Pre-Civil War Events

General Notes As land was added – slave or free? Who will have control of the Congress? –How is that affected by Population? The addition of states?

Missouri Compromise 1820 Maine entered free Missouri entered slave Slavery at ’ Extended slavery Maintained balance of free & slave states –Senate and House?

Mexican-American War War with Mexico Acquired western lands including UT, CA, AZ, NM, WY, NV Added vast new lands Slave or Free? The Wilmot Proviso vs. The Calhoun Resolutions Extend the Missouri Compromise?

Missouri Compromise According to the MC, what should happen to land gained by the Mexican Cession?

Compromise of 1850 Stricter Fugitive Slave Act CA=Free State No slave auctions in DC Slavery in the territories left ambiguous slavery (NM, UT) Angered Northerners – party to slavery Northern reaction frightened Southerners

Compromise of 1850 North – California as a free state South – Chance of additional slave states/Fugitive Slave Law

Fugitive Slave Act 1850 Northerners must assist in returning runaway slaves No jury trial for alleged fugitives $10.00 for each fugitive Could require assistance 6 mos/$1,000 fine Drives wedge between Northerners and Southerners Proves each side “right” Incentive to capture free blacks

Kansas Nebraska Act 1854 Where would the Railroad go? Popular Sovereignty would decide Killed the Missouri Compromise Kansas Slave Nebraska Free Expands slavery into free territories Election fraud – “boarder ruffians” Dual governments “Bleeding Kansas” "

Kansas-Nebraska 1854 Began as a railroad debate Became a debate over slavery Slavery is becoming an embarrassment to the North- “region of despotism, inhabited by masters and slaves” Geography was unfavorable to slavery Rushed people in Popular Sovereignty

Come on, then, gentlemen of the slave states. Since there is no escaping your challenge, we accept it in the name of freedom. We will engage in competition for the virgin soil of Kansas, and God give the victory to the side which is stronger in numbers, as it is in right." -- Senator William Seward, on the passage of the Kansas- Nebraska Act, May 1854

Dred Scott Decision 1857 Slave traveled from slave to free to slave territory. Sued in federal court for freedom Slaves had no right to sue Slavery could extend into free states Emotional victory/loss

John Brown’s Raid 1859 Planned to start a slave revolt Seized arsenal at Harper’s Ferry Poorly planned Brown was hanged Northerners supported Brown’s ideals –Frightened Southerners

Lincoln’s Election 1860 Anti-slavery president Received no Southern votes in Electoral College Panicked Southerners Several states seceded

Fort Sumter April 12, 1861 Union held fort in southern port of Charleston S.C Seized by Confederacy Start of the Civil War South actually fired on a federal outpost