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Northwest Ordinance - Political - Increased Tensions
The Northwest Ordinance was a law originally created by the Confederation Congress, and upheld by the first congress under the Constitution that created the Northwest Territory, and stated that new states would be made rather than old states expanding westward. This was a also a free territory, which for the time set the border of the North and South along the Ohio river. This would later increase sectional tensions by further dividing the two regions and leading to the Missouri Compromise. -
Missouri Compromise - Political - Increased Tensions
The Missouri Compromise was a bill admitting both Maine and Missouri to the union as states, to keep the balance of power between slave and free states. It also created a line along the 36 30 parallel, under which slavery was allowed in Louisiana Purchase territory. At first, this decreased tensions, since it was a short term fix to the problem. Long term, it increased tensions, because there was much more northern territory, and it led to uproar when it was repealed later on. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion - Social - Increased Tensions
A rebellion of slaves led by Nat Turner, in Southampton Country Virginia, killing 55 or more white people. Turner was captured 2 months later and hanged, and 120 African Americans were killed in the aftermath. It also led to laws being passed prohibiting the education of slaves, as well as limiting their abilities to congregate, and worship without white supervision. This increased tensions by making many whites in the South extraordinarily paranoid, and causing widespread panic. -
Gag Rule - Political - Increased Tensions
Instituted as part of the Pickney Resolutions, the Gag Rule was passed by Southern Congressmen in response to the overwhelming amount of petitions pouring in about abolishing slavery. This rule was fiercely opposed by the North, led by John Quincy Adams, but the Southerners had control of Congress, and it was renewed for ten years. This greatly angered the North, increasing sectional tensions, and contributing to the build up of the Civil War. -
Amistad Case - Social and Political - Increased Tensions
A slave ship was sailing near Cuba, with slaves who had been kidnapped illegally in Africa. After a slave insurrection, the ship made it's way to the U.S. coast, where it was captured. The case was eventually brought to the Supreme Court, which ruled the African people on the ship were free, as the slaving ship was violating the international slave trade rules, and they were entitled to use of force to free themselves. This increased sectional tensions by angering the South and the Democrats. -
Annexation of Texas - Political - Increased Tensions
The annexation of Texas took place ten years after it declared independence from Mexico, and was originally opposed for a variety of reasons including maintaining relations with Mexico, and not provoking the question of Slavery. The bill was signed by John Tyler, and supported by the incoming president, Polk. This increased sectional tensions by adding a significant amount of slave holding territory to the U.S., angering Northerners, and led to the Mexican American war. -
Wilmot Proviso - Political - Increased Tensions
The Wilmot Proviso was a bill which would have prohibited slavery in the territories acquired from Mexico in the Mexican-American war. This bill passed the House, but was failed on three separate occasions by the Senate, which was dominated by the South. This increased sectional tensions, by bringing the question of slavery back to the forefront, and antagonizing Southerners, since the bill would not have allowed slavery to expand, and would have given free states a majority. -
California Gold Rush - Social and Political - Increased Tensions
The California Gold Rush brought in a massive influx of people looking for gold, and allowed the territory to quickly reach the requirements of statehood. This led to increased sectional tensions, as some wanted to extend the Missouri Compromise line, some wanted all new states to be free, and some wanted new states to choose through free sovereignty. This led the North and South to eventually come to the Compromise of 1850, but it renewed the debate on slavery, and tensions in the country. -
Mexican War - Political - Increased Tensions
A war between Mexico and the U.S. after the annexation of Texas, over the border of U.S. and Mexico. After the war, the U.S. negotiated the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which put the border on the Rio Grande and gave the U.S. modern day Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in exchange for the U.S. paying for the damages to Mexico, and taking up the debts of the citizens in the territory they conquered. This increased tensions by adding territory which was unclear whether it would be slave or free. -
Compromise of 1850 - Political - Decreased Tensions
A bill proposed by Henry Clay to Congress to resolve tensions in the United States. It wasn't passed by Clay, but Stephen Douglas did pass it as five separate bills later on, including that Texas gave up it's claim of the new territories, the federal government took up Texas' public debt, California was created as a free state, slavery in the Utah and Mexico territories was decided by popular sovereignty, a better fugitive slave act be established, and the slave trade banned in D.C. -
Fugitive Slave Act - Social and Political - Increased Tensions
The Fugitive Slave Act was a law, forcing people in free states to aid with the return of runaway slaves to their masters, or face time in jail. This was instated after the original law was not effective. This law was abused by many Southerners, who took free blacks in the North into captivity, since African Americans weren't allowed to defend themselves in court. This angered many Northerners, and many refused to cooperate with the law, which in turn angered the South. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin - Social - Increased Tensions
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe was an extremely popular book which portrayed the brutality of slavery in the South in a novel form. This book was well received in the North and in Europe, helping to contribute to the growing abolitionist movement. It enraged the South however, as they claimed the novel was false, and that slaves weren't treated poorly. This increased tensions, as both sides interpreted the book entirely differently, and angered both sides in different ways. -
Kansas - Nebraska Act and Bleeding Kansas - Political and Social - Increased Tensions
An Act passed by Stephen Douglas that created the Kansas and Nebraska territories which were to decide whether they were slave or free by popular sovereignty. It led to Bleeding Kansas, with pro and anti slavery parties vying for control of the territory in a series of skewed elections, massacres on both sides, and fighting throughout the territory. The striking down of the Missouri Compromise enraged anti slavery activists and led to the creation of the anti slavery Republican Party. -
Ostend Manifesto - Political - Increased Tensions
A document written in secret by American foreign ministers in Europe, planning for the U.S. to annex Cuba from Spain by force if necessary. This was leaked, and caused immediate uproar in the North, who were very opposed to adding another slave state such as Cuba, and it failed to win enough support. This increased sectional tensions, since the North thought the South was trying to undermine them, and gain power. -
Dred Scott Decision - Political and Social - Increased Tensions
Dred Scott was a slave in the slave state of Missouri, and his owners brought him to Illinois and Wisconsin which were free states and then back to Missouri. Scott said that he was free since he was held in a free state. He appealed it to the Supreme Court, where in his majority opinion, Roger Taney stated that slaves were not citizens, so Scott couldn't even go to court, and that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. This decision greatly benefited the South, and angered the North. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry - Social - Increased Tensions
The attempt of John Brown and 22 others to start a slave revolt in the South by capturing the Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and encouraging slaves to start a rebellion. This attempt was unsuccessful, and John Brown and his companions were captured, and most put to death or killed during the raid. This increased tensions. In the North, John Brown was treated like a hero fighting for slaves' freedom, while in the South, he was seen as somebody trying to take away their property. -
Crittenden Compromise - Political - Increased Tensions
The Crittenden Compromise was proposed by Kentucky Senator John J. Crittenden, and was a series of proposed amendments which never passed benefiting the south, including that the Missouri Compromise Line would be extended, Congress could not abolish slavery in DC, Congress could not stop interstate slave trade, Congress would compensate slave owners whose runaway slaves were rescued, and future amendments could not remove these amendments. This increased tensions by angering the North.
