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The Missouri Compromise
When Missouri was appalling for statehood, congress found it all twisted up. The northern representatives argued that if Missouri was admitted as slave state slavery would spread over the entire Louisiana territory. The southern representatives said that it should be the state's choice using the state's rights theory. This deadlock causes violence among men who were supposed to be the utmost civil and level headed men in the country. -
The Compromise of 1850
Henry Clay, a senator from Kentucky, suggested that California was admitted as a free state (to please the north), New Mexico and Utah would be territories open to slavery (to please the north, no slaves could be sold in DC but those existing would remain slaves (to please the north), and the fugitive slave law would be strictly enforced (to please the south). Clay asked Daniel Webster of Massachusetts to help pass this plan through congress. In September of 1850 the compromise
was passed... -
The Compromise of 1850 (continued)
...This compromise did not please many people, both sides wanted more to be done. Northerners did not follow the slave law, only pushing southerners further to the edge of war. -
Kanas-Nebraska Act
Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois proposed a bill to build a rail road to California. What caused the issues was the fact that the bill did not state anything about slavery, and the southern representative would not pass the bill unless a few changes were made. Douglas's final bill created two new territories, Kansas and Nebraska. It scrapped the Missouri Compromise by allowing settlers to choose if they wanted slaves, or not. The northerners reacted as if they had been struck! They were... -
Kansas vs Nebraska (continued)
terrified of the thought of slavery being allowed all across the west. This led up to war because settlers now became violent. The north wanted to keep the south out of the territories, and the south wanted to keep the north out of the territories. Even senators attacked each other. Senator Charles Summers was attacked by Senator Andrew P.'s nephew who was also the Senator of South Carolina. -
The Dred Scott Case
Slave Dred Scott traveled to Wisconsin with his master, where slavery was ban, and went to court to receive his freedom. Eventually the case reached the Supreme Court and they ruled that he could not sue for his freedom because he was not a citizen. The second decision that shocked the north was that the Missouri Compromise was followed because it was unconstitutional. Southern slave holders were delighted to hear this, but people in the north were stunned and enraged. This pushed the country… -
The Dred Scott Case (continued)
...Closer to war because now the north was even more upset. The more upset they get the more agressive their attempts to end slavers will become. -
Election of 1860
The nation was already becoming increasingly divided, and the election on 1860 only highlighted that. The white northern Republicans supported Lincoln. The Democrats had a split between north and south. Northern Democrats supported Stephen Douglas, while Southern Democrats supported John C. Lincoln won with only 40% of votes, all of which came from the north. This victory further escalated the war by the south becoming desperate to save their property, since they were now a minority in the... -
Election of 1860 (continued)
...government they began to use words such as secession and the loss of liberty. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
With south Carolina and six other states boldly declaring that the Union has disolved, Lincoln inaugural speech was the last straw for some people. Lincoln simple stated that secession was both wrong and unconstitutional. On April 12, 1861 South With South Carolina and six other states boldly declaring that the Union has dissolved, Lincoln inaugural speech was the last straw for some people. Lincoln simple stated that secession was both wrong and unconstitutional. On April 12, 1861 South... -
Attack on Fort Sumter (continued)
Carolina that the south had fired on the flag of the union. This was no longer what lead to war it was the start of the war. Northerners were excited to finally be able to attack the southern "traitors."
