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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was when an imaginary line, Mason Dixon line, divied the North and South. Any states above the line was a free state and any state below the line was a slave state.This caused the North and South to be so separate, it was like two countries. When the Missouri Compromise was reaples, it began a sectional conflict betwwen the North and South. The repeal also officially opened up all new states to slavery. -
Ending of the Mexican War
The Mexican war wasn't a big deal untill it eneded. The mattered because America gained a bunch of land. With this land came debat about which ones whould be free and whcih would be slave. To deal with this, Congress passed the Compromise of 1850 which basically made California free and allowed the people to pick in Utah and New Mexico. -
Fugative Slave Act of 1850
This act forced any federal official who did not arrest a runaway slave, liable to pay a fine of $1000. If an official did catch a slave, they would get a huge bonus or a job promotion. Also, if an official could a suspected slave, that slave would have no jury or trial on their behalf. Anybody harbering a slave would face up to 6 month's in hail and a fine of $1000. When this act was passed, the activiting in Underground Railroad increased as slaves made their way to Canada. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This was a novel written by Harriet B. Stowe. Harriet was a big abolitionist and wrote this book to show hoe evil slavery really is. This book was a best seller so mostly everyobdy had a copy to read which changed how they saw slavery, especially in the north. It inspired more people to help the cause of abolition. Even Abraham Lincoln said that it was led to the outbreak of the Civil War. -
Preston Brooks attacks Charles Sumner
Charles was making a speech to the Senate, denouncing the Kansas-Nebraska Act which made Preston Brooks angry. Preston couldn't duel him, even though he wanted to, because Charles wasn't a gentlmen.The next day Preston hit him on the head severly until Charles was blinded by his own blood and he fell unconscious. Preston continued to beat his head. This made the pro-slavery people in the Senate upset ,which took the decision on slavery even longer and and made it harder. -
Bleeding Kansas
In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was allowing the Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide for themselves whether they wanted to be free or slave. Because Kansas and Nebraska could choose, it caused immagration to Kansas. By 1856, Kansas had become very violent because pro- and anti- slave forces were fighting over the state's future. It was nicknamed 'Bleeding Kansas' because the New York Tirbute written that in one of the papers and it caught on. Evntually Kansas was admitted as a free state. -
Dread Scott Desicion
Dread Scott owner took from a slave state into a free state but Dread was still considered a slave. He took it to court but he lost his case. His petition was refused to be seen becaused he didn't have any property. Dread was unhappy with this decision so he took it farther, to the state court. By that time, his owner sent Soctt to his sombody who was in a slave state. Again, Scott sued his 'new owner'. These to cases caused abolitionists to increase their efforts to fight slavery. -
Lecompton Constitution Rejected
In 1857, the Lecompton Constitution was created allowing for Kansas to be a slave state. Pro-slavery forces attempted to push the Constitution through the US Congress for acceptance. However, there was enough opposition that in 1858 it was sent back to Kansas for a vote. Even though it delayed statehood, Kansas voters rejected the Constitution and Kansas became a free state. -
John Brown Raided Harper's Ferry
On October 16, 1859, John Brown led a group of seventeen men to raid the arsenal located in Harper's Ferry, Virginia. His goal was to start a slave uprising using the weapons in the arsenal. After capturing several buildings, John and his men were surrounded and eventually either killed or captured by troops. Because of his rebellion, John was hung. This little debacle made it one more step closer to the Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
With the election of Abraham Lincoln, seven states, left the Union. Even though his views about slavery were considered moderate during the nomination and election, South Carolina had warned it would go away if he won. Lincoln thought the South was becoming too powerful and made it part of their goal that slavery would not grow to any new territories or states added to the union. Abraham also wanted to obolish slavery all together. The southerners didn't like him at all because of this.