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The Missouri Compromise admitted Missouri into the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It also hindered slavery north of latitude 36˚ 30' in the Louisiana Territory. This addressed slavery by separating the states that slavery is supported by law and was not. -
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was a component of the Compromise of 1850. Even if they were in a free state, the act mandated that all slaves be returned to their owners. The police were given the right to arrest any person that was accused of being a slave. This increased sectional division and created Northerners' opposition because it hindered the idea of the North being a free state due to slaves having to be returned. -
A popular novel written by Harriet Beecher, an American author, and abolitionist. It depicted the cruel treatment of slaves due to slavery which stuck horror and disgust in the North. Abolition support was heavily increased in the North. This increased sectional division because the formerly ignorant North now know the horrors of slavery and pushed for abolition -
The act was proposed by Senator Douglas and encouraged the idea of popular sovereignty in the Kansas and Nebraska territories regarding slavery. The act was passed and Pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups moved to Kansas to promote their beliefs on slavery. This influenced sectional divisions because of the violent matters that occurred in Kansas between the two groups. -
Bleeding Kansas was various fights that occurred in Kansas between pro/anti-slavery groups. These groups moved to Kansas to promote their ideas of slavery to determine if Kansas would be a free state or slave state due to popular sovereignty ruling those states. This promoted sectional division because it demonstrated the courage and violent lengths each group was willing to go to in regard to allowing slavery.
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In the U.S. Senate Chamber, the pro-slavery Democrat Preston Brooks attacked an abolitionist Republican Senator Charles Sumner with a cane. Sumner nearly died from the attack. Sectional division was increased because the caning showcased the discourse slavery brought to an important group that is supposed to be a proper representation of the US people. -
Dred Scott was a slave who traveled with his master to missions in Illinois and Wisconsin before returning with him to Missouri, a slave state. Scott and his wife filed a claim for freedom that being in a free region had released them from the restraints of slavery. When Scott's case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court, it was decided that both he and African Americans generally weren't entitled to U.S. citizenship. This increased sectionalism because Northerners desired freedom/rights for slaves. -
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates were several debates between Democrat Stephen Douglas and Republican Abraham Lincoln. Even though Lincoln lost the election, he gained popularity from his ideas. The debates helped Republicans win the presidential election of 1860 because Lincoln's political career was rejuvenated and gave him recognition in the Republican Party. -
Republican candidate Lincoln won against the Democratic Party because the party was split between two candidates: Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge and Democrat Stephen A. Douglas. This caused the South to feel as if they had no voice in politics. Therefore, the Southern states decided to secede influencing tension between the Union, and succeeded states. The tension built up to ignite the Civil War. -
South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded from the Union on February 1, 1861. They desired to preserve the institution of slavery and believed Lincoln's presidency would hinder them. This influenced the Civil War because it was the first step of creating separation and tension between the Union and seceded states which lead to the formation of the CSA.