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Missouri Compromise
When the territory of Missouri applied for admission into the Union there was a complete uproar between the North and South over whether slavery should have been allowed in Missouri. Luckily, this two part compromise--created by Henry Clay-- helped smooth things over. This document made it so Missouri could enter as slave state, if and only if any territory north of the 36' 30' latitude line was labeled as free. Maine was also added as a free state, keeping the political powers even. -
The Underground Railroad
The date of the start of the Underground Railroad is not really exact. This date is when the Underground Railroad got its name. The Underground Railroad was a network of people who helped escaping slaves to freedom (usually the North or Canada. Famous people like Harriet Tubman were involved in the secret workings of the Underground Railroad. -
Nat Turners Rebellion
Nat Turner, perceived to be a very intelligent and religious man, led a group of 60-70 slaves in a rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia. Turner and his followers went around killing plantation owners and their families, including the Travis family--the owners of Turner. The militia was called out to take care of the rebellion. Turner and a number of his followers were executed. The aftermath resulted in at least 200 deaths of slaves by their paranoid owners. -
Dred Scott Case
Scott was a slave that tried to sue for his and his family's freedom. Losing the first time at the Circuit Court of Missouri but winning the second time at State Supreme Court, the case is now in the hands of the Supreme Court. Scott loses this case because, according to them, blacks did not have rights simply because they were considered property and not people. They also decided that Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. This decision just added to the tension between the North and South. -
Thomas Garrett's Case
Thomas Garrett was taken to court with a fellow abolitionist, John Hunn, for helping a slave family escape sometime in 1848. Despite the large sum of money he was sued for, Garrett promised to keep helping runaway slaves if they needed him. Garrett was a famous station master in the Underground Railroad. -
Compromise of 1850
The South was in danger of being outnumbered in the Senate again when California wishes to be in the Union. A five-part compromise is created--again by Henry Clay. By this compromise California is admitted as a free state, the territories won by the Mexican War would use popular sovereignty to decide their status, the slave trade in Washington D.C. is abolished, the border of Texas is settled, and the Fugitive Slave Act is passed. This act made it impossible for free blacks to defend themselves. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
This was devised by Stephen Douglas and it allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether they are to be slave states or free states (popular sovereignty) The North is very upset because they thought the Missouri Compromise would be a long lasting agreement. After the act is passed, the anti-slavery groups and the pro-slavery groups are scrambling to settle in Kansas. Because of conflicting views, Kansas now has two opposing legislatures. Tensions eventually escalate -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
to violence. -
"Bleeding Kansas"
This period of time was when violence erupted between the pro and anti slavery groups in Kansas. There was small violence here and there. Involving in people being kidnapped, tarred and feathered, or sometimes even killed. The real boiling point was when a group of pro-slavery men entered Lawrence and burned the Free State Hotel, destroyed two printing presses, and robbed homes and stores. John Brown—an abolitionist known for his extremist ways—led a group of his men and hacked five pro-slavery -
"Bleeding Kansas"
men to death. Brown continued to lead fights throughout the territory and violence erupted in Congress itself. Congressman Preston Brooks attacked and abolitionist senator for delivering a speech scolding the South. -
Election of 1860
was a victory for Lincoln. The South was upset and this eventually led to South Carolina's sucession from the Union. -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 consisted of Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, John Breckinridge, and John Bell as its candidates. Lincoln ran for the Republican Party and had moderate views on slavery. Stephen Douglas ran for the Democratic Party and was big on popular sovereignty. John Breckinridge was also for the Democratic Party and was solely committed to expanding slavery. John Bell ran for the Constitutional Party and his views on slavery were less extreme than others. The result of the election -
Attack on Fort Summter
After the succession of South Carolina, Lincoln sent supplies to Fort Sumter. The fort was located in a harbor along the coast of Carolina. One this morning, Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter. This officially started the Civil War.
