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Missouri compromise
Great Debate over free and slaves states. The 36'30'' line was compromised and was decided during the debates and would decide whether slavery was allowed in certain territories or not. -
Compromise of 1850
There were five laws passed in september of 1850 that were dealing with slavery and territory expansion issues. The fugitive slave act was one of the laws passed and was amended ending the slave trade in Washington D.C. -
Fugitive slave law
This law required northern citizens to return runway slaves. If the person decides not to comply they're fined up to $1,000 dollars or is imprisoned for six months. Many African American's who were free were captured and put back into slavery. Many Northerners didn't agree with this law because they felt part of the slave system. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A novel written by Harriet Beacher Stowe written to expose the evils of slavery and the mistreatment, the story focused on the story of a slave who was whipped to death by his owner. After reading many northerners views on slavery changed and southerners claimed the book was full of lies. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The act divided lands into Kansas and Nebraska's territories, decided that slavery's issues would be decided by senate but this led to violence in the senate. -
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Pottawatomie Creek Killings/Massacre
John brown and his four sons rode into Franklin county, Kansas and pulled five pro-slavery men out of bed and horrifically murdered them. he claimed he was doing what "God told him to do". Many northerners were upset with what happened. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who lived on free territory with his owner. when his owner died, Scott had abolitionist attorneys file a lawsuit for him. He ended up losing when it went to the supreme court. The court didn't rule him as a citizen but more of property. -
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Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Douglas believed slavery should've been decided by sovereignty while Lincoln felt slavery should not be allowed to spread into the territories. Lincoln also felt that if the fighting about slavery continued to rip the union apart then the nation would not survive. -
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Raid on Harper's Ferry
John brown the same man who commited the pottawatomie killings now planed to raid an arsenal on Harper's ferry and start a slave revolt. He led five blacks and thirteen whites into Harper's ferry. No slaves helped and many of his men died and Brown ended up getting arrested by Robert E. Lee. Brown was found guilty and was hung for his crimes of murder and treason. Northerners saw him as a martyr which is someone who dies for their beliefs. -
Election of 1860
Lincoln ran against Douglas in the 1860 presidential election. Southern states did not support Lincoln and what he believed in, they supported Douglas tremendously yet Lincoln still won the election. Southerners felt their opinions didn't matter and that the north had too much power so they threatened to seperate from the union.
