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The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was thought to be a permanent solution for the issue of slavery. This compromise divided up the land from the Louisiana Purchase. Above the 36 degrees 30 minutes line would be free territory except form Missouri and below it would slave territory. This compromise greatly divided north and south in a clear line. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
In 1846, the U.S. went to war with Mexico in order to gain Texas, California, and New Mexico. Northerners thought that the war was just to gain land for more southern states/slave states. In 1848, the war was ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This gave Texas, California, and New Mexico territory to America. These new territories were all below the 36 degrees 30 minutes line making them open to slavery. -
Wilmot's Proviso
David Wilmot, a Pennsylvania Congressman, proposed a law that prohibited slavery in the territory acquired from Mexico. This law was passed in the House, but quickly blocked by the southern senators. The southerners feared a complete abolition of slavery which would ruin the southern way of life. They must keep equal number of slave states and free states so that the north could not gain control of the Senate. This increased the split between the north and south. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act allowed slave owners to run after their run- away slaves into the North. This angered north abolitionists because free slaves could now be captured and tried for being a runaway. The African Americans were denied the right to a jury and the person who decided got five dollars if he said he wasn’t a runaway and ten dollars if he did. Many northerners rose to help slaves with the Underground Railroad. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed slavery in the territories above the 36 degrees 30 minutes line formed by the Missouri Compromise. This brought forth the idea of popular sovereignty. This means that the people living in those territories decide whether or not they want to have slavery be legal in those areas. There was lots of controversy in those areas because the people were from both the north and south. There was, also, a split in the Whig and Democratic Parties. -
"Bleeding Kansas"
Kansas was the first test of popular sovereignty. It was a catastrophe. Missourians went to the territories to advocate for slavery while northerners brought rifles to stop them. Both sides wanted to discourage the other side from voting. White people were being killed over slavery. This angered both sides and no compromise could be reached. The state ended up being split half pro-slavery and the other anti-slavery. -
Formation of the Republican Party
The angered north formed the Republican Party in Ripon, Wisconsin. Its main view was to keep slavery where it was and not have it spread or Free Soilers. The south viewed this as a threat and viewed them as enemies. -
Breakdown fo the Two-Party System
The Democrat party switched to represent the southern views because the Republican Party had taken over the north. These parties had such different view points which made it more difficult for them to get along. -
Fight In Congress
A Congressman of South Carolina, Preston Brooks, beat Charles Sumner, a senator from Massachusetts, with a cane. Sumner had just delivered a speech about slavery which included an insult about Brooks’ uncle. The north was horrified while the south praised Brooks and even sent him new canes. These people were supposed to be the most civilized people, and now they are going crazy about slavery. This further split the north and south. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin became a best seller in 1858. The north became even more disgusted with the south because of the description of slavery and how awful it really was. The south was angered because they thought of it as an unfair description of slavery. This brought about more controversy about slavery. -
Abraham Lincoln and Stephan Douglas Debates
Abraham Lincoln and Stephan Douglas had some of the most controversy debates. Lincoln said that the country could not go on split and would have to come together. The south took this as a threat for slavery to be abolished. He brought out the moral issue of slavery, but really was a Free Soiler-keep slavery where it is and don’t expand it. Douglas, on the other hand, argued for popular sovereignty, where the people decide if they wanted slavery in that state or territory. -
Dred Scott Ruling
The Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott, an African American, could not sue to become free. He was already free, but his owner died. His owner's brother wanted him to sue to bring up the issue of slavery. Also, it said that Congress could not restrict slavery in the territories. This declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.The north was afraid that the south would use this to make slavery legal everywhere. -
John Brown's slave revolt
John Brown tried to start a slave revolt in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, which was one of the South’s greatest fears. He was unsuccessful, but was seen as a hero in the north. The south was angered, and their thoughts were confirmed that the north was supplying some slaves with weapons. -
1860 Presidential Election
The 1860 election was extremely important to the future of slavery. The greater population in the north allowed Abraham Lincoln to win. This gave the south no hope to maintain slavery. This gave many southerners the idea that they should leave the Union or see the destruction of slavery. -
The Crittenden Compromise
The Crittenden Compromise was the last attempt to keep the country together. This went back to the Missouri Compromise. Only states below the 36 degrees 30 minutes line could have slavery. The south was happy because they could keep it and expand it to create many states. But, the north would not take this because they did not want slavery to spread. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
By this time, seven southern states left the Union. Lincoln was president of only half of the country. Most forts in the south had been turned peacefully over to the states. Fort Sumter was one of the ones that had not yet been turned over. The federal government warned South Carolina that they were going to resupply it. They would not attack unless South Carolina attacked on them. South Carolina faced a decision whether to attack or look like cowards and let them resupply the fort. They... -
Attack on Fort Sumter Cont.
...attacked which was the final straw before the Civil War. Four more southern states seceded from the Union. Lincoln was going to fight to keep the south in the Union.
