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Missouri Compromise
In 1819, Congress passed the Missouri Compromise, that kept tensions between the North and the South in peace. With Missouri wanting to enter the Union it would become a slave state. If Missouri entered the Union America would have more slave states than free states, so slave state would have more power. Henry Clay soon made a idea of letting Missouri enter the Union as a free state, but at the same time let Maine enter the Union as a free state. -
Wilmot Proviso
After the Mexican American war America gained a lot of land that they took from Mexico. Wilmot Proviso was made to prevent all that land from becoming slave states. James K. Polk billed $2 million for the negotiation of terms of the treaty. David Wilmot wanted to add this amendment to the bill but was blocked by a Southern Senate. This soon lead to the formation of the republican party. -
Compromise of 1850
In 1850, after the Mexican American war California would enter the Union as a free state. There was still the Utah and New Mexico Territories, which they decided weather that they become a free or slave states through popular sovereignty. Also Washington D.C ended the slave trade, but now it was easier for Southerners to catch runaway slaves. This was the Missouri Compromise being renewed. Soon many Northers were angry over runaway slaves getting caught. -
Fugitive Slave Act
In 1850, the Fugitive slave act was passed, which allowed Southern officials to accuse anyone to be a runaway slave. This made tensions between the North and South grow worse. After this made African Americans were under threat of being enslaved. Senator Calhoun thought that the North would admit that slaveholders had the right to their property. If you caught with a “runaway slave” you would be fined of $500,000. -
Uncle Toms Cabin
In 1853, a novel was published named Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The novel told of a story of a slave and gave true and horrible details of slavery. The novel of written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, who Lincoln said, “So you’re the little lady who started this whole war.” Many people blamed the novel for the war because, the North now knew how horrible slavery was and how wrong it is. The South that of the novel as anti-slavery propaganda. -
Kansas Nebraska Act/Bleeding Kansas
In 1854, Senator Stephen Douglas passed the Kansas Nebraska. Which allowed states to decide if they would have slaves on popular sovereignty. The South supported the act hoping that slavery would spread throughout the new territories. The North was outraged because, they feared that slavery would spread throughout the nation. One of the state who had to choose to have slaves or not was Kansas. Violence broke out there was bands of people fighting each other over slavery. -
Dred Scott Case
In 1857, A slave named Dred Scott sued for his freedom. Scott lived with in two place both where slavery was illegal, so he stated he was a free man. The Judge, Roger B. Taney, wrote the decision, that since he as a slave he could not sue, even that he was living in a free state it doesn’t make him free. The South was happy over this decision because, slavery was now basically legal in all states. The North was scared because, slavery can spread throughout the country. -
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Lincoln Douglas Debate
In 1858, the debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. The whole debate was over the issue of slavery. Lincoln believed that slavery was wrong and should not be allowed in territories, also that African Americans should be allowed the same rights. Douglas believed that state should be decided if they are a slave or free state by popular sovereignty. This debate drove America further apart. -
John Brown Harpers Ferry
John Brown was a man who believed that the Bible instructed him to lead a revolt against the South and make an army of freed slaves. Brown and 21 of his men attacked Harper’s Ferry and gained control of military arson. Southern soldiers lead by Robert E. Lee attacked Brown at Harper’s Ferry. Brown was captured and executed. This made the South and the North drive closer to war. -
Election of 1860
In 1860, The presidential debate was between four candidates Lincoln, Douglas, Bell, and Breckinridge. Like the debate of 1858 the whole debate was mostly based on slavery and how will the Country stick together. Lincoln won because, he won in every free state and the the democratic votes were split. Breckinridge won the most slave states and was second in the debate. When Lincoln came into office the South seceded. -
Secession
In 1860, all of the South seceded from the Union. The reason the South seceded was because that Abraham Lincoln became president and the South feared he was going to take their slaves. Southerners felt that the President and Congress were against them. The South adopted a constitution and appointed Jefferson Davis as their president. Then, the South attacked an American held fort, causing a civil war.
