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Compromise of 1850
California was admitted as a free state, this made the South upset because this made the free states outnumber the slave states, to compromise the Fugitive Slave Act was passed by Congress. Texas also ceded some of its most westernmost land and Washington D.C. was required to end the slave trade in the city. -
Fugitive Slave Act
This law passed made it illegal to give food, shelter, and protection to a runaway slave, if you were caught you could be sent to prison. It also stated that all runaway slaves had to be returned to their masters. This law made the North mad because it was seen as expanding the reach of slavery to the free states. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe becomes incredibly famous and sells over two million copies. The book is about a slave that is treated poorly by his master and moves many people to the abolitionist side because they learn what life is like for slaves. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
This allowed each territory or state to decide if they wanted to be a slave state or a free state by voting. This made the North mad when Kansas wanted to be a slave state because it violated the Missouri Compromise. This results in Bleeding Kansas when Kansas is torn between being a free state and a slave state. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court rules that Dred Scott a former slave that has lived in the North is property and cannot sue for his freedom. They also ruled that the Missouri compromise that forbid slavery in the North was unconstitutional. -
Harper's Ferry
John Brown and a group of men attack the weapons arsenal at Harper's Ferry to attempt to start a slave revolt. The fails and John Brown is hung for treason. He is made into a martyr in the North and this shows the South what the North is willing to do to end slavery. -
Lincoln's Election
Lincoln was the only candidate that was against slavery and only the Northern states vote for him which shows that the country is divided. This was one of the reasons that the Southern states began to secede along with states rights and having a too powerful federal government. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was attacked by the South when the Union was trying to resupply the fort and ended with the badly outnumbered fort surrendering to the South. Lincoln then calls for volunteers to join the army and the Civil War begins.