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The Wilmot Proviso
Law proposed by David Wilmot that stated any territory gained after the Mexican-American War would be slave free territory. Although not enacted, this angered Southerners to the point of thoughts of secession. -
Compromise of 1850
A law proposed by Henry Clay that stated there wouldn't be an expansion of pro-slavery territory. To give some favor to the South, it reinforced the Fugitive Act. -
The Fugitive Slave Act
This act pointed liability to people of any area of the U.S. to capture and send back any escaped slaves or face the penalty of imprisonment or fines. Appealing only to Southern states, this angered Northerners and grew their want for slavery abolition. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A very popular novel written by Harriet Beecher, this book described the life of a slave and the horrors behind it. This book strengthened the abolitionist ideas in the North and further drew a cultural difference between the Southern and Northern states. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Put forth by the U.S. government, this act suceeded the Missouri Compromise and allowed the newly formed territories of Nebraska and Kansas to determine their title as pro-slavery or anti-slavery through popular sovereignty. The effect of this was a mass rush of settlers to the lands and eventual fighting between slave owners and abolitionists. -
Bleeding Kansas
A series of confrontations caused by border ruffians or pro-slavery people from Missouri rushing to Kansas in 1854 to vote for Kansas to become a slave state. Battles persued between both sides due to this. -
Sumner Vs. Preston in Congress
In front of Congress, Charles Sumner an anti-slavery politician, blamed the events of Bleeding Kansas on the hands of pro-slavery personel. This angered Congressman Preston Brooks an advocate of slavery who in turn attacked Sumner, beating him with his cane. -
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott was a black slave who sued his owners for his freedom after his owners moved into slave free territory. The case was brought up to the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice Roger Taney, declared slaves had no rights, but rather were property. This caused outrage from the slave community and the Northern states. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown, an abolitionist, led a group of men to attack a military arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. His plan was to load up on guns and ammunition to supply black slaves to start a mass uprising. His plan fell through and he was sentenced to death, but was considered a martyr to the North. -
Abraham Lincoln's Presidential Election
Abraham Lincoln beat out Stephen Douglas for president in the 1860 election. Lincoln was a Republican and supported anti-slavery. His election was the final straw for the south for on December 20th, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union
