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Period: to
The 1850s
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The Compromise of 1850
First, California applied to become a free state in 1849. This created lots of controversy in the Senate. There would be more antislavery senators than proslavery senators.As a result southerners thought about seceding from the Union. In 1850, Henry Clay wanted Compromise.He suggested that California shall be a free state and any new sates will have no limits on slavery.There was heated debate in Congress on this plan. After President Taylor died, Vice President Fillmore signed Clay's compromise -
The Fugitive Slave Act
As part of the Compromise of 1850, Henry Clay convinced Congress to pass the Fugitive SLave Act. This act told people to find runaway slaves and turn them in. Anyone cought siding a runaway will be imprisoned. Southerners thought that the antislavery movement in the North will stop but thet didn't. Actually, the passing of this act made more people in the North against slavery. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
In 1854,Senator Stephen Douglas introduced a bill into Congress. This bill stated that the region west of MIssouri and Iowa would become part of Kansas and Nebraska. It became known as the Kansas Nebraska Act.Douglas knew that southerners would disagree with the bill because the new states would be free states because they are both north of the 36 deg. and 30" N parellel set by the Missouri Compromise. Douglas suggested that instead, the states should vote on the slavery issue. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave born in 1830. His owner moved to the northwest and later back to MIssouri. HIs owner later died. In 1846, Scott sued for his freedom, stating that he should be free because he was in the northwest, where slavey was banned. 11 years later, this case reached the supreme ct. Chief Justice Roger B.Taney said that Scott was still a slave.he was not a citizen and had no right to file a lawsuit.Rather than settling the issue, this divided the country even further. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
In the Congressional election of 1858, Republican challenger Abe LIncoln ran against democrat Stephen Douglas. Not as well known as douglas, LIncoln challenged him to a series of debates. Douglas, of course, accepted this offer. They had debates in August, September, and November of 1858. These debates attracted thousands of people with the main issue being slavery. At the end, Douglas won the election by a narrow margin. Lincoln had gained a strong national reputation though. -
John Brown's Raid
After the 1858 election, southerners felt threatened by Republicans. On OCtober 16, 1859 abolitionist John Brown led a raid on Harpers Fairy, Virginia. HIs target was to get an arsenal. He wanted to arm slaves and start a revolt against slave owners. Brown was defeated by local citizens and federal troops. He was convicted of treason and murder, so he was executed. Some northerners denounced Brown's use of violence. Others sawhim as a martyr. Brown's death rallied abolitionists. -
Election of 1860
The issue of slavery split the Democrats. The north Democrats chose Stephen Douglas. The SOuth Democrats chose John C. Breckinridge. The Constitutional Union Party chose John Bell.The Republicans chose Abe LIncoln. The main issue was slavery. When Abraham Lincoln won the election, The southern states decided to secede from the union forming the Confederate States of America. On February 18, 1861, the inaugaration of their first president, Jefferson Davis, took place.
