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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise only half-settled the issue of slavery. It was a temporary solution, only lasting 30 years, which divided the unorganized territories into slavery and anti-slavery areas. This arrangement showed America's sectionalism by splitting the opinions of the country. -
War with Mexico
The United States, driven by manifest destiny, went to war with Mexico. President Polk sought new lands in the Southwest that Mexico refused to sell. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war and ceded new territories to the US. These new territories gave more land for the potential expansion of slavery. The looming possibility angered abolitionists and further divided the country on the basis of slavery. -
Wilmot's Proviso
David Wilmot proposed a law to ban slavery in all the land acquired by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Though it never passed, the bill damaged relations between the North and the South. The mere proposition of the idea convinced southerners that the Northern abolitions, if they gained a majority in the Senate, would abolish slavery and, therefore, the Southern way of life. -
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The newer Fugitive Slave Act, stricter than the last one, disturbed Northerners. Southerners argued their legal right to their human property, while abolitionists argued that the act, which denied accused runaway slaves without a jury trial, encouraged free blacks to flee to Canada because they were worried about being tossed back into slavery. The differing arguments widened the gap between Northerners and Southerners. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a book titled Uncle Tom's Cabin, which seriously impacted Northern opinions of slavery by opening their eyes to what really occurred. Southerners were enraged by the "false depiction" of the slave system. This book encouraged Northern abolitionists to attack the Southern-defended institution. -
Bleeding Kansas
Pro-Slavery advocates and abolitionists swarmed Kansas with hopes of swaying the popular vote on slavery. Murders and fights between the parties led to the deduction that a compromise on slavery would never be possible. These malicious events became known as "Bleeding Kansas." -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act divided some of the undivided territory into Kansas and Nebraska. It also introduced popular sovereignty, which nullified the Missouri Compromise's prohibition of slavery above the 36/30 line by allowing the territories to vote on the issue themselves. The divisive opinions separated the political parties even further. -
Breakdown of the Two-Party System
With the new Republican Party from the North, the Democratic Party began increasing its presence in the South. The two parties became progressively more radical in their platforms and further diminished any chance of compromise on major issues. -
Formation of the Republican Party
Outrage over the issue of "Bleeding Kansas" triggered the formation of a completely new political party. The Republican Party was a mainly Northern party focused on restricting slavery in America's territories. This new party angered the Southerners - they saw it as a declaration of war on their way of life. -
Preston Brooks Attacks Charles Sumner
Congressman Preston Brooks viciously beat Senator Charles Sumner over the issue of slavery. Southerners encouraged and supported Brooks' action, even though the heads of American government should demonstrate the most civilized actions. This attack horrified the North and showed just how savage the country's partisans were becoming. -
Dred Scott Ruling
The Supreme Court, dominated by Southern influences, ruled in the Dred Scott Case that Congress did not have the right to restrict slavery in any territory. This ruling nullified the Missouri Compromise as well as the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The ruling frightened Northerners by convincing them that, if given the power, Southern slave-owners would attempt to legalize slavery everywhere. -
"A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand"
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas participated in a very well-known debate in American history. Lincoln argued that the states needed to decide on the issue of slavery - that a house divided could not stand. Douglas, however, argued in support of popular sovereignty. This debate solidified the differing views of the Northern and Southern political parties. -
John Brown's Attempt
John Brown, a Northern abolitionist, attempted to start a slave revolt in Harper's Ferry, VA. The attempt failed, but was a possibility long enough for the Southerners to become worried that Northerners were more than willing to help slaves rise up against their masters in order to obtain freedom. Southerners saw Brown as an evil villain, while Northerners considered him a martyr. -
1860 Presidential Election
The presidential election of 1860 focused mainly on the issue of slavery. Anti-slavery Lincoln and pro-slavery Breckinridge were the two candidates. Because of the greater population in the North, their candidate, Abraham Lincoln, was able to win the election. This was a source of worry for Southerners - the federal government was being controlled by men that didn't support slavery and hoped to restrict its expansion. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
By April of 1861, the Southern states had seceded from the Union. Fort Sumter, a Union fort on Confederate land, was being re-stocked with supplies. Southern forces disapproved of the idea and attacked. When Lincoln alerted the country that he would fight to preserve the Union, more Southern states seceded. Though no one died, this attack signaled the starting of battle. -
The Crittenden Compromise
This last attempt at preserving the Union proposed returning to the Missouri Compromise's idea of the 36/30 line. Slavery would be forbidden above it and protected below it. This compromise failed to attract support, meaning that the days when Northerners and Southerners were willing to compromise were over.
