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The Missouri Compromise
The land aquired in the Louisiana Purchase was divided between slave and free states at the 36' 30 line. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
President James K. Polk was influenced by manifest destiny to take California, New Mexico, and part of Texas, the U.S. went to War with Mexico. After the War Polk signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo providing all territories acclaimed under the 36/30 line slave states. This was viewed by the Northerners as the Southerners to expand slave territory. -
Wilmot's Proviso
Congressman David Wilmot proposed a law to make all territory claimed from Mexico illegal to slavery. The bill passed the House but was eventually killed by a vote from the southern senators. This caused more debate about how the North and South need equal power in the senate. -
Fugitive Slave Act
This act was part of the Compromie of 1850, it encouraged Southern slave owners to pursue run-away. Many northerners who did not fully understand slavery were horrified that if they were holding free slaves they could be punished and have the slaves sent back to the South. This angered the free blacks as well because they could be accused as run-away slaves. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Passed in 1854 by Sothern Democrats and their Northern allies this act repealed the Missouri Compromises law of no slavery above the 36/30 line. This act created the idea of popular sovereingty, which is when the states people decided on their status of slavery or freedom. Senator Stephen Douglass of Illinois was one of the biggest supporters of popular sovereingty because it made territories form quickly so he could build his transcontinental railroad. -
Bleeding Kansas
Pro-Slavery Missourians (Border Ruffians) went to Kansas to try and discourage making Kansas a free state. Abolitionist from Kansas brought rifels to appeal and hundreds of murders occured. Eventually a two state legislature and two state constitutions were written. They were writtenseperate locations. Lecompton (pro-slavery) and anti-slavery (Topeka). This caused an anti-slavery sentimetn in Lawrence to be destroyed by a prov-slavery mob. This event was known as the Sack of Lawrence. -
Formation of Republican Party
Following the outrage of the tragedy of "Bleeding Kansas" the Republican party formed in Ripon, Wisconsin. This party was mainly found in the north and was against slavery, and wanted to restrict it everywhere. Obviously Southern Democrats viewed this as a threat to their liberty and wanted to declare war. -
Breakdown of the two-party system
When the Republican party was officially formed a strong sectional tension began between the North (Republicans )and the South (Democrats). With their differing view points on slavery it was basically a decleration for war. -
Brooks beats Sumner with cane
Congressman Preston Brooks from South Carolina beat Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with a cane. Sumner gave a speech about the wrongs of slavery. There was obviously insults and hard feelings felt after this speech. The beating from Brooks created sevre damage (Sumner missed 4 years of work to injury). When congressmen were getting out of hand this was just one step closer to war. -
Dred Scott Case
During this time period the South dominated the Supreme Court. During the ruling of this Dred Scott case the Missouri Compromise and Kansas/Nebraska act were nullified. It was official that congress could not restrict slavery in any territory. In the new case of Ableman vs. Booth in 1859 the supreme court re-affirmed that states could nto interfere with the enforcement of federal law. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Author Harriet Beecher Stowe's was highly against slavery and published this book depicting the horrors of slavery. It became a best seller and informed the Northerners of the true horrors of slavery. The South banned the book and beat anybody possesing it. -
Lincoln vs. Douglas Debates
In the 1858 election for Illinois election, candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were envolved in historic debates. Lincoln was a firm believer that there could be no more half slave states and half free states. Douglas was a serious defender of popular sovereignty. -
John Brown's Actions
Northerner John Brown had a mischevious plan to implement a slave revolt in Virginia was a miserable failure. However, the South viewed Brown as a serious villian and threat. They believed that he was ready to provide knives to slaves to revolt and kill their masters. -
1860 Presidentail Election
The basis of the discussion during this election was for the extension of slavery. Abraham Lincoln (Republican) vs. John C. Breckenridge (Democrat). Had differing views on slavery Lincoln was opposed and Breckenridge was in favor. Lincoln won the election due to the North having a greater a greater population. This election showed the heavy sectionalism in politics. The south knew they were in great danger after the result of this election. -
The Crittenden Compromise
In 1861 this compromise was a last effort to save the Union by re-enforcing the 36/30 line. This was created to create peace between the barrier of North and South. However, the compromise failed to attract support. -
Fort Sumter
In 1861 seven states of the South seceded from the Union. Later that year the US Army's Fort Sumter fell and four other southern states joined the seceded states. When Lincoln took office in 1861 he only presided over only half the country. Eventually the Sothern force of seceded states attacked Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. Lincoln called for volunteers to show he would put up a fight to stop the South from doing these actions. This was the final straw that started the Civil War.
