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This war was brought on by a border dispute that developed after the United States claimed Texas in 1845, which mexico viewed as an agressive act. This war was declared after Mexican forces attacked American troops along the Rio Grande. After a sucessful war led by General Winfield Scott, Mexico City was taken by American soldiers in 1847. With Mexico losing a huge portion of territory to the United States in the Tready of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, the war came to an end. -
This was a proposal introduced by Congressman David Wilmot. The goal of it was to get rid of slavery in any land that was taken from Mexico after thw Mexican-American War. The Wilmot Proviso was primarly favored by the Northern States(McPherson 57). The southern states strongly opposed the Proviso thinking it would limit their rights to slavery. This passed the House but failed the senate. It never became a law but it heightened tensions over slavery and really divided the North and South. -
This was a womens rights convention in the United States which was held in Seneca Falls, New York. This convention aimed to address the social, civil, and religious rights of women. It was the first public meeting discussing womens rights. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the convention. They were demanding equality and wanted to address injustices faced in society. -
This was a set of laws that aimed at resolving tensions between free states and slave states following the Mexican American War. During this time California admitted as a free state and this upset the balance between the slave staes and the free states. New Mexico and Utah territories decided on slavery. This temporarly delayed the civil war but deepened divisions over slavery, especially with the controversial Fugitive Slave Act. -
This was a law that required runaway slaves to be returned to their owners, even if they had ran away to free states. This was apart of the compromise of 1850 and made it much easier for slaves that escaped to be captured by their owners, while citizens were also forced to help find and return them. It also permitted judges to be conprensated for giving decisions in support of the slave owner and denied the sccused slaves the right to a jury trial. -
This was a law that congress created two new territories which were Kentucky and Nebraska and gave the local population that freedom to choose whether or not to practice slavery which was a concept known as popular sovereignty. This act led to violent conflict in Kansas known as Bleeding Kansas, as pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces reached out for territorial control. The law made tensions rise and resulted in the Civil War. (McPherson 109) -
The Caning of Charles Sumner happened in 1856 in the U.S. Senate chamber. This happened after he gave a speech called "The Crime Against Kansas," this criticized slavery and insulted sentors who were pro-slavery. Representative Preston Brooks attacked Sumner with a cane on the floor of the Senate. He beat him so severely that he could not return. This act of violence showed the growing tension over slavery which made the North and South more polarized. -
This was a series of debates between 1858 between Abraham Lincoln (Republican) and Stephen A. Douglas (Democrat). This debate centered the issue of slavery especially the expansion into new territories. He did not advocate for the immediate abolition of slavery, Lincoln opposed its spread on the grounds that it was wrong. Douglas advocated for popular sovereignty. The debates helped Lincoln gain national exposure and prepared him for is Presidental campaign. -
John Brown was a radical abolitionist that was known for his militant actions against slavery for a few years leading up to the Civil War. Brown led an attack at Pottawatomie Creek and killed pro-slavery settlers. He is most famous for the raid on Harpers ferry in 1889. His raid failed and he was captured tried for teason and then he was hung for his actions. His actions deepened the national divide and this made him a very controversial figure (McPherson 201) -
This was a huge moment in American history which made tensions in the North and South very high. Since he was representing the republican party and they oppsed the explansion of slavery into new territories this alarmed Southern states. Lincoln had no support from the Southern states and the democratic party was split between the North and South. His victory led to the secession of the southern staes and it started with South Carolina and mainly sparked the Civil War. (McPherson 28)