-
Nat Turner's Slave Revolt
Nat Turner was a black slave in Virginia who led the only effective slave revolt in American History. His revolt set off revolts all over the South. Turner claimed to be chosen by God to lead the slaves the freedom. On August 21, 1831, Turner killed his owner, John Travis, then took 80 other slaves and murdered 51 white people. He hid for 6 weeks before being discovered and hanged. I do not think this increased tensions between the North and South, but it struck fear through the South. -
The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
The Fugitive Slave Law furthered the Fugitive Slave Act(1793). The Fugitive Slave Act allowed governments to take and return slaves back to their owners and punish those who tried to help them. The Fugitive Slave Law made the punishments worse. These laws were among the most controversial, especially in the North. Both were repealed by Congress in 1864. I believe these laws increased tensions between the North and South because the Northerners were punished for helping slaves. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" is an anti-slave novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852. It was so widely read that President Abraham Lincoln was reputed to say "So this is the little lady who made this big war" when he met her. She wrote the novel in reaction the the Fugitive Slave laws. It made a huge impact on the way the American people viewed slavery. I believe it did increase tensions between the North and the South because it caused received horrible criticism from slave-holders. -
Dred Scott Supreme Court Decision
The Dred Scott Supreme Court Decision ruled 7-2. This mean that the slave Dred Scott would not be considered a citizen of the United States, even though he lived in a free state, Illinois, and a free territory, Wisconsin. This was not because he had been a slave, but because he was black. I believe this increased tensions between the South and the North because it let slavery move West into the free states. This made Northerners mad because slavery grew while they tried to get rid of it. -
John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry
John Brown, an abolitionist, led a small group at Harper's Ferry in Virginia against a federal armory in an attempt to begin a slave revolt and destroy slavery altogether. Brown was born in Connecticut to a very anti-slavery family. Throughout his life he was a very active abolitionist and led multiple attacks. Two of his sons were killed by Robert E. Lee. The Raid at Harper's Ferry failed, yet I believe it increased tensions because he acted against slavery in the South. -
Ungerground Railroad
The Underground Railroad ran through 1863, but it began as early as 1831. A slave would use the Underground Railroad when fleeing from a slave state (mainly border states) to try and get somewhere they could be free. Abolitionists, many in the North, would harbor these slaves and help them get away from their owners. I believe this increased tensions between the North and South because the North was actively working against the Southern slave owners.
