-
The Wilmot Proviso
Proposed by Congressman David Wilmot, this amendment sought to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American War. Although it was never passed, it ignited fierce debates over the expansion of slavery and heightened sectional tensions. “Congressmen from northern states tried to enact a proviso banning slavery from the territories acquired by a war in which two-thirds of the volunteer soldiers had come from slave states.”(McPherson, 4) -
Period: to
Road to Civil war
-
The Compromise of 1850
This series of laws attempted to address the status of slavery in territories acquired during the Mexican-American War. It included the controversial Fugitive Slave Act, which required citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves. This act intensified Northern opposition to slavery and heightened tensions between the two regions. -
The Formation of the Know-Nothing Party
This nativist political movement emerged in response to increasing immigration, particularly from Ireland and Germany. While primarily focused on anti-immigrant sentiment, the party also had some members who opposed the spread of slavery. Its emergence reflected the growing complexity of American politics as issues of race, ethnicity, and slavery intertwined. The more groups like these formed wanting to abolish slavory the more people were joining the cause. -
"Uncle Toms Cabin"
"Uncle Tom's Cabin," written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1852, is a novel that shows the harsh realities of slavery in America. The story centers around the character of Uncle Tom, a deeply religious enslaved man, who is sold by his owner, Mr. Shelby, to pay off debts. Throughout the novel, Uncle Tom encounters various characters, including the sweet Eva St. Clare and the cruel Simon Legree, a plantation owner who embodies the brutality of slavery. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, passed in 1854, was a significant piece of legislation that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed the settlers in those territories to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery through the principle of popular sovereignty. Introduced by Senator Stephen A. Douglas, the act aimed to facilitate the construction of a transcontinental railroad and promote westward expansion. -
The Formation of the Republican Party
In response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the growing conflict over slavery, the Republican Party was formed as an anti-slavery political party. They advocated for the rights of free men and sought to promote economic opportunities for all. The formation of this party stired even more tensions becuase now there was a whole party devoted to abolishing slavery. -
The Canning of Charles Summer
The caning of Charles Sumner occurred on May 22, 1856, and was a violent incident in the U.S. Senate that highlighted the worsening sectional tensions surrounding the issue of slavery. Sumner, a prominent anti-slavery Republican senator from Massachusetts, delivered a passionate speech titled "The Crime Against Kansas," in which he criticized pro-slavery advocates and specifically attacked Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision, issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857, was a landmark case regarding slavery and citizenship. Dred Scott was an enslaved African American man who had been taken by his owner, John Emerson, to free territories in Illinois and Wisconsin. After returning to the slave state of Missouri, Scott sued for his freedom, arguing that his time in free territories made him free. This was a significant factor leading up to the Civil War. -
The Lecompton Constitution
This proposed constitution for Kansas wanted to establish Kansas as a slave state, despite a significant anti-slavery population in the territory. The controversy over the Lecompton Constitution became a major political issue, leading to heated debates in Congress. Ultimately, it was rejected, but the conflict highlighted the failure of popular sovereignty and underscored the increasingly polarized nature of American politics regarding slavery. -
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
These debates between Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen A. Douglas addressed the issue of slavery's expansion into the territories. Lincoln's arguments against the spread of slavery gained national attention and helped solidify his political profile leading up to the 1860 election. His argument opened more people's eyes to why slavery needs to end.