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Missouri Compromise
In this event, Missouri was going to be admitted to the union as a slave state.However that was going to throw off the balance of slave and free states, so people got angry. A compromise was made to make Missouri a slave state, but also make Maine a free state, so it kept the balance. This compromise was made by Henry Clay. It took place in Missouri and Maine. The Missouri Compromise showed there needed to be a balance in America, or else there would be conflict. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was a proposal made by David Wilmot. It was made to ban slavery in the new acquired territory from the Mexican-American war. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful. The Wilmot Proviso showed how much of a divide there was in not only Congress, but the nation itself. Many southern slave owners stated that it was an insult to southern honor by letting the Wilmot Proviso pass. -
Compromise of 1850
California would be a free state, the territories of Utah and New Mexico would be slave or free based on popular sovereignty, slave trade would be ended in Washington DC, a strict new fugitive slave law would be passed in Congress, and Texas would give up New Mexico for 10 million dollars. The event took place mainly in California, Utah, and New Mexico. The compromise tried to fix things, but it only made things more complicated and left the overall issue of slavery unsolved. -
Fugitive Slave Act
This act was apart of the Compromise of 1850. It involves its creator, Henry Clay. All slaves, even free slaves in free states, can be recaptured and put back into slavery. No slave, free or enslaved, was safe anymore. The north was furious and they were even more opposed to slavery now than ever. This event took place in the north and south. It showed that no one was happy in the end, and it negatively impacted slaves. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American slave abolitionist that published a book called Uncle Tom's Cabin to open the eyes of white people in America about the issue of slavery. This event took place throughout America as people started to realize how bad things were. It impacted the US by opening the eyes of people, and made the north oppose slavery even more. It also put pressure on slave owners in the south because their ways were being exposed to all of America. -
Kansas Nebraska Act / Bleeding Kansas
May 30th, 1854 + (Bleeding Kansas) 1856-1865. Event involved Stephen Douglas, and took place in territories of Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. The Kansas Nebraska Act was passed and allowed Kansas and Nebraska to decide themselves if they wanted slavery or not. It promoted popular sovereignty. A mini civil war broke out in Kansas over the issue of slavery. Many people died, both for and against slavery. This event showed the desperation in people as they sacrificed a lot over slavery. -
Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott, a black slave owned by John Emerson, wanted to become a citizen with his wife after his slave owner died. Dred Scott sued John Emerson with the help of the Blow family, but they lost the case. As a result, Dred Scott was left with Ms. Emerson’s brother. He sued again claiming Missouri citizenship. Robert B. Taney, who was the Chief Justice, stated that Dred Scott had no right to become an American citizen, Dred lost the case again. This event caused more tension. -
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Stephen Douglas, a man who thought that the states had the right to do whatever they wanted with slavery, was not trusted or liked within the Republican Party that included Abraham Lincoln. The Republicans chose Lincoln to run against Stephen Douglas for senate. The debates happened throughout the state of Illinois, attracting many people. In the end, Lincoln lost, but gained lots of popularity in politics. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown (a slave abolitionist) led him and his five sons to Kansas to fight against people who were for slavery. More attacks went on, and John Brown and his sons killed five people. John Brown began raising money and an army to carry out his idea of a raid. After he tried to carry out the raid, a company of US marines surrounded them and John Brown was captured and tried for treason and murder, then was found guilty. He was executed on December 2nd, 1859. -
Lincoln's Election Of 1860
Lincoln took office following the presidential election. Almost all of Lincoln’s votes came from the northern united states, as the republicans held little appeal to southern voters. He didn't have much support in the south. However, Lincoln won a majority of the popular vote and a majority of the electoral vote. His election served as a boost towards the splitting of America. -
Southern Secession
Eleven southern states seceded from the union. They formed their own Confederate America with their own president. It started with South Carolina, then went on to Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and finally North Carolina. Over the issue of slavery, the nation was breaking apart. This event was one great cause of the civil war.
