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Missouri Compromise
The Northern and Southern politicians have problems concerning the growth of slavery. Henry Clay, again, settles the debate by saying that Maine would be made a free state and Arkansas would be open to slavery. In all, the Missouri Compromise balanced the slave states and free states. -
The Nullification Crisis
After the tariff laws of 1828 and 1832 Southern states felt that the tariffs only supported the North and they were unfair. South Carolina was especially against it. When the federal government denied South Carolina's argument they threatened to secede because John C. Calhoun stated that any state could nullify a federal law if it may be unconstitutional. Henry Clay came up with a compromise, like always, fixed the problem and lowered the tax. -
Compromise of 1850
After the war with Mexico, a lot of problems were being made with congress over the new territories won from Mexico would be made as slave states or free states. Henry Clay made, yet again, a compromise between the North and South. First, California would be made as a free state and all slave trade would be abolished in Washington D.C. Second, congress would not pass laws banning slavery from the rest of the territories won from Mexico. With this, many believed the compromise helped the Union. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 150 by Congress. The act stated that if a slave escaped from the North and made their way up South then the southerners would have to turn the escaped slaves in to be taken back down to the North. These laws created more tension between the North and South. In affect, the Fugitive Slave Act led to John Brown's Raid and the American Civil War. -
Bleeding Kansas 1855
When Kansas was entering the Union there was an election for state legislature. 5000 people from Missouri came to Kansas on the day of the voting and voted for slavery. Because of this Kansas became a slave state. Anti-slavery people started their own government and later was attacked by proslavery forces. After this, John Brown murdered several of his proslavery neighbors. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his freedom. He believed that since he lived in a free territory then he should be free. However, the court struck back by saying African Americans were not citizens when the Constitution was drafted in 1787. Dred Scott was property and could not be taken away from his owner. These slaves were not even treated as a human being but were considered property. -
Attack on Harpers Ferry
John Brown wanted to get slaves to fight for their own freedom. To do this he thought that capturing the arsenal at the army base in Harpers Ferry, Virginia was the best idea. Brown sent out the word but no one showed up. Brown and his men were captured leading to ten casualties. John Brown was put to his death, and tensions began to grow around the problem of slavery. -
The Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln won the elected although he told the South that he would do nothing to abolish slavery. The Southerners did not trust him. Soon after, southern states began to secede from the Union.
