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Compromise of 1850
Texas was paid 10 million bucks to remove its claims in the west. even though slavery was still legal, Washington, D.C., was required to end the slave trade in the city. California was admitted as a free state and a stricter Fugitive Slave Act was passed -
Fugitive Slave Act
The act stated that all fugitive slaves must be returned to their owners. any person who was caught helping the runaway slaves would get up to 6 months in prison. it was a way to expand the power and reach of slavery. Congress had made it illegal to even assist a fugitive slave. -
Uncle Toms Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's book sold around 300,000 copies in just the first year and over 2 million in five years. it was the 2nd highest selling book of the 19th century. it was about an old slave that was really kind and was treated horribly by his master. a lot of people joined the abolitionist movement after learning what it's really like to be a slave. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Nebraska-Kansas act allowed each territory to decide the issue of slavery on the basis of popular sovereignty. The people got to decide. Kansas violated the Missouri compromise when it had slaves. "Bleeding Kansas" was torn in half for years between pro-slave and anti-slave. -
Dred Scott Decision
Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was property and not a citizen and had no right to sue. The ruling declared that the Missouri Compromise prohibiting slavery in the Northern territories was unconstitutional. -
Harper's Ferry
John Brown leads a group of men to attack the weapons arsenal at Harpers Ferry. The goal is to gain control of weapons and lead a slave revolt. the raid fails and Brown is captured and hanged for treason. He becomes a martyr in the North. The South sees to what extent the North will do to end slavery -
Lincoln's Election
Lincoln was the only candidate against slavery. Even though he won, the election showed that the country was divided. •No southern states voted for Lincoln. On the basis of states’ rights, a way too powerful federal government, and the issue of slavery, the south started to secede. Lincoln’s election pushed the nation to the brink of war. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Ft. Sumter was a federal fort in South Carolina. The South fired upon Fort Sumter as the Union tried to resupply it. The fort was nearly out of food and ammunition and was badly outnumbered. Surrendered the fort to the Southern Army. President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers.The war had begun