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Missouri Compromise
Due to the westward expansion, Americans began to inhabit newly acquired territories out west. This created tension because as this happened, the question of whether or not slavery should be allowed appeared forefront of political matters. However, it also eased tensions over slavery for a while because it allowed two states, Missouri and Maine, to enter the union as slave and free, respectively. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
This rebellion was caused by slaves who killed 57 white men, women, and children. This rebellion created tension between the North and the South because it didn't only give the Southerners more anger and reason to maintain blacks as slaves, but it also terrified the whites, which led to the institution of Black Codes. Black Codes restricted education, freedom of movement, and freedom in general for slaves and freed blacks. -
Compromise of 1850
This compromise led California to enter the Union as a free state, and the slave trade to be abolished in DC. In addition, a rougher federal fugitive slave law was passed, the Texas territorial dispute was resolved, and the New Mexico and Utah territories would decide slavery based on the idea of popular sovereignty. This affected the tension between the North and the South because it made both sides angry since while one side was gaining the other was losing and vice versa. -
Kansas Nebraska Acts
This act abolished the Missouri Compromise by letting slavery to be determined by popular sovereignty in the new Kansas and Nebraska areas. This was an authorization to get the southern permission for the transcontinental railroad. Due to this, the slavery issue was brought up again despite the fact that it had just been calmed down with the Compromise of 1850. This caused tension because the Southerners were tolerant/accepting of the act, but the Northern Republicans united to protest. -
Dred Scott Case
The case of Dred Scott in 1857 was revolved around a slave (Dred Scott) whose master moved him to a free state and then died. The judge's ruling was that slaves are property, and property can’t be taken away without due process of the 5th Amendment. This produced tension between the sides because it was a major triumph for the South since slavery could be constitutionally moved anywhere now, but the North condemned this decision. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
The Democrats ruined any chances they had of winning the election, and because of this fateful decision by the Democrats, Lincoln won. His victory angered many Southerners because of his support of sectionalism. As threatened, South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union when Lincoln won. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown was a radical abolitionist who attempted to spark a slave revolt and invade the south. He did this by trying to capture an arsenal at Harper's Ferry, but failed and was captured, convicted of treason, and put to death. The South saw this event as a Northern conspiracy against slavery instead of the isolated radical act that it actually was. In contrast, the North viewed John Brown as a martyr.
