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Missouri Compromise
Congress agreed on a compromise in 1820 rather than risk the breakup of the Union. The compromise was created by Representative Henry Clay of Kentucky. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 admitted Missouri to the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. By the two states entering the balance of power between slave and free states was maintained. Congress also drew and imaginary line across the Louisiana Purchhase. North of the line slavery was band, South of the line slavery was permitted -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 admitted California to the Union as a free state. It also allowed New Mexico and Utah territories to decide if they were going to allow slavery. It outlawed slave trade in Washington D.C., but it still allowed D.C. slave holders to keep their slaves. It also created a stronger fugitive slave law by forcing northerners to help catch runaway slaves from the south. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act was passed in 1854. This act created the Kansas and Nebraska territories. The act allowed settlers to determine whether slavery would be allowed in the new territories. By allowing settlers to choose whether slavery would be allowed or not, the Missouri Compromise was abolished. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court decision in 1857 that declared African-Americans could never be citizens of the United States. The Supreme Court also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional under the 5th amedenment. It fired up and enraged Northerners because they felt like slavery was now legal every ware. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected president on November 6, 1860. It as an odd presidential victory, he won with just 40% of the votes. All of his votes came from the north. In the south he wasn't even on the ballot. Southerners now realized that with a president against slavery, slavery would soon be deceased. Southerners were powerless for once. -
Attack on Ft. Sumter
South Carolina Delegates attended a meeting; they choose to succeed from the union. The people of the city strongly agreed, they went wild. Six More states followed South Carolinas lead. In February 1861 those states became the Confederate States of America. On April 12, 1861 the confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter, a federal fort in Charleston Harbor. News of this fired up citizens in the North. Slavery had finally brought the nation to war.
