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Wilmont Proviso
This bill aimed to outlaw slavery in territories taken from Mexico. The bill passed 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. -
Period: to
The Nation Breaking Apart
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Compromise of 1850
Series of Congressional laws intended to settle the major disagreements between free states and slave states. -
Kansas - Nebraska Act
An 1854 law that established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and gave their residents the right to decide wheather to allow slavery -
Bleeding Kansas
Proslavery and antislavery settlers rushed int the Kansas territory. Many fights erupted and a civil war occured. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Scott had been a slave in Missouri. His owner took him to live in territories where slavery was illegal. They then returned to Missouri. After his owners death, Scott sued for his freedom. He argued that he was a free man because he had lived in territories where slavery was illegal.The court ruled against Scott. They said he was not a U.S. citizen therefore he could not sue. He was said to be under Missouri slave code. -
Canning of Sumner
While violence was spreading in Kansas in spring. Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts delivered a speech attacking the proslavery forces in Kansas and made fun of A.P. Butler senator of South Carolina. During the meeting A.P. Butler was absent but one of his relatives were present and later on he attacked Charles Sumner with his walking stick and thrashed Sumner in the head 30 times causing his stick to break. -
Attack on Harpers Ferry
John Brown a supporter of antislavery decided to go and take over an U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He did successfully take over the arsenal but after informing all the Northerners nobody came to help revolt. After the revolt Brown was tried and hanged. -
Election of 1860
The election of 1860 was between Lincoln supported by north, and Beckinridge supported by south. Lincoln wins the election but ells everyone that he dosent want to abolish slavery. Even though he had said this southerners did not trust him.