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Period: to
Road to Civil War
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Missouri Compromise
The compromise was developed by Henry Clay of Kentucky to preserve the balance between free and slave states. On March 3, Congress passed the Missouri Compromise.
2 facts:
-Missouri was admitted as a slave state and Maine as a free state
-Except for Missouri, this law prohibited slavery in the Louisiana Territory north of the 36 degrees and 36' latitude line.
This event increase tensions between the North and South since the government did have the authority to prohibit slavery in the states. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion was organized by Nat Turner himself, a used to be African American slave. The rebellion took place in Southhampton, Virginia, on August 21, 1831.
2 facts:
-On November 5, 1831, Turner was convicted for death and on November 11 was hanged
-This created a widespread fear and so the General Assembly put out Anti-literacy laws for blacks
I'm unsure how it increases tensions between the North and South, but as the South started blaming abolitionists for the cause of this . -
Free Soil Party
Was founded on August 9, 1848, in Buffalo, New York. The party sees slavery threat to republicanism and the Jeffersonian ideal of a freeholder society.
2 facts:
-The Free Soil party was active in the Election of 1848 and 1852, presidential elections
-Hundreds of men and women in the Great Lakes states joined free soil organizations
This increase tension as even at first the party undermining slavery but as they still advocate to prevent slavery in the new territories for the North in a way -
Compromise of 1850
Was a plan devised by Henry Clay to resolve the dispute over the territories acquired during the Mexican-American War. Was introduced on January 29,1850. Included five resolutions and was in Congress.
2 facts:
-The slave trade, but not the institution of slavery was banned in D.C
-The Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened, which requires law enforcement in free states to support the capture and return of fugitive slaves
This increase tensions as the laws were favoring the South to maintain slavery -
Fugitive Slave Act
Was a part of the Compromise of 1850, that required also officials and citizens of free states to cooperate on the capture of slaves. Was passed in Congress on September 18, 1850. Was a revival of the weakened Fugitive Slave Act of 1793.
2 facts:
-Officials who didn't arrest an alleged escaped slave were fined of $1,000
-The suspected slave couldn't ask for a jury trial or testify on his or her own behalf
This increases tensions as it heightend the North's fear of a "slave power" conspiracy -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The book was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Was published in 1852 by John P. Jewett and Company. The book conveyed the moral principles of abolitionism by depicting heart-rending personal situations such as the barbarity of whippings.
2 facts:
-Stowe's book quickly sold 310,000 copies in the United States
-The inspiration to form the book was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
It doesn't seem to increase tensions but as strengthened the abolitionist cause in the North, to bring notice of slavery -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The act was passed by the U.S Congress on May 30, 1854. Which allowed the people of Nebraska and Kansas to decide themselves whether allowed slavery or not.
2 facts:
-The Act served to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery north of latitude 36 degrees 36'
-Was prior to the formation of Nebraska and Kansas and Douglas idea of popular sovereignty
This increases tensions as many supporters in the South or North rushed to vote to make the states free or slave states, -
Bleeding Kansas
Was a series of violent civil confrontations in the United States on 1854-1861. This took place in the Kansas territory, in 1856, proslavery supporters and abolitionists and anti-slavery supporters turned to violence for the territory.
2 facts:
-Influenced by the Kansas-Nebraska of 1854 which called for popular sovereignty
-A proslavery force, 700 strong, looted and burned the antislavery town of Lawrence
Tension increase: As proslavery and abolition advocates fought for control of the territory -
Brooks attacks Sumner
In Washington on May 1856, Charles Sumner speech called "The Crime Against Kansas" that accused Andrew P. Butler of having taken "the harlot slavery" as his mistress. To avenge his kinsman Preston Brooks beat Sumner unconscious with a walking cane.
2 facts:
-Brooks received replacement canes and notes of congratulation from the South
-Brooks was reelected back to his house seat by a large margin by South Carolina
The attack shocked northerners of the actions of proslavery political leaders. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Was argued in 1856, about African Americans status. Involved Dred Scott who was an enslaved African American.
2 facts;
-Was decided in 1857 that Americans of African descent could not be citizens of the U.S and had no rights of the white man.
-Taney declared Congress didn't have the authority to give territorial governments the power to prohibit slavery
This increase tensions as it supports the South cause for continued slavery, dealt a blow to the Missouri Compromise and angered abolitionists. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Also known as the "Great Debates of 1858", was series of seven debates between Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln and the Democratic candidate, Stephen Douglas for the Senate seat of Illinois.
2 facts:
-The Senate race in Illinois attracted national interest because of Douglas's prominence and Lincoln's reputation as a formidable speaker
-Democrats won a narrow majority in the state legislature and reelected Douglas
Tension increases as it made slavery a major political issue in the U.S. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown led eighteen heavily armed black and white men in a raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Brown hoped to arm slaves with weapons to cause a major rebellion.
2 facts:
-Brown was tried in a courthouse in nearby Charles Town, guilty for treason and convicted for death and was hanged on December 2
-Brown's party of 22 was defeated by a company of U.S Marines
Tension increased as southerners learned of a group of abolitionist that possibly funded Brown which they denied -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860, was the American presidential election held on Nov. 6, 1860, between Republican Abraham Lincoln, Democrat Stephen Douglas, Democrat John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky and Constitutional Union John Bell.
2 facts:
-Abraham Lincoln won the election with a total of 180 electoral votes which is a majority
-Lincoln received less than 1% of the popular vote in the Deep South and only 40% of the national vote
This increase tensions as the South were deciding to do secession.
