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Wilmot Proviso
This bill aimed to outlaw slavery in territories taken from Mexico. This 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 be the formation of the Free Soil Party. -
The Compromise of 1850
The congress divided on California becoming a state. Senator Henry Clay proposed that admitting California as a free state and slave trade would be abolished in Washington, D.C. They thought this would solve the problem, but it didn't. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephan A. Douglas drafted bills for governing the Nebraska Territories into two territories: Nebraska and Kansas. It allows voting for slavery. Slavery was to be decided by residents vote- popular sovereignty. -
Bleeding Kansas
Proslavery and Antislavery, people came to vote. Many missourians voted for slavery in the Kansas Territory, slavery won. Antislavery people got mad and caused violence in congress. This led to the civil war. -
Caning of Sumner
Senator Charles Sumner's speech attacks proslavery forces in Kansas and makes fun of A.P Butler. A relative of Butler (Preston Brooks) is offended and attacks Sumner in the Senate. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Scott was a slave in Missouri. He sued for his freedom because he had been taken to live in territories where slavery illegal. This reaches the supreme court rules against slavery. -
Atttack on Harper's Ferry
In 1859, John Brown, who had murdered proslavery in Kansas 3 years before, added to the sectional tensions. Brown had a plan, he wanted to inspire slaves to fight for their freedom. To do this, he planned to capture the weapons in the U.S arsinal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. But the slaves did not show up. -
Lincoln Wins Election
Lincoln won the Election of 1860 because he received the most electoral votes. As a result of this election, South Carolina and the 6 other southern states decide to secede from the Union. Soon after they form the Confederate States of America.
