1820 1820: The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was prompted by
1852: Uncle Toms Cabin
Written by female abolitionist Harriet Beecher
Stowe, this best-seller depicted slavery as it
often is, inhumane and cruel. If the North were
not aware of the conditions of slavery in the
South, they were now. The South, especially
slaveholders, strongly opposed Stowes
researched work.
1854: The Republican Party
The Republican Party consisted of antislavery
Whigs, Democrats against slavery, and
Free-Soilers. The Republicans sent candidates
to challenge the pro-slavery groups. Their main
message was to have slavery in new territories
banned by the government.
1856: Bleeding Kansas
After the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, Kansas
attracted many pro- and anti-slavery supporters
for settling slavery by popular sovereignty.
Abolitionist John Brown and four of his sons
killed 5 pro-slavery Kansans along
Pottawatomie Creek. Heralded by the North
and loathed by the South, Browns actions
only added fuel to the growing strife between
the two.
1857: Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court decision revolved around
Dred Scott, a slave. After his master died, he
tried to achieve freedom, since he had lived in
free states for some time. In the end, slaves
were determined as property. This resulted in
Dred Scott remaining a slave because property
could not be taken away without due process
of law. The South viewed this decision in
support of their cause while the Northern
tension grew.
1860: South Carolina Secession
South Carolina was the first state to secede
from the Union. Abraham Lincoln supported
equality, civil rights for African Americans,
and the abolition of slavery. South Carolina,
being a Confederate state, opposed Lincolns
views and felt threatened by the Republican,
prompting their secession.
Missouris request to become a slave state.
Because Missouri would become a slave state, it
was decided Maine would be made a free state.
The compromise also had territories above latitude
3630N to the Louisiana Purchase be made free.
1825
1850: Compromise of 1850
1830 The Compromise of 1850 included five bills passed by
the United States, reducing sectional conflict. The five
bills: 1) Texas surrenders its border claim to New
Mexico, as well as that of north of the Missouri
Compromise Line, 2) California is considered a free state
within its boundaries, 3) the Utah and New Mexico
Territories were allowed under popular sovereignty to
decide whether slavery would be allowed, 4) the slave
trade would be banned in the District of Columbia, and
1835 5) the Fugitive Slave Law would be enacted.
May 1854: The Kansas-Nebraska Act
Proposed by Stephen Douglas, this act
completely abolished the 1820 Missouri
Compromise. The territories of Kansas and
1840 Nebraska would be permitted to settle the issue
of slavery by popular sovereignty. Needless to
say, the North protested and the South were
successful in their support.
1845
1859: Harpers Ferry
White abolitionist John Brown, perpetrator
of Bleeding Kansas, attempted to initiate
an armed slave insurgence by taking over a
United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry,
1850 Virginia. Browns party of 22 was defeated
by a group of U.S. Marines (led by Robert E.
Lee).
1852
1860: Election of Abraham Lincoln
Republican nominee Abraham Lincoln won
the presidency with little less than 40% of the
1854
popular vote. Many of the Southern states did
not include him on the ballot (such was his
1855
illegitimacy), and this bitter disregard stewed
1856 when they realized they had been out-voted by
the North. Lincoln desired slavery to be
1857
abolished in the territories but remain in
existence in areas of practice.
1859
1860