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The Missouri Compromise
This was a great debate over where slavery was allowed and where it would not. A debate occurred and finally a compromise was reached. It included; Missouri entered as a slave state, Maine entered as a free state. The 36' 30" line was drawn which determines if the new territories allow slaves or not. -
Wilmot Proviso
This was a plan presented by David Wilmot, a Congressman from Pennsylvania, to stop the spread of slavery into the territories won from Mexico. His planned passed in the House but failed in the Senate. His plan showed the power of the North. His plan also made the South suspicious of the North's intentions. -
Free Soil Party
This was a new political party formed in Buffalo, New York. It was formed by Northerners who wanted to discuss the issue of slavery. This was the first party formed that was a "sectional party" and they picked Martin Van Buren as their first candidate for president. -
Compromise of 1850
Another compromise, this one including 5 parts. Such as California entering as a free state, area from Mexican Cession divided into Utah and New Mexico, slavery issue was to be determined by popular sovereignty. It ended slave trade in Washington D.C., made a strict Fugitive law, and settled border problems between New Mexico and Texas. -
Fugitive State Law
The law was part of the Compromise of 1850. It was a law that REQUIRED citizens to catch runaway slaves. If someone did not comply they were fined up to $1,000. Many blacks who were free were captured and sent back into slavery. The Northerners hated this law because it forced them to be a part of the slavery system. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act dived lands into Kansas and Nebraska territories. Decided that slavery issue would be decided by popular sovereignty. Led to violence in the Senate. Northerners believe this repeals the Missouri Compromise. -
Pottowatomi Creek Killings
Because of the violence going on in Kansas, John Brown and four of his sons, decide to take law into their own hands. They went into Pottowatomi Creek and dragged 5 pro-slavery men out of bed and murdered them. Brown thought he was doing the work of God. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave, he had lived in a free state with his owner. His owner moved back into a slave state, he died while there. Scott has abolitionist attorneys file a law suit for him. He lost in the Supreme Court, the Court ruled he was not a citizen but rather a piece of property. Also was ruled that the Congress can not ban slavery in other territories, which repealed the Missouri Compromise. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln and Douglas debated, Douglas believed in deciding slavery by popular sovereignty. Lincoln believed that slavery should NOT be allowed to spread into the territories. Lincoln also believed the Nation could not survive if the fighting continued to rip the Union apart with the slavery issue. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown was at it again, he led 5 blacks and 13 whites into Harper's Ferry. They planned to raid an arsenal and start a slave revolt. The problem was no slaves "rose" to help. Alot of Browns men died and John Brown was arrested by Robert E. Lee. Brown was tried and later hung for treason and murder. -
Election of 1860
Lincoln ran against Douglas in the Presidential Election of 1860. The Southern states did not like Lincoln or what he believed in. They overwhelmingly supported Douglas yet Lincoln still got elected. Southerners grew angry and said that this did not matter what their opinions were, that the North had to much power. -
Civil War Begins
Many Southerners talked of seceding from the Union, causing the Civil War. Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor. Less than 34 hours later, Union forces surrendered. Traditionally, this event has been used to mark the beginning of the Civil War.
