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Missouri Compromise
A law passed that admitted two states, Missouri and Maine, Maine being a free state and Missouri being a slave state. The US admitted two states to keep the balance of free and slave states. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 led to slavery only being allowed beneath the 36° 30' latitude line. -
Texas gains its independence
Texas was known as the Republic of Texas. They declared their independence from the Spanish colonizers in 1836 -
Texas is annexed by Texas
The president at the time, President James K. Polk, signed a bill that annexed and admitted Texas into the Union. Texas was the 28th state to be admitted. The US tried in the past to annex Texas, but Congress repeatedly denied it because they feared tensions would rise in the west over slavery and cause a war. -
Beginning of Mexican American War
The Mexican American War started when Mexico refused to acknowledge Texas as an independent territory. Also, the US has just annexed Texas in December of 1845. America also wanted to expand westward (Manifest Destiny). -
Wilmot Proviso
David Wimot, a Democratic Congressmen from Pennsylvania, proposed a bill that would prohibit slavery in the territory the US gained from Mexico and the war. The bill never got passed because the senate could not agree on it. -
End of Mexican American War
After 2 years, the Mexican American War ended. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war. Mexico's army was weaker compared to the US, which contributed to their lose. -
Compromise of 1850
This compromise admitted California as a free state. Also added New Mexico and Utah. -
Fugitive Slave Act (1850)
The Fugitive Slave Act allowed for slaves to be returned to their owners, no matter if they are in a free state. This caused controversy because slaves being in a free state should allow them to be free. -
The publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin
A book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was written due to the recent Fugitive Slave Act. The book exposed how slaves were really, poorly. Many white southerners believed slavery was "moral" and stated how slaves were treated really well and they were being "Christianized". -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act overturned the Missouri Compromise. It allowed for popular sovereignty and created two new territories. The big issue was should the new territories, Kansas and Nebraska, be slave or free states. -
Bleeding Kansas
A series of violent acts between pro- and anti-slavery people. This acts followed the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Also a major cause that led to the Civil War. These acts lasted from 1854 to 1861. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court determined that African American people were "not American citizens". The Supreme Court case is called Dred Scott V. Sandford. They ruled that Scott was someone's "property" and could not sue or bring his case to the Supreme Court.