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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise entered Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state after a great debate over slavery. The compromise also caused the 36’30” line to be drawn. The compromise was only effective for 30 years until problems began to occur. -
Compromise of 1850
In the Compromise of 1850, California enters as a free state. Slavery issued to be decided by popular sovereignty. Utah and New Mexico was formed. Strict Fugitive Slave Law was made. Also, the border problems between New Mexico and Texas were settled. -
Fugitive Slave Law
This law was a part of the Compromise of 1850. This law required citizens to catch runaway slaves. If a citizen did not comply, it was worth an $1,000 dollar fine or jail time for 6 months. Many free blacks were sent back to slavery. Northerners did not like this new law at all. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
This was a novel written by Harriett Beecher Stowe. The novel was written to show the evils of slavery. Many Northerners began to change their views on slavery after reading the novel. Southerns complained and said the book was a bunch of lies. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Divided land into Kansas and Nebraska. Decided that slavery issue will be decided by popular sovereignty. This led to violence in the senate. Pro-slavery and Anti-slavery settlers in one area led to conflict. Northerners believer this repeals the Missouri Compromise. -
Pottowatomi Creek Killings
Because of the violence going on in Kansas, John Brown and his 4 sons decided to take law into their own hands. John Brown ended up killing 5 pro-slavery men in a small town, and claimed what he was doing was told to him by god to do. Many northerners are appalled to what he did. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave. Dred lived in a free territory with his owner, then moved back into a slave state. There, his owner died. Scott had abolitionist attorneys file a law suit for him. Went to the Supreme Court, but lost. The court ruled he wasn’t a citizen, but a property. Congress could not ban slavery in any territories either. This all repealed the Missouri Compromise. Southerners loved this when Northerners hated it. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln and Douglas debated. Douglas believed in deciding slavery by popular sovereignty. Lincoln believed that slavery should not even be allowed to spread in any territories. Lincoln also believed that the nation could not survive if they continued to fight each other. -
Raid on Harper’s Ferry
John Brown was up to no good again. John led 5 blacks and 13 whites into Harper’s Ferry, planning to raid an arsenal and start a slave revolt. No slaves ended up helping. Many people died and Brown was caught and arrested. Brown was later hung for murder and treason. Northerners believed John Brown to be a “Martyr”. -
Election of 1860
Lincoln ran against Douglas in the election of 1860. Southerners overwhelmingly supported Douglas and did not like Lincoln at all. Somehow though, Lincoln still won the election. Southerners got very angry and complained that their votes didn’t matter and that the North was too powerful. Many southerners talked about seceding from the Union.
