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Missouri Compromise
Pertained to the lands of the Lousiana Purchase and allowed Missouri to be permitted into the US as a slave state if Maine was a free state. It also made it so that slavery was disallowed above the latitude 36°30 line, but permitted beneath it. It started the line of compromises over slavery that would prolong the development of sectionalism, was overturned by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, and attempted to maintain the balance of power between the sections. -
Wilmot Proviso
An unsuccessful proviso that banned slavery in the territories obtained from Mexico during the Mexican-American War. It was proposed by David Wilmot. Divisions surrounding the proviso fell along sectional lines and fueled the money power conspiracy of the South and the slave power conspiracy of the North. This contributed to the eventual beginning of the Civil War. -
The Compromise of 1850
Admitted California as a free state but opened all other lands of the Mexican Cession to slavery. New Mexico and Utah were admitted with popular sovereignty. Abolished the slave trade in DC and enacted a harsher Fugitive Slave Act. Laid the foundation for cases that would challenge the Personal Liberty Laws of the North, exacerbating sectionalism by making the South's concern over state's rights seem hypocritical. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and exposed Northerners to the horrors of slavery, stressing its opposition to moral and Christian values. This made abolitionism more popular in the North. Worsened sectional divides by making slavery more pressing and divisive in the North. It challenged attitudes towards African-Americans and became a bestseller in the 19th century. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Created the states Kansas and Nebraska, granting both of them popular sovereignty. Support was divided along sectional lines in the Whig Party. Repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and led to Bleeding Kansas, making compromise seem unstable and unsatisfactory to both sides, as it only led to more violence. It also led to the decline of the Whigs and therefore the emergence of the Republicans. -
Formation of the Republican Party
Formed to oppose the expansion of slavery following the Kansas-Nebraska Act. It was primarily supported by Northerners, Free Soil Democrats, and former Whigs. Provided a political party explicitly opposed to the expansion of slavery that--with Fremont's significant amount of votes in 1856 and Lincoln's 1860 victory--represented the increasing importance of slavery in America. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Because the Kansas-Nebraska Act introduced popular sovereignty, people rushed into Kansas from both sections to influence the vote. Sustained violence quickly erupted, and the anti and pro-slavery sides established two distinct governments. Provides an example of sectional differences over slavery resulting in two distinct governmental bodies, paralleling the development of the Union and CSA during the Civil War. Also marks a shift from compromise to violence in attempts to address slavery. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Concluded that African Americans could not be American citizens, Dred Scott had no right to bring his case to court, slaveowners could take their slaves anywhere governed by US federal law, and that Congress could restrict rights given to people by the Constitution. Challenged the Missouri Compromise, popular sovereignty, and the validity of Northern PLL. Fueled the slave power conspiracy in the North. -
Emergence of the Wide-Awakes
A paramilitary youth organization that emerged during the 1860 elections to promote Lincoln and civic engagement. They contributed significantly to Lincoln's popularity among young men. They worsened sectionalism by evoking Southern fears that Republicans were going to abolish slavery by force. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln
Despite getting no votes from the South, Lincoln won in 1860, confirming Southern fears of an imbalance of power between the sections. He wanted to prevent the expansion of slavery, which would alter the balance of power between the states and--many southerners feared--lead to the abolition of slavery. Because the Republicans were associated with Harper's Ferry and violent resistance to slavery in general, he worsened sectionalism and made secession seem viable.