-
Northwest Ordinance
To all new territories added, it created rules for them like prohibition of slavery, right to trial by jury, etc. -
Period: to
Missouri Crisis
This was a time span which the argument of whether Missouri should be a slavery state or a free state. -
Missouri Compromise of 1820
It added Missouri as the last slavery state apart of the Union and took slavery away from the northern territories setting a line between the north and the south later called The Mason Dickson line. -
Nat Tuner's Slave Revolt
Nat Tuner led a slave revolt in Southampton County, Virginia. He was a black enslaved male. -
Texas Annexation of 1844
Texas was admitted into the Union as the 28th state. -
Period: to
Underground Railroad
It was a series of roots and safe-houses which led enslaved African Americans to the north. Once the fugitive slave law was placed, the railroad went straight up to Canada. It reached its highest point of use between 1850 and 1860 even though it was active in the early 19th century. -
Compromise of 1850
1.) Slave trade was abolished in the District of Columbia.
2.) Fugitive slave law was strengthened.
3.) New Mexico and Utah were organized on a basis of popular sovereignty.
4.) Texas had to pay for the loss of territory in New Mexico during the Mexican-American War.
5.) California was made a state.
It defused a four-year political issue between slavery and free states. -
Fugitive Slave Law
This law stated that African American ex-slaves which escaped to the north had to be returned to their owners in the south. This law was apart of the Compromise of 1850. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Eliza wrote a story about how an African American slave, Eliza's, troubles as a slave. The publication of this book jump started the slavery debate. -
Formation of the Republican Party 1854
This party consisted of Anti-slavery Whigs who met in Wisconsin and formed the party. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Kansas and Nebraska decided whether or not they wanted slavery in their states. They wanted slavery so this act applied the Missouri Compromise. -
Period: to
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas, also known as the Border War, was a war between the Pro-Slavery and Anti-Slavery people. This war broke out as a reaction towards the Kansas-Nebraska Act. -
Dred Scott Supreme Court Decision
This decision made slavery the "law of the land". It proclaimed that slaves were not US citizens and the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because Congress lacked authority to ban slavery in territories. Northern black communities were enraged. Some even moved to Canada. -
John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry
John Brown, who desperately wanted to start up a rebellion between the slaves and their owners, led a raid which broke into an armory, but they were unsuccessful. He was considered a hero to the Northerners and philosophers. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected president because he disliked slavery. He was the only republican running and supported the common man. He won because the democratic party was divided between north and south. After his winning, the south seceded from the Union six weeks later.