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Wilmot Proviso
This bill aimed to outlaw slavy in territories taken from Mexico. The bill passed in the House of Representatives but was defeated in the Senate thus causing a division in Congress. Although, not a success it led to the information for the Free Soil Party. -
Compromise
Henry Clay had helped created the Missouri Compromise,in 1820. Many people on both sides left, they had to give up too much in this plan. Daniel Webster, senator from Massachusetts, supported it for the sake of the Union. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
In 1854, senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois drafted a bill to organize territorial governments for the Nebraska Territory. He proposed that it be divided into two territories Nebraska and Kansas. Few people realize this would turn Kansas into a battle ground over slavery. -
Bleeding Kansas
Pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers rushed into thw Kansas Territory, just West of Missouri, to vote for the territorial legislature. Five thousand Missourians came and vote one the election illegally. The official Kansas legislature was packed with pro-slavery representatives. -
Caning of Summer
In late May,senator Charles Summer of Massachusetts delivered a speech attacking the pro-slavery forces Kansas. It was packed with insults. Preston Brooks hit him over the head with his cane 30 times or more breaking his cane in the assault. -
Dred Scott V. Stanford
Scott had been a slave in MissourI.His owner took him to live where slavery was illegal. He argued that he was a free man because he had live in territories where slavery was illegal. -
Attack in Harpes Ferry
Brown wannted to inspire slaves to fight for their freedom. He planned to capture weapons in the U.S. Arsenal at Harpes Ferry, Virginia. On October 16, 1859 Brown and some followers capture the arsenal, killing four people in their raid. -
Election of 1860
Lincoln and Douglas were the only candidates with much support in the North. Breckinridge and Bell competed and some Southener votes. As a result Lincoln defeated Douglas in the North.