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The Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 was to solve the dispute over the newly acquired western territory. Everyone realized that there was way more territory on the northern side of the line drawn in 1820, so they needed to figure out a way to make it fair. This allowed California to be admitted as a free state, and the Utah and New Mexico territories to be allowed to do what they wanted, because it was open to slave trade. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act made it so that the northerners couldn't help slaves become free. It said that all slaves must be returned to their masters and they weren't allowed to be given shelter, food, or protection. The northerners were not happy about this law. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The book Uncle Tom's Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It sold like wildfire, it seemed like everyone was reading it. It was about an old slave that was super nice but got treated horribly by his masters. This book made more people turn into abolitionists, because many people realized just how horrible slavery actually was. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska Act made it so that territories could decide on slavery on the basis of popular sovereignty. This meant that the people could decide. There was no question that Nebraska was going to become a free state, but "Bleeding Kansas" happened because the two sides could not decide on whether or not Kansas should become a slave state. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott Decision was a Supreme Court case where it was decided that even though Dred Scott had liven in free states almost all his life, he was still property, not a citizen, and had no right to sue. The ruling said that the Missouri Compromise prohibiting slavery in the north was unconstitutional. -
Harper's Ferry
This was an attack on Harpers Ferry by John Brown and a group of abolitionists. John Brown was trying to stage a slave revolt, but the raid failed and Brown ended up getting captured and hanged. The south sees that the north is wiling to go pretty far to end slavery. -
Lincoln's Election
Lincoln was elected president, having been the only candidate against slavery. The election showed the division among the country, for none of the southern states voted for Lincoln. The south decided to secede. The nation was on the brink of war. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
The attack on Fort Sumter was the beginning of the Civil War. Fort Sumter was a federal fort in South Carolina, and it was attacked by the South. The Union surrendered to the South as Lincoln called in for troops. The war had begun.