-
Missouri Compromise
Who: Henry Clay
When: 1820
Where: The North and the South
What: This compromise settled the conflict that had arisen from Missouris' application for statehood. Missouri would enter the Union as a slave state, while Maine would enter the Union as a free state. Slavery would then also be prohibited in any new territories north of 36'30. Why: The number of free and slave states would be unequal if another state would be added. Because of this reason that's why the Missouri Compromise was created. -
Wilmot Proviso
Who: David Wilmot
When: 1846
Where: Mexican Cession
What: This was a document that stated "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in any part of the territory..", this is saying to stop slavery. Why: Many Northerners wanted to outlaw slavery in all parts of the Mexican Cession, but the South didn't. -
Compromise of 1850
Who: Henry Clay
When: 1850
Where: Mexican Cession
What: This was another compromise that allowed California to be admitted as a free state into the Union. Also, a harsher fugitive slave law was put into place, and the Mexican Cession was divided into territoies of New Mexico and Utah. Each of the new territories would vote if they would want slavery or not. Why: Northerners didn't appreciate slavery at all, while the South did. They wanted a way for the people to choose what they really want. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Who: Slaves, Slaveholders and Commisioners
When: September 1850
Where: North (Free Areas)
What: This act made it a crime to help runaway slaves. It allowed officials to arrest the slaves that had runaway to the free areas. Slaveholders were permitted to take suspected fugitives to U.S. Commisioners, who then decided their fate. Why: The South had enough of runaway slaves and wanted to keep slaves. This act allowed them to receive their runaway slaves. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Who: Stephen Douglas
When: January 1854
Where: Kansas & Nebraska
What: This act was a plan that would divide the remainder of the Louisiana Purchase into 2 territories, which are Kansas and Nebraska. They wanted these 2 territories to use popular sovereignty to answer the question of slavery. Why: Since there was a border line between the Norht and the South, they didn't know if they wanted Nebraska and Kansas to be a slave or free state. -
Bleeding Kansas
Who: John Brown, Kansas
When: 1854 - 1861
Where: Kansas
What: This was a series of violent political confrontations in the United States. The people fought between pro-slavery and anti-slavery for control of the new territory (Kansas). Why: People wanted to know if Kansas should be or not be a slave state. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Who: Dred Scott & Sandford
When: 1856 - 1857
Where: Court of Missouri to the U.S. Supreme Court
What: This case said "slaves are not citizens, slaves were property...", Congress could not ban slavery from the territories. The Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional after this case. This meaning this case was for slaves' freedom. Why: Scott moved with his owner from a slave state to a free state and after his owner died, he sued for his freedom. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Who: Abraham Lincoln & Stephen Douglas
When: 1858
Where: U.S. Senate
What: This was a series of 7 debates between A.L. and S.D, the debates previewed the issues that they would face as president in the 1860 election. Eventually all the debates were just about slavery. Why: They wanted to preview and talk sbout issues that would happen during the elecion of 1860 and see what the people want.