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Missouri Compromise of 1820/Who: Henry Clay, Missouri, Maine/When: 1820/Where: Missouri
What: Missouri applied for statehood, but admitting Missouri into the union would unbalance the number of slave and free states in the US creating unequal representation in the Senate. When Maine applied for statehood Henry Clay was able to compromise making Maine free and Missouri a slave state.
Why: Without the compromise there would be more representation in one part of the Senate and it wouldn't be equal.
Other Details: Lasted 30 years before it was repealed. -
Wilmot Proviso/Who: James K. Polk, David Wilmot/When: August 8, 1846/Where: Mexican Cession
What: An addendum from Mexican-American war added to $2 million request following the Mexican war by James K Polk. Prevented the introduction of slavery into new territory.
Why: to request funds following the Mexican war. Pleased northern abolitionists by preventing the introduction of slavery into new territory.
Other Details: The disagreements between Whigs and Democrats over Wilmot Proviso and slavery created the Republican Party. -
Compromise of 1850/Who: Henry Clay/When: 1850
What: About the issue of slavery in America's territory gained from the Mexican war. Henry Clay attempted to maintain a balance between slave and free states by admitting California as a free state, enacting a harsher fugitive slave law, and the Mexican Cession was divided into New Mexico and Utah.
Why: Slavery crisis that threatened the union.
Other Details: Leads to future violence in Kansas. -
Fugitive Slave Act/Who: Henry Clay, individuals harboring runaway slaves/When: 1850
What: The fugitive slave law outlined the penalties for people who harbored runaway slaves. The fugitive slave act was one of the conditions on the compromise of 1850.
Why: Gave punishments for anyone holding runaway slaves. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act/Who: Stephen A. Douglas/When: 1854/Where: Kansas
What: Organized the remaining territory of the United States into states. Territory north of the 40th parallel was Nebraska, south of the 40th parallel was Kansas.
Why: Organized Louisiana Purchase.
Other Details: The most controversial aspect of the Kansas-Nebraska act was that it let each territory decide whether or not to permit slavery. More support for slavery in Kansas. -
Bleeding Kansas/Who: Kansas/When: 1854/Where: Kansas
What: There was more support for slavery in Kansas. There were pro-slavery and anti-slavery advocates that resulted in violence. One of the first major causes of the Civil War.
Why: Pro-slavery and anti-slavery advocates both wanted the Kansas territory.
Other Details: January 29, 1861 Kansas was admitted to the union as a free state. 56 people died. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford/Who: Dred Scott, Dr. John Emerson, Chief Justice Roger Taney/When: 1857/Where: Illinois Territory
What: Dred Scott sued for his freedom because they lived in Illinois where slavery was illegal, they deserve their freedom. Chief Justice Roger Tany said that Dred Scott could not bring his case to court because he is not a citizen. The court also ruled that slavery could not be prohibited in new territory.
Why: The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was unconstitutional.
Other Details: The case went through various local parts before it was heard by the US Supreme Court. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates/Who: Stephen Douglas, Abraham Lincoln/When: 1858/Where: Illinois
What: Democrat, Stephen Douglas, traveled Illinois giving speeches then republican, Abraham Lincoln, gave speeches opposing Douglasses ideas several days after. They challenge each other's ideas in many debates.
Why: Stephen Douglas wanted to spread slavery and not make changes to the union while Lincoln knew we needed change and he wanted a nation that was either all slavery or none at all, not divided.
Other Details: Lincoln won the election in 1860.
