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The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was created by Henry Clay when the US was conflicting on free and slave states. The compromise said that Missouri would become a slave state and Maine would become a free state. On March 3rd, 1820, Congress said that the Louisiana Purchase would become a free territory. This led to further disagreement. -
The Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso said that slavery wouldn't be allowed in new US territories that were given to the US after the Mexican-American War. This was created by David Wilmot, and was introduced to Congress on August, 8th 1846, where new US territories were being discussed. Wilmot wanted present-day Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming to be free slave states. The idea was never passed but spread the idea of abolitionism. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 discussed five different laws about slavery. On January 29th, 1850, Henry Clay created these laws that California would become a free state, popular sovereignty would take place in New Mexico and Utah. Slave trade would end in Washington D.C. Congress would pass a strict fugitive slave law. Texas had to unclaim New Mexico to receive 10 million dollars. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which happened on September 18th, 1850, gave officials the right to arrest and take back any runaway slaves who were living/escaping to the North. Suspected slaves had no right to trial, and Northern citizens were required to help capture suspected runaway slaves. Even runaway slaves who had been living in the North for years were captured and taken back to live as slaves. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The daughter of an abolitionist minister, Harriet Beecher Stowe, wrote the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin. On March 20, 1853, she published her novel. Harriet wrote her novel to show people the truth of slavery, and it told the story of an enslaved man who was mistreated by his owner. This impacted the U.S. because her book began a huge abolitionist movement, and Lincoln would later tell her, “So you’re the lady that started this whole war”. -
Kansas Nebraska Act/Bleeding Kansas
The Kansas Nebraska Act gave people in the territories the right to vote (popular sovereignty) on whether or not slavery would be allowed. Southerners wanted the two territories to become slave states, and Northerners wanted the opposite. Violence began in the territories, and it got so bad that Kansas was given the name “Bleeding Kansas”. This impacted the U.S. because it was the first time that a bloody violence was started over slavery. -
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his freedom. Since he lived with his owner in places where slavery was illegal, he fought to be free. The supreme court decided that since he was a slave, he had no right to sue.The court decided that living in a free state did not make Scott free, and that slaves are property of their owners, and cannot be taken away. This impacted the U.S. because Southerners were happy about this decision, but Northerners were scared that slavery would spread into the West. -
Lincoln Douglas Debate
The Lincoln Douglas debate is when Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were going across the midwest during 1858 and were gaining attention because of their opinions on slavery. Douglas believed in popular sovereignty while Lincoln thought that slavery is wrong and should not be spread. Lincoln also thought that African Americans were entitled to their rights, and have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and should be treated as a free white man. These debates caused a controversy. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown raised a group of followers to help him free slaves in the South. Brown attacked Harpers Ferry in Virginia. He planned to start a revolt against slavery. Brown was wounded and captured by Captain Robert E. Lee. Brown believed the Bible to do so. John Brown was hung in 1859 for his attack. The North liked that Brown tried to stop slavery. The South thought that Brown was out to ruin their way of life. This impacted the U.S. because once John Brown was executed, abolitionism grew. -
Lincoln's Election of 1860
Lincoln's Election of 1860 was when Lincoln won the election by a landslide against the other candidates. Also, once Lincoln won the election he started to put an end to slavery in the South. Lincoln was gaining support from many people in the North, because they knew that Lincoln was going to end slavery. This event took place in the United States, in 1860. Lincoln’s election impacted the U.S. because his presidency would lead to war and the southern succession. -
Southern Secession
The Southern Secession is when the South did not like that the North was starting to put an end to slavery. So, Southern States started to leave the Union and they would return if slavery was allowed or if they had a say in the government. This event took place in the Southern States when slavery started to end. This event impacted history because the South did not like that slavery was going to end since farmers depended on cotton farming money and they use slaves to get the cotton.
