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Northwest Ordinance (increased tension)
This Ordinance abolished the ten districts established in the Ordinance of 1784 and created a single Northwest Territory north of Ohio, which could be divided into 3-5 territories. It had a minimum population of 60,000 for statehood, guaranteed freedom of religion and trial by jury, and, most importantly, prohibited slavery. This was a political issue because it dealt with the rights of people in a specific territory. -
Missouri Compromise (postponed tensions)
The Missouri Compromise solved the issue of balance between free and slave states. When Missouri was considered as a state, it would create one more free over slave state or vice versa. In order to solve this, Congress would admit Maine as an independent free state and Missouri as a slave state. In the rest of the Louisiana Territory, slave vs free state would be determined by the 36/30' line (free to the north, slave to the south). This was a political issue, as dealt with free vs slave states. -
Nat Turner Rebellion (Increased tensions)
This rebellion took place in Southampton County, Virginia and was lead by Nat Turner, a slave preacher who saw it his duty to free black people from slavery. It began August 21, 1831, and it remained prominent for about six weeks. It involved an uprising of slaves who killed 51 white people. Later on, many slaves were tried and executed for this rebellion, while others received no trial at all. This event was social in its nature. -
Gag Rule (increased tensions)
Between 1836 and 1840, Congress passed a series of rules that postponed the consideration, printing, and referral of anti-slavery petitions. Many petitions, which contained the signatures of over 2,000,000 people, were sent to congress. The Gag Rule allowed Congress to ignore and limit these petitions. They were repealed in 1844. This issue was political and social because it dealt with Congress and petitions, as well as the rights of slaves. -
Annexation of Texas (Increased tensions)
Texas first applied for annexation by the U.S. as early as 1836. It was denied by both Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. European nations began to support Texas in hopes of an opposing country to the U.S.. In response, President Tyler asked Texas to apply for statehood again in 1844. When Sec. of State Calhoun presented the treaty, many northerners saw it only as an attempt to expand slavery and rebelled. This was a political issue because it had to do with slave rights in states. -
Amistad Case (increased tensions)
In February of 1839, a large group of Africans were captured by slave hunters and shipped to Cuba for slave trade, violating every existing treaty to abolish slave trade. 53 of these slaves were purchased. On July 1, the Africans seized the ship they were on, killed the captain and cook, and attempted to return to Africa. They were charged with murder and imprisoned. The court determined that the Africans were free in 1841 and they were sent back to Africa. This was a social issue. -
Mexican War (Increased tensions)
President Polk sent a minister to attempt to buy off territories in dispute between Mexico and the U.S. for the ideals of Manifest Destiny. Polk then ordered the U.S. army from Texas to Mexico, but Mexico refused to fight. After months, the Mexican armies attacked those of the U.S.. Polk blamed Mexico for the war. This was a political and economic issue because of disagreements between parties and the desire for profit from the new land. This war occurred from April 1846-February 1848. -
Wilmot Proviso (increased tensions)
An amendment proposed by David Wilmot of Pennsylvania. It prohibited slavery in any territory acquired by Mexico. This passed in the House but failed in the Senate and would be debated on for years. It angered southern militants who saw it as their right to move their "property" (slaves) wherever they wanted. This was political, because it dealt with the introduction of a new amendment. -
California Gold Rush (increased tensions)
Gold was found in the Sierra Nevada mountains and word spread quickly. In 1849, many men abandoned their homes in search for gold in California and many Chinese immigrants were attracted as well, as there was a shortage of jobs from the rush. Agricultural and urban populations swelled in the territory. Indians were also being captured and treated as slaves. Lasted until 1855. Pressure was put on the US to resolve the status of California and its slavery.This was a political and economic issue. -
Compromise of 1850 (increased tensions)
The Compromise of 1850 was proposed by Henry Clay. It proposed admission of California as a free state, formation of territorial governments in the rest of the lands acquired from Mexico without restrictions on slavery, the abolition of the slave trade in D.C., and a new and more effective fugitive slave law. After much debate, a compromise was reached in which the congressmen would vote on the elements one by one and was repeatedly debated on. This event was both political and social. -
Fugitive Slave Act (increased tensions)
This act was passed in response to a southern push for more legislation about runaway slaves. Fugitives could not testify on their own behalf and could not have a trial by jury. Major penalties were imposed on those who did not comply to this act. As a result of this act, abolitionists increased and the Underground Railroad became more efficient. This was a political issue because it was an act passed by congress. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin (increased tension)
This is a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It is about an aging slave who if submissive to his white masters. It reflects the reality of slavery through the violation of domestic values and family security. It became well known, with over 300,000 copies sold in the first month. This brought about more abolitionist ideals of slavery. It was a social issue because it dealt with personal values and political statements. -
Ostend Manifesto (increased tensions)
Franklin Pierce had been making attempts to buy Cuba from Spain. A group of his envoys from Ostend, Belgium, sent him a private document that made a case for seizing Cuba by force, the Ostend Manifesto. When this was leaked to the public, it enraged antislavery northerners who saw this as a conspiracy to bring a new slave state into the Union. This was political because it dealt with a new territory and antislavery laws. -
Bleeding Kansas (increased tensions)
Bleeding Kansas was the time of violence in response to the Kansas-Nebraska act. The act declared that Kansas and Nebraska could decide independently on the position of slavery. Both pro- and anti-slavery populations attempted to influence this decision by flooding the area and violence erupted. This was a social issue because it was between pro- and anti-slavery positions. It is also political because it was determining the state of slavery in new territories. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act (increased tensions)
Stephen A. Douglas wanted to run a transcontinental railroad for Chicago.This was compromised when he realized the route west of the Mississippi ran through substantial Indian populations. He proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act to organize a new large territory called Nebraska. It later split in two to be Kansas and Nebraska. Slavery in these territories would be determined by territorial legislation. This act disregarded the Missouri Compromise. It was a political issue. -
Dred Scott Decision (increased tensions)
Dred Scott was a slave who was taken into non-slave territory and sued his master's widow for freedom because of this. The brother of the widow claimed ownership for Scott and appealed to the court. The supreme court ultimately decided that Scott could not sue because he was not a citizen, but rather a piece of property. This event was political and social, as it dealt with the rights of slaves in terms of interpretation of the constitution. -
John Brown and Raid on Harper's Ferry (increased tensions)
On October 16, John Brown and his followers attacks and seized control of a U.S. arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia in attempt of a slave revolt. He was besieged by U.S. troops. He was tried in a Virginia court for treason against the state (even though he raided a federal arsenal) and sentenced to death, along with six of his followers. This event convinced white southerners that they could not safely live in the union. This was a social issue because it was an uprising for antislavery. -
Crittenden Compromise (increased tensions)
This compromise was first submitted by John J. Crittenden. It called for many constitutional amendments which would guarantee the permanent existence of slavery in slave states. It was also a plan to reestablish the Missouri Compromise line. Southerners were willing to accept the plan but Republicans were not because they didn't want slavery to expand. This was a political issue because it was related to constitutional amendments and the state of the states.
