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Missouri Compromise
Missouri could be admitted as a free state if Maine could become a slave state. There was high tension between slave states and free states. A boundary was formed between slave states and free states. The Missouri compromise wasn't a big problem over a period of time because only one state was holding slaves while Maine was free. -
Wilmot Proviso
A document formed to ban any slavery in new states entering the united states from the Mexican Cession. This was huge in causing the Civil War because any new states gained from Mexico would automatically be free. The people that liked the idea of slavery were strongly against this. -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 was a group of laws. California came in as a free state, New Mexico and Utah were entered in but were to be determined. The slave trade also ended in Washington D.C. This made many people upset that liked slaves because slavery was banned in the North. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Law was first thought of in 1783. It was an act saying that captured run-away slaves had to be returned to their owners. The Fugitive Slave Acts have been noted some of the most controversal laws of the 19th Century. It passed in late 1850. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A novel, also known as the title "Life Among the Lowly", was an anti-slavery novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It grew to fame after being published in 1852. People wanting to abolish slavery looked to this book for further inspiration. The book was a huge help to abolish slavery and many abolishonists distributed free copies. -
Henry Clay
Played a central role in shaping and ensuring laws and documents passed such as the Missouri Compromise in 1820, the Tariff of 1833, and the Compromise of 1850. People loved Henry Clay for the amount of documents passed in his name. Henry Clay helped to abolish slavery. -
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a group of secret paths and houses used by slaves to escape to free states and Canada with help from abolitionists. Many slaves were captured while trying to escape. A famous abolitionist from the movement was Harriet Tubman. The Underground Railroad was a huge method of abolition. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed Kansas and Nebraska to enter into the United States. It prepealed the the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and allowed white males to vote on slavery through popular sovereignty. This made the slaves upset because they felt they had no say in the states surrounding them. This led to a rise of slavery because men could now vote the new states pro-slavery. -
Preston Brooks attacking Charles Sumner
A debate is made over the expansion of slavery. Preston Brooks attacks Charles Sumner in the halls of congress in the tention of the debate. Charles Sumner spent 3 years recovering; he did not return to Senate. This led to more questioning on slavery. -
Dred Scott
Dred Scott was involved in a court case in 1857 known as Dred Scott v. Sandford. He was a freed slave who was later captured after the fugitive slave act and was sued for not wanting to willingly return to his slave master/ owner. This led to question of what to do with previously free slaves. -
John Brown
John Brown was a radical abolitionist along with his family he was born into. He had 2 marriages and a total of 20 children. He helped with the underground railroad. He was executed in 1859 for the freeing of slaves. This led to more question on whether or not slaves should be free. -
Stephen A. Douglass
Was a U.S. politician and leader of the Democratic Party who supported popular sovereignty for the issue of slavery. He felt that slavery should be voted on. He lost to Abe Lincoln in a Presidential Election. This led to more question on slavery. -
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe is best known for her influential book called "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The book was against slavery and quickly grew to sucess. The book showed why Harriet felt slavery should be abolished along with her reasoning. She helped influence people to abolish slavery due to her highly motivational book.
