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The Missouri Compromise
THe Missouri compromise was a plan to settle disputes over the new territories optained by the Louisiana Purchase. Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, but it would be the only state that could be added above the 36/30 line. This was significant because it was the first attempt to stop the spread of slavery, and it was he first real line that seperated America because of slavery. -
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
To end the Mexican war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, adding immense new space to the United Stated below the 36/30 line. This upset the Northern States because there was now more land in the South, which would upset the balance of slave and free states. -
Wilmot's Proviso
Wilmot's Proviso was a proposed by a Congressman from Pennsylvania that proposed a bill stating that there would be no slavery allowed in the new territories obtained from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It passed in the Northern-controled House, but was killed in the Southern-controled Senate. This confirmed in the Southern minds that if the North gained control in government, slavery would be in trouble, therefore further harmed relations between the North and the South. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was a part of the Compromise of 1850 promted Southern slave owners to find any run away slaves they may have in the North. Northern people were outraged that free persons in the North could be sent back to the South as a slave. This was also very conrtoversial because the accused runaway slaves wouldn't have a trial by jury, and the judges were paid more to send the slaves back to the South. -
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" is Written
Harriet Beecher wrote this novel to describe the life a slave. Northerners were horrified about some of the depictions, especially the ones about breaking up the families. Southerners said that these descriptions were false, and were outraged. The books were burned in the South and anyone that was caught with it was beaten. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act implamented the idea of popular sovereignty, meaning all the states would have a vote among the people on whether or not they would have slavery. It also abolished the Missouri Compromise. The formation of the Republican Party stemmed from this act of congress because it divided both the Whig Party and the Democratic party. Senator Stephan Douglass was a strong supporter of this idea because he wanted the territories organized quickly in order to make a railroad. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was the first real fight between abolitionists and pro-slavery people. Pro-slavery Missourians, also known as Boarder Ruffians, fought against abolitionists from Kansas. Hundreds died, and new legisatures were written, known as the Sack of Lawrence. -
Republican Party
Upset about the Bleeding Kansas incident, Northerners formed the Republican Party in Ripon, Wisconsin. The South saw the new formation as a declaration of war. -
Beating of Charles Sumner
After Sumner made an attack on slavery, Congressman Preston Brooks came at him with a cane, and broke it over his head. Preston then continuted beating him with one of the broken halves of the cane. Instead of communicating feelings of regret, Southerners aplauded Brooks with words such as, "hit him again!" This incident shows how distanced the North and the South were truely becoming. -
Dred Scott Ruling
The Dred Scott decision was made by the Southern-ruled Supreme Court. It stated that Congress could not control slavery in any territory, therefore it abolished The Missouri Compromise and the Kansas/Nebraska Act. This cause a massive migration of Northerners to the Republican Party. The Dred Scott decision was another affirmation of the dividing in the United States -
Lincoln vs Douglas
Abraham Lincoln and Stephan Douglas were competing in an election in Illinois. The most popular subject was slavery. Lincoln argued that the country could not stay divided, stating,"A house divided against itself cannot stand." Douglas argued for popular sovereignty, or the Freeport Doctorine. The south was worried that if Lincoln came into power, he would abolish slavery everywhere. -
John Brown Incident
John Brown, a northern citizen, attempted to give weapons to slaves in Harper's Ferry, Virginia. This to the South was confirmation that the North was trying to sabotage them by causing a slave revolt, which was a slave owner's biggest fear. -
1860 Presidential Election
Lincoln, an anti-slavery Republican, defeated Breckinridge, a pro-slavery southern Democrat, in the presidential election. This worried the South, because a man that was oben about restricting slavery had come into power. Southern states considered succeeding from the union.
