Slavery

To Review … The Compromise of 1820 or Missouri Compromise Maine – Free State Missouri – Slave State 36, 30 parallel

The Underground Railroad Concerning to the South An informal chain of “stations” (antislavery homes) that would shelter runaway slaves (passengers) from slave states to free soil in Canada. “Conductors” usually black & white abolitionists. Most famous conductor: Harriet Tubman “Moses”; runaway slave from Maryland. 19 trips into the South to help runaways escape including her parents. Rescued 300 slaves Southerners demanded stricter fugitive slaves laws 1850- the South was losing about 1000 runaways per year out of 4 million – less than blacks buying freedom or voluntary manumission. Southerners concluded that the Constitution protected slavery.

The Compromise of 1850 California in as a free state= tip balance of power in Senate to the North for good. New Mexico & Utah- popular sovereignty would determine slavery. Texas was paid $10 million – but lost claims to NM. Slavery allowed in DC –BUT not the slave trade A new fugitive slave law was enacted

Fugitive Slave Law “Man-Stealing Law” fleeing slaves could not testify on their own behalf fleeing slaves denied a jury trial federal commissioners given $5 if runaway was freed & $10 if not= bribery? Northerners who aided runaways were fined or jailed Northerners could be ordered to help capture runaways

The most alarming part of the Compromise of 1850. Effect: Moderate Northerners pushed into the arms of abolitionists! Evidence of Northern Hostility to the law 1854- a runaway slave from Virginia was captured in Boston & had to be removed from the city under federal guard. Massachusetts made it a punishable offense for any state official to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law. other states passed “personal liberty laws”- denied use of local jails to federal officials. the Underground Railroad stepped up its efforts-more northerners helped runaway slaves escape. The Fugitive Slave Law was a major blunder for the South? awakened antislavery sentiment in the North Southerners angered that Northerners refused to enforce it.

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Book – “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” had been published in 1852 forced many people in the north to confront slavery head on

Bleeding Kansas 1854 -1861 Unofficial first “battlefield” of the war Border Ruffians vs. Free Soilers

Kansas-Nebraska Act Douglas’ proposal: The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) Nebraska territory divided into two territories: Kansas & Nebraska. Popular Sovereignty would determine slavery in the two territories (dismantles Compromise of 1820). Kansas which was west of Missouri (a slave state) & was expected to become a slave state. Nebraska-lying west of free-soil Iowa would presumably be free state Kansas-Nebraska Act- contradicted the Missouri Compromise of 1820.