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Missouri Compromise
Missouri entered as a slave state while Maine entered as a free state. The 30'60" line was drawn. The line determined which territories would allow slavery and which wouldn't. The compromise was effective for about 30 years. After 1850 the compromise became less effective and caused many problems. -
Compromise of 1850
California enters as a free state. The area from the Mexican Cession divided into Utah and New Mexico. It was decided that slavery would be decided by Popular Sovereignty. Slavery in Washington DC. ended and a fugitive slave law was put into act. Problems between the borders of New Mexico and Texas settled. Problems were better for a short period of time but soon became worse. -
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
As a part of the Compromise of 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law on September 18, 1850. This law required citizens to catch runaway slaves. Even Judges received ten dollars to return a slave and five dollars if they freed them. Not complying with this law could result in a one-thousand dollar fine or even jail time for up to six months. This law also allowed many free blacks to be put back into slavery and forced Northerners to become a part of the system, which they hated. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel written by Harriett Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin intended to shows the evils of slavery by telling the story of an older slave who had been whipped to death by his owner. It changed many Northerner's views of slavery; however, the Southerners believed the book was full of lies. The novel is also said to have "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War." -
Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was a bill sponsored by Democratic senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois that divides lands into Kansas and Nebraska territories. It also decided that the slavery issue would be decided by popular sovereignty. This led to violence in the Senate and caused conflict between Pro-slavery and Anti-slavery settlers in the same area. The Northerners also believed that this act repealed the Missouri Compromise. -
Pottowatomi Creek Killings
Since there was violence occurring in Kansas, John Brown and four of his sons decided to take the law into their own hands. They entered a small pro-slavery town of Pottawatomie Creek and dragged five pro-slavery men out of their beds at night. They slaughtered the five men, and John Brown believed that he did what God told him to do. However, many Northerners were horrified by his actions even though they did not believe in slavery. -
Dred Scott Decision
After living in a free state, Dred Scott's owner moved back into a slave state and died there. Scott had abolitionist attorneys file a lawsuit for him, which went to the Supreme Court. Scott lost, and the Court ruled that he was not a citizen but rather property, so he could not file a lawsuit. They also ruled that Congress could not ban slavery in any territories. This repealed the Missouri Compromise. The Southerners loved it, while the Northerners hated it since slavery could spread. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Douglass believed in deciding Slavery by popular sovereignty, but Lincoln argued that Slavery should be prohibited and not allowed in new territories. During these debates Lincoln also emphasized that the nation couldn't survive if the fighting over slavery continued. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
The infamous John Brown Strikes again! This time Brown led a group of 18 men to take over Harper's Ferry, including 5 black men. This was significant because some abolitionist didn't let black people fight for their freedom as they saw them inferior. He planned to raid an arsenal and expected a wave of slaves to uprise, but this didn't happen.This led to Brown's operation failing, and ultimately Brown's death by hanging. -
Election of 1860
Lincoln and Douglas ran against one another in 1860. The south did not agree with Lincoln and his views on slavery. The overwhelmingly supported Douglas but their support was not enough. Lincoln ended up winning the election. Southerners were not happy about this decision. They said it showed that the south had no voice and north had too much power. Many southern states talked about seceding the union.