Events Contributing to Sectionalism Sectionalism is loyalty to local interest or region

Northwest Ordinance A plan to settle the Northwest Territory. 5 states were made out of this territory (Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, & Michigan) Established the precedent that the U.S. would expand westward across North America by creating new states, not expanding existing states. Slavery was not allowed in this territory, angering southerners, and establishing a boundary between free and slave states.

Missouri Compromise Prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30‘ line except within the boundaries of the proposed state of Missouri36°30‘ Missouri entered the union as a slave state, Maine as a free state. This kept the number of free/slave states equal in Congress. Was helped passed by Henry Clay-the Great Compromiser

Compromise of 1850 California was admitted into the U.S. as a free state The remaining Mexican Cession was divided into New Mexico and Utah. The people of these territories would decide if they wanted slavery The slave trade was abolished in Washington D.C. Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act Supported by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. Opposed by John C. Calhoun

Kansas/Nebraska Act A law that established the territories of Kansas & Nebraska and gave their residents the right to decide whether to allow slavery (popular sovereignty). This voided the Missouri Compromise Line of 1820 Designed by Stephen A. Douglas- democratic senator from Illinois

Dred Scott Decision: 1857 A Supreme Court case led by Justice Roger Taney stating that slaves were property A slave could not testify in court because they were not considered citizens. Each territory that would become a state would determine if they wanted slavery. The Missouri Compromise was found unconstitutional The South favored this decision

John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry Brown and 18 others attacked the U.S. arsenal at Harper’s Ferry in Virginia. He believed he could use the arsenal to begin a slave revolt. He was unsuccessful. He was later hanged. Northerners saw him as an abolitionist hero Southerners saw this as the last straw

Lincoln’s Election He won the Presidential Election of 1860 because the North had more people than the South; Southerners did not trust Lincoln and saw the Republican victory as a threat to the Southern way of life, including slavery.