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Wilmot Proviso
This bill aimed to outalw slavery in territories taken from Mexico. The bill passed in the House of Representatives but was defeated in the Senate thus causing a division in Congress. Although, not a success it led to the formation of the Free Soil Party. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a series of congression laws intended to settle the major disagreements between free states and slave states. For the North, California would be a free state. For the South, Congress would pass a stronger law to help slaveholders recapture runaway slaves. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was a bill, that was drafted by Senator Stephen A. Douglas, to organize territorial governments for the Nebraska Territory. He said that the Nebraska Territory should be divided into two- Nebraska and Kansas. -
"Bleeding Kansas"
After the Sack of Lawrence, John Brown, an extreme abolitionist, wanted to get revenge. Brown and seven other people murdered five proslavery people. This violence caused a civil war to break out. All this fighting became known as "Bleeding Kansas." -
Caning of Sumner
The Caning of Sumner happened when Charles Sumner made a speech. In that speech, he insulted A. P. Butler. One of Butler's relatives defended Butler by beating Sumner with a cane. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
In the Dred Scott v. Sandford case, Dred Scott claimed that because his owner took him to places where slavery was illegal, he is free. The Chief Justice, Roger B. Taney, said that Dred Scott was not a citizen, so he couldn't sue in U.S. courts. -
Attack on Harpers Ferry
John Brown wanted to attack Harpers Ferry, Virginia, to inspire slaves to fight for their freedom. Brown killed four people knowing that it would cause a big fight, and he would have slaves to help him fight. No slaves showed up to help John Brown. -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 became two races for presidency. One in the North, and one in the South. Lincoln won in the North, and Breckinridge won in the South. Since the North had more people than the South, Abraham Lincoln won the election.