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Debate Over Slavery
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The Missouri Compromise
11 free states, and 11 slave states in 1819. An argument broke out. Then Senator Henry Clay suggetsed admitting Missouri as a slave state amd Maine a free state.His plan, the Missouri Compromise, kept the number of free and slave states equal. -
Formation of Free-Soil Party
Many northern Democrats and Whigs opposed the spread of slavery in 1848, although the leaders didn't take a stand. Anti-slavery members of both parties met, and founded the Free-Soil Party. The main goal was to keep slavery out of the west territories. For the first time slavery was important in election, and became a national issue. -
Compromise of 1850
Arguments started occuring in 1850 once California requested to join the Union as a free state. The balance of power once again became threatened. Southers feared of being outvoted. Then Webster, a man against slavery, called for Unity, and a bit later his Compromise passes. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Added to the growing antislavery mood of the North. Harriet Beecher Stowe published the novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, which shows the evil and injustice of slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The compromise if 1850 did not solve all slavery issues, so Senator Stephen Douglas introduced a bill for a Nebraskan Territory government. He would suggest to divide up the Nebraska Territory into two parts, Kansas and Nebraska. This bill was known as the Kansas-Nebraska Act. -
Bleeding Kansas
A group of proslavery men raided the town, Lawrence, which was anti-slavery. They destroyed homes and smashed the press of Free-Soil newspaper. John Brown decided to fight back. In the middle of the night, Brown and six other men, took five proslavery settlers and killed them. This led to even more violence. -
Formation of Republican Party
A group of Free-Soilers, northern Democrats, and antislavery Whigs gathered to form the Republican Party. It's main goal was to keep slavery out of the western territories. The new party grew rapidly, and soon was able to challenge the older parties for power. A republican named Frémont ran for president. Although he did not win the election, they made a strong showing, and Southerners worried that their influence in the national government was fading. -
Dred-Scott Case
In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled on a case that involved a slave named Dred Scott. This case divided the North and South even more. Scott's lawyer argued that Dred was a freeman because he had moved to the Wisconsin Territory, and then his owner died. Since Congress could not rule out slavery in all territories, then Missouri Compromise became unconstitutional. This meant that slavery was legal in all territories. -
John Brown's Raid
A radical abortionist, John Brown carried his antislavery campaign from Kansas to the East. He led a group of people to Harpers Ferry, Virginia. They planned to raid a federal arsenal. He wanted to give weapons to African Americans and lead them in a revolt. -
Election of 1860
An election where John Brown lost to Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was for the North and Brown was for the south.