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The Missouri Compromise
Divided country between slave and free in the territory of the Louisiana Purchase. Everything about the 36/30 line (southern border of Missouri) was free. -
War with Mexico
Northerners opposed, Southerners for. Seen by Northerners as a way for South to expand slavery into Texas, California, and New Mexico. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo added new slave territories below 36/30 line. This would upset the balance between the slave and free states. -
Wilmot's Proviso
Law that would make territory acquired from Mexico free. Southerners opposed. Even though it was never passed, the law increased tensions between the North and South. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Run away slaves must be returned to their masters if discovered. Northerners could be persecuted for not turning in a run away slaves. There was no trial by jury for slaves; instead, there were "special commisioners", which often brought free blacks back into slavery, since all blacks were considered to have no legal rights. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Repealed Missouri Compromise - slavery allowed north of 36/30 line. Senator Stephen Douglass introduced popular sovereignty, where the people of the state vote to make the state slave or free. This led to a disruption of the two party system. The Whigs and Northern democrats disagreed with popular sovereignty and later joined to form the Republic party. -
Republican Party Formed
Northern political party whose purpose was the abolition of slavery. Seen as a declaration of war to Southerners, as Northerners are now forming new political alliances. -
Breakdown of the Two-Party System
Republican party was now associated with the North and abolition, while the Democratic party was associated with the South and extending slavery throughout the country. Signaled the end of the collaboration between the North and South. -
Beating of Charles Sumner
Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina brutally beat Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with a cane. Horrified the North, encouraged by the South. Elected officials that were out of control and couldn't represent the country civilly signaled the ungluing of the United States government. -
Bleeding Kansas and Sack of Lawrence
Senseless murders over the issue of popular sovereignty between pro-slavery Missourians and abolitionists in Kansas. Lawrence, Kansas, destroyed by pro-slavery mob. Showed the heated conflict arising as whites were now killing each other over the debate of slavery. -
Dred Scott Case
Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott case that Congress could not restrict slavery anywhere. This angered Northern abolitionists because it nullified the Missouri Compromise, which they strongly supported. More turned to Republican party.
Ableman vs. Booth clarified that states must comply with fedral law. This reinforced the fact that Northerners must turn in run away slaves according to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. -
Publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Shocked Northerners with the blatent portrayal of slavery. Those who were undecided on the issue of slavery now took a anti-slavery stance. Angered Southerners, who punished anyone caught with the book. -
Illinois Election of 1858
Two Northern candidates disagreed on the issue of slavery. Abraham Lincoln argued that the U.S. would eventually have to become all slave or all free. Stephen Douglas' Freeport Doctrine supported popular sovereignty. One of the most famous debates over slavery. -
John Brown's Plan for Slave Revolt
Northerner John Brown planned a slave revolt in Virginia. Southerners believed Northerners were all trying to provide slaves with weapons and kill their masters. Drove Southerners to secede from the Union. -
Presidential Election of 1860
Lincoln (Republican abolitionist) vs. Breckinridge (pro-slavery Southern Democrat). Lincoln wins presidency. Evokes fear in Southerners, who consider seceding from Union. -
The Crittenden Compromise
Failure to save Union by restoring Missouri Compromise. Showed that there was no turning back; the dissension was too deep. -
Seceding from the Union
Total of 15 states in South secede from the Union when Lincoln takes office. South attacks Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina to prevent it from being re-supplied. The states that seceded were then run by the state governments. Shows open dissension between North and South and the beginning of war.
