitionist, raids Harper Ferry in Virginia in hopes of starting a revolt, but he was stopped by the military. He was later executed for treason and labeled a madman in the south and a martyr in the north. -
A substantial election is 1860 between Abraham Lincoln for the Republican Party and Stephen A. Douglas for the Democratic Party. Lincoln won. He said he not want to abolish slavery, but only stop it from spreading.