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Western Expansion/ Manifest Destiny
As a result of the Louisiana Purchase many settlers saw their chance to make good profit and land out of the territory. This also sparked the Manifest Destiny idea that Americans had a god given right to expand west and own the land. However it caused tensions to begin due to new states being created and the issue of whether they should be pro slave or free. -
Missouri Compromise
As a result of the new state created and the debate on them being pro slave or free, congress decided to pass the Missouri Compromise which admitted Missouri as a slave state but Maine as free. This served as a balance of power in the debate, but would not hold later on. -
Nat Turner Rebellion
Nat Turner, a slave decided to rebel against his owner family and recruited slaves to join his cause. Together they raided Southampton Virginia and killed 55-65 slave owners and their families. The rebellion was quickly suppressed and Turner was tried and hanged. Led to stricter slave laws and labor, made people start to go against the idea of slavery. -
Mexican-American War
As America pushed on west they encountered issues with the Mexicans as the settlers of Texas wished for independence from Mexico. War broke out and after the Alamo, the US defeated the Mexicans and had a peace treaty to gain more land. This rose tensions in the debate of slavery as there was new states like California and New Mexico in the Union now. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a result of the new land gained after the Mexican- American War. This was made to avoid a crisis between the northerners and the southerners over slavery. Amended the Fugitive slave act but banned slave trade. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was a part of the Compromise of 1850 and appealed to southerners interest. Allowed groups of bounty hunters to track and find run away slaves to be sent back to the plantation -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was one of the best selling novels of the 19th century by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Had a great affect in making people help slaves and African Americans. Made people support being anti-slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was mean to repeal the Missouri Compromise which set boundary or slave states. This act allowed the people there to decide themselves if they wanted to be a pro slave or anti slave. Created the state of Kansas and Nebraska -
Brooks attacks Sumner
The Brooks-Sumner affair occurred when Pro Slavery congressman Preston Brooks became infuriated after Senator Charles Sumner (an abolitionist) gave a speech denouncing the Kansas-Nebraska Act and against slavery. Brooks then beat Sumner with a walking cane which caused northerners to be outraged. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
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Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown, an abolitionist tried to initiate a slave rebellion in Virginia. He and his followers raided several buildings and the militia was called up in command of Robert E Lee. Brown and his men failed and he was hanged. Became a martyr for abolitionists and angered southerners. -
Election of 1860
The nineteenth presidential election was one of the most important elections in US History, Abraham Lincoln (Republican) and Stephen Douglas (Democratic) both debated heavily for state rights and slavery but Lincoln won and states in the south seceded.
