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Louisiana Purchase of 1803
In 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana territory from France for over 15 million dollars. This doubled the size of the United States territory, and added the land of modern-day Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and many more states. It increased tension between the Northern and Southern states by bringing up the argument of which states should be free of slavery. -
Missouri Compromise of 1820
The Missouri Compromise was a compromise made to make Maine a free state, and Missouri a slave state. In addition to this, slavery was to be excluded from all new states in the Louisiana Purchase, north of the southern boundary of Missouri. This took place in 1820. This increased tensions by keeping the country divided among those who did and didn't support slavery. -
Nat Turner Rebellion
This was a rebellion led by slave Nat Turner, in August of 1831. At least 55 people were killed, with 51 of them being White. This was the deadliest slave rebellion. This event increased tension between the Northern and Southern states by emphasizing the issue of slavery, and increasing sectionalism. Those against slavery and those for slavery were starting to conflict more. -
Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American war was a war that lasted from 1846-1848, between Mexico and America. It was fought over Texas, which had become an independent country. Ultimately, Texas became a US state. This increased tension between the Northern and Southern states when Texas became a slave state. Notherners didn't like that. -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 was series of compromises introduced by Henry Clay. They were meant to help avoid conflict between the northern and southern states. The Fugitive Slave Act was made, and the slave trade in D.C. was destroyed. This increased tension between the North and South states by creating even more regulations on slavery that many didn't agree with. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was an act created as part of Henry Clay's Compromise of 1850. This act required citizens, by law, to return runaway slaves to their masters/plantations. Many northerners did not like this act, meanwhile the southerners, who thrived off of slavery, loved it. This created more tension between the two sections of the country. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was published in 1852, and many consider it a cause of the Civil War. The story was about a slave named Uncle Tom, as well as many other characters. The book became one of the top 3 best selling novels of the 19th century. It increased tension between the northern and southern sections of the US in the 19th century by pushing people to fight against slavery after being touched by the story. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was an act made in 1854. It mandated, "Popular Sovereignty." This meant the states could choose if slavery would be allowed there. This created tension between the northern and southern states by making them, "fight," to make sure the states ended up in their favor. -
Bleeding Kansas
"Bleeding Kansas," was a series of violent confrontations from 1854-1861. It was caused by the debate over slavery becoming legal in Kansas. Those for slavery, and those against it, fought viciously. This increased tension between the northern and southern states by pitting them against each other. -
Brooks Attacks Sumner
In 1856, Preston Brooks beat Charles Sumner with his wooden cane. The attack only ended when the cane shattered. Sumner took 2 years to recover, having taken multiple blows to the head. This event promoted the tensions between the north and south, regarding their different feelings regarding slavery. -
Lincon-Douglas Debates
These debates, held in 1858, were a series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. There were about 7 in total. They largely spoke on the topic of a slavery, which was a very relevant issue in the 1900's. Lincoln was against slavery, and Douglas was for it. This led to tension between the northern and southern states by flaring up the anger surrounding different stances on slavery. -
Raid on Harpers Ferry
In 1858, John Brown led a raid with a small group on a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He was an abolitionist. This was done to start an armed slave revolt. It had the purpose of destroying slavery in the United States through violence. This led to tension between the sections of the country by enforcing violence between the two stances on slavery. -
Election of 1860
This election, held in 1860, was between John Bell, Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, and John C. Breckinridge. Ultimately, Abraham Lincoln won, and became president. This election was held just before the civil war, and the political stances had to heavily focus on stances on slavery. Lincoln was against it. This election led to tension between the sections of the states by causing several states to secede, which led to the Civil War.
