States’ Rights Nullification The belief that the state’s interests should take precedence over the interests of the national government The political belief in the South that the states had a right to nullify, or void, any federal law that they thought was unconstitutional.
Missouri Compromise Passed in 1820 that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It also prohibited slavery in the Louisiana Territory
Compromise of 1850 1. California entered the Union as a free state 2. ended slave trade in the District of Colombia 3. Texas gave up its claims to New Mexico in exchange for money 4. Utah would determine if they wanted slavery 5. Fugitive Slave Act
Georgia Platform Three congressmen from Georgia, Howell Cobb, Alexander Stephens, and Robert Toombs, supported the Compromise of 1850. The support of the compromise by the Georgia Platform helped it pass and helped the Union stay together.
Kansas Nebraska-Act Legislation that created the territory of Kansas and Nebraska and contained a clause that said that the issue of slavery would be decided by the residents of each territory, a concept known as popular sovereignty.
Free Soilers A group of people who lived in the new territories that were against slavery and wanted land to be given to western settlers for farming.
Bleeding Kansas The time period in Kansas when there were bloody fights between proslavery “Ruffians” and free soil groups. Ruffians took over the polls and prevented free soilers from voting on slavery legislation.
Dredd Scott Decision A slave that was taken from a slave state, Missouri, by his owner, and moved to a free state, Illinois. When Scott and his master returned to Missouri, Scott filed a lawsuit for his freedom. The court ruled that Scott could not sue because he was a slave, and slaves were not citizens.
Election of 1860 The Democrats split over the issue of popular sovereignty and slavery and split the Democratic Party to Stephen A Douglas (North) and John Breckenridge (South). The Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln won the election without winning the popular vote and not one vote from the southern states.
Sectionalism The belief by the people in a given region or area that their ideas and interests are better and more important than those of another region or area.
Abolition A second “Great Awakening” swept the country of a religious revival which increased support for the movement to do away with slavery.
John Brown An abolitionist who helped the free soilers in Kansas and attacked the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He was tried and convicted for treason. His death made him a martyr in the North.
Republican Party The Whig party split over the issue of slavery and the northern wing created a new political party that only existed in the free states.
Confederate States of America December 20, 1860 South Carolina secedes from the Union after the election of Lincoln as president. On February 4, 1861 11 southern states voted to form a new nation. Jefferson Davis was elected President and Alexander Stephens from Georgia was elected Vice president
Tariff Tariff of 1828 Taxes on imported goods from foreign countries shipped into the United States. These taxes would increase the cost of goods. The North supported tariffs because of industry and the South opposed tariffs because they received many of their goods from foreign countries An act passed that taxed imported goods to help protect Northern factories from foreign competition.
Fugitive Slave Act A law stating that slaves who ran away to free states would be returned to their owners.
Elected president of the Confederate States of America. Alexander Stephens Jefferson Davis From Ga., was elected Vice President of the Confederate States of America even though he had spoken against secession from the Union. Elected president of the Confederate States of America.