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The Compromise of 1850 including the Fugitive Slave Act (1850)
California was admitted to the Union as the 16th free state. In exchange, the south was guaranteed that no federal restrictions on slavery would be placed on Utah or New Mexico. Slavery was maintained in the capital, but slave trade was limited. The Fugitive Slave Law was passed, requiring northerners to return runaway slaves to their owners under penalty of law. This fueled division between the North and South, as the North were strongly opposed to slavery anywhere at the time. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, created two new territories, and allowed for popular sovereignty. It also led to a violent uprising known as “Bleeding Kansas.” This heightened rising tensions between the North and South, fueling division and feeding thoughts of treason. -
Bleeding Kansas (1854-1856)
“Bleeding Kansas” was the name given to a violent uprising in which pro-slavery and anti-slavery activists flooded into newly created territories to sway the vote. This led to a bloody period spanning two years, in which northerners and southerners committed atrocious acts of violence towards the other group. This only served to further divide the country and heighten tensions between the North and South. -
The Beating of Charles Sumner (1856)
On May 22, 1856, towards the end of the Bleeding Kansas period, Preston Brooks, a member of the House of Representatives entered the Senate Chamber and beat Senator Charles Sumner into unconsciousness. The inspiration for this came three days earlier when Sumner directly insulted two Democratic senators during a debate, taking jabs at their personal lives as well as their political opinions. As a result, Brooks reacted out of spite, claiming he had to uphold his family’s honor and dignity. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
This Supreme Court case led to several conclusions. First, it was ruled that persons of African descent cannot be and were never intended to be citizens under the US Constitution. Second, it was ruled that the Property Clause is applicable only to lands possessed at the time of the Constitution’s ratification. As such, Congress cannot ban slavery in the territories, which led to the Missouri Compromise being declared unconstitutional. This angered Northerners, who had fought to abolish slavery. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)
Lincoln and Douglas met in seven diabetes between August and October of 1858. In all, they traveled over 4,000 miles during the Senate campaign. Each debate followed the same structure, and despite their length and often tedious format, they drew huge crowds of up to 20,000 people. Thanks to new technologies at the time, the arguments in the debates drew national attention, and would fundamentally alter the national debate over slavery and the rights of Black Americans. -
John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry (1859)
John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry was an attempt to initiate a slave revolt in Southern states by taking over the United States Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown’s party of 22 were defeated by a company of US Marines, leading to ten of the raiders being killed during the raid, seven tried and executed afterwards, and five escaped. The event was widely covered by the press nationwide, heightening tensions between the Northern Abolitionists and Southern Slavers. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860)
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln won the national electoral majority, despite his votes only being comprised of Northern states. He ran against three other main candidates, which was unusual at the time. This victory by Lincoln was seen as the final catalyst of the Civil War, the spark that finally lit the flames of treason.