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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise designed a line that was 36° 30´ latitude. A state above the line was a free state, and a state below the line was a slave state. This line declared Missouri a slave state, and Maine a free state. This upset the North because they thought the Missouri Compromise unbalanced the amount of slave and free states. On the other hand, the South liked the Missouri Compromise because they desired Missouri to be a slave state to balance the amount of slave and free states. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was a proposition that detailed that slavery was banned in Northern States. The Wilmot Proviso compelled Southern Politicians to defend their stand on slavery. The publication of the Wilmot Proviso furthered the South’s loathe for the North. -
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the president from 1849-1850. He came from a large slave owning family and was a war hero. However, Taylor was a Nationalist and did not like slavery. One of Taylor’s main beliefs was you must do everything in your power to keep a country together. He desperately wanted California to become a free state, and stated he would veto the Compromise of 1850. -
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore was the US President from 1850 to 1853. He was the 13th president, and the last member of the Whig Party to be in the White House. In addition to this, Millard Fillmore was the assistant president to Zachary Taylor, the 12th presi -
Compromise of 1850
The purpose of the Compromise of 1850 was to keep the North and South at peace, and to avoid war. The Compromise of 1850 resulted in California becoming a free state. This was due to the 36’ 30’ parallel line being terminated. Additionally, The Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened meaning it was dangerous to help a slave. This Act upset the North but at the same time they were pleased with California becoming a free state. During this time, tensions between the North and South grew. -
The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed by Congress in September of 1850. The Fugitive Slave Act stated that any slave that attempted to run away, or any individual who helped a slave would be brutally punished. This Act infuriated the North because there people helped slaves to escape. The North also believed the act to be harsh and inhumane. However, the South admired the law because it demonstrated their beliefs and gave them a sense of victory over the North. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book included detailed descriptions of the hardships slaves went through. The book was appreciated by the North because it supported their antslavelry beliefs. However, the South was horrified by the book, and felt it misrepresented them. Although the book was banned in the South, the book was known as the most popular book of the day. -
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the president from 1853-1857. He was from New Hampshire and was the son of a war hero. Additionally, he was apart of the House of Representatives. Many believed he should have ceased the bleeding of Kansas. However, he had fallen into depression after the death of his son, and wasn't much help while in office. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by the US Congress in 1854. The Act stated that Kansas and Nebraska had the decision on whether or whether to not allow slavery within their states. The North’s goal was to open land, have transcontinental railroads and secretly run it through Chicago, Illinois. They wanted to flood Kansas, to have a victory over the South. This action would result in the bleeding of Kansas. -
Creation of the Republican Party
In 1854, the Antislavery Whigs met to discuss the creation of the Republican Party. The Republican Party would later become a large political party with a rival called the Democratic Party. The North supported the party because it was initially held in the North. However, the South despised the party because Abraham Lincoln represented the party, and it went against their beliefs. -
Summer Caning
The Sumner Caning was another event that drove apart the North and South. This event began when Charles Sumner denounced the threat of slavery in Kansas. His speech humiliates the slave supporters and verbally attacks the honor of the South Carolina Senator; Andrew Butler. The South is infuriated by the speech of Charles Sumner, and less than two days later a Congressman named Preston Brooks beats Sumner with a cane. The beating leads to a violence break out. -
The Dred Scott Case
In 1857, the US Supreme Court issued a decision on the Dred Scott Case. The Dred Scott Case was filed by a slave named Dred Scott. The case resulted in the conformation that slave owners had the right to take their slaves into the Western Territory. This was because slaves were considered property and the slave owners were entitled to their property. The final judgement on the Dred Scott Case irritated the North, and relieved the South. -
James Buchanan
James Buchanan was the US president from 1857- 1861. James Buchanan was the 15th president of the United States, and served in office directly after the Civil War. Buchanan didn’t do much in office but supported anti slavery. He often would attempt to maintain peace during slavery and antislavery functions. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
The Lincoln Douglas debates were a series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. It all began when Abraham Lincoln stated in one of his speeches that Douglas was part of a conspiracy to nationalize slavery. The debates intrigued the North, and the South took notice, and paid close attention. -
Harper's Ferry
Harper’s Ferry was an incident inflicted by an abolitionist named John Brown. The abolitionist brought a small group of men including his sons to Harpers Ferry, Virginia to begin an armed slave revolt. The North saw this action as an act of heroism or martyr. However, the South attempted to hang Brown for his actions that were considered terroristic. -
Lincoln's Election of 1860
Lincoln was elected in 1860. He became the first Republican president, and was the 16th president of the United States. He won the party's presidential nomination. Between December 20th, and February 1st, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas had all voted for Lincoln. -
Southern Secession
The Southern Secession occurred in 1860 to 1861. The Secession meant that the Southern States became apart of a Confederate United States, breaking away from the United States. The Southern Secession included 11 Southern States, North Carolina being the first to secede. The Southern States acted like this to show that they disliked the opinion of Abraham Lincoln about slavery.
