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abolish
the process of officially ending something
other forms: abolition, abolitionist, abolished
In 1783, slavery was legal in all the original 13 American states. By 1800, six had abolished it.
approve
to allow or officially agree to/support something
other forms: approval, approved, approving
After a lengthy and bitter debate, Congress approved the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
authority
the official power to make decisions or to control other people
other forms: authorities, authoritative, authorize
At the time, Northern states were equally likely to adopt a states’ right view and Southern states to argue for the rule of law and the authority of the federal government
breakdown
the failure or end of something such as communication or a relationship
other forms: to break down
In the 1850s, there was breakdown of consensus
candidate
one of the people taking part in an election or trying to get a job
Some representatives vote for their state’s winning candidate; others vote according to the proportions of the votes for different candidates
compensation
money that you pay to someone because you are responsible for injuring them or damaging something
other forms: to compensate, compensating
They wanted to compensate the anti-slavery group for their acceptance of Missouri being a slave state
compromise
an agreement to accept something that is not exactly what you want
other forms: to compromise, compromising
He tried to find a compromise that would satisfy both parties.
conflict
serious disagreement
other forms: to conflict, conflictual, conflicting
When the political process was unable to solve conflicts, war broke out
Congress
the body that passes the laws in the US, and controls tax and spending decisions
When Texas became a US territory it placed itself under the control of the US Congress
consensus
the willing agreement of all the people involved
other forms: consensual
The language of politics in the 1850s was more divisive than consensual
constitution
the set of political principles by which a state or organization is governed, especially in relation to the rights of the people it governs
other forms: to constitute, constitutional, unconstitutional
People in the North wanted to abolish slavery, which they saw as an affront to the US Constitution
delegate
a person chosen or elected by a group to speak, vote, etc. for them, especially at a meeting
other forms: to delegate
In the event, the Democratic Convention broke down and the Southern delegates left in disgust
domination
the process of having control over a place or person
other forms: to dominate, dominating
Representation at the convention was dominated by Northerners
election
the process of deciding on or choosing, especially a person for a particular person, by voting
other forms: electorate, to elect, electoral, elected
The voting tally in a presidential election in each state determines how that state’s representatives will vote in the Electoral College
emancipation
the process of giving people social or political freedom and rights
other forms: to emancipate, emancipated
Many free black people did what they could to help emancipate black slaves
entrenchment
the process of firmly establishing something, especially an idea or a problem, so that it cannot be changed
other forms: to entrench, entrenched
The decision-making process is long and difficult when there are entrenched views on different sides of a question
expansion
the process of increasing in size, number, area or importance
other forms: to expand, expansive, expanding
Slavery could now expand across the US into new territories and eventually the North
federation
the central government
other forms: federal
A federal official who failed to arrest a fugitive slave, even in states where slavery was banned, would be fined $1000
fugitive
someone who has escaped by running away, especially because of danger or fear
other forms: to flee, fleeing
Fugitive slaves escaping their Southern homes often used the Underground Railroad to do so
imposition
the official forcing of a rule, tax, punishment, etc. to be obeyed or received
other forms: to impose
In 1854, the Democrats worked on their own to impose their Bill on other parties and interests
inauguration
the ceremony to celebrate an important person starting a new job
other forms: to inaugurate, inaugural
On March 4, President Lincoln made an inauguration speech
leadership
the act of directing a group (including a country) by giving instructions or setting an example
other forms: to lead, leading
The leading African American of the time, Frederick Douglass, was a former slave
opponent
someone who disagrees with something or someone, often by speaking or fighting against it/them
other forms: opposition, to oppose, opposing
Democrat Senator Stephen Douglas opposed the Supreme Court judgement
policy
a set of ideas or a plan of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed officially
A policy of compromise was maintained, though it required the presence of talented negotiators to make it work
prohibition
the act of officially refusing to allow something
other forms: to prohibit, prohibitive, prohibited
The Proviso was an attempt to prohibit slavery
prosperity
the state of being successful and having a lot of goods and money
other forms: to prosper, prosperous
The Southern states became increasingly prosperous.
radical
believing or expressing the belief that there should be great social or political change
Seward, who had been known to use the word 'revolution’ in speeches, had become identified with Republican radicals
repercussions
the consequences or results of an action, even or decision, especially the bad ones
Repercussions of that crisis were still being felt as the Civil War broke out more than forty years later
represent
to act or speak on behalf of someone who is not present
other forms: representation, representative
The Senate represented the states
secession
when a region leaves a country and either becomes an independent country itself or becomes part of a different country
other forms: to secede, seceding
South Carolina voted to secede, due to the failure of the federal government to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act
Senate
one of the two groups of politicians who make laws in some political systems such as in the U.S.
other forms: Senator, senatorial
The Senate was seen as the defender of the rights of the states as distinct from those of the U.S. people
settlement
reaching a decision or an agreement about something, or to end a disagreement
other forms: to settle, settled
The president had hoped that the Supreme Court would settle the issue of slavery in the territories
slavery
having slaves or the condition of being a slave
other forms: slave, to enslave
Slaveowners could take their slaves anywhere that was governed by U.S. federal law
sovereignty
the ultimate power, especially a king or queen
other forms: sovereign
Popular sovereignty means that the people have sovereignty, not the central government
split
to divide into two or more parts
other forms: to split, splitting
Nebraska was split into two states, Kansas and Nebraska
tension
a feeling of fear or anger between two groups of people who do not trust each other
other forms: to become tense, tense
The compromise was an example of Congress working to resolve national tensions surrounding slavery
territory
an area of land, belonging to or connected with a particular county/person in the U.S., specifically a unit of the country that does not have the same rights and status as a member state
other forms: territorial
In 1852 and 1853, Congress considered various proposals for Nebraska to become a U.S. territory
threaten
to say that you will hurt someone or cause problems if they do not do what you want
other forms: threat, threatening
Secession was frequently threatened by slaveowners
turnout
the percentage of eligible voters who vote in an election
other forms: to turn out
There was a high turnout of 81% at the election
tyranny
when someone has unlimited power over people and uses it unfairly or cruelly
other forms: to tyrannize, tyrannical, tyrant
Americans wanted to limit the government’s power so that it could never become a tyranny
veto
an official power or right to refuse to accept/allow something
other forms: to veto
They vetoed the compromise bill on constitutional grounds
vote
a choice made by a particular person or group in a meeting or an election
other forms: to vote, to cast a vote, voter
The two parties are national, representing voters from both North and South
Note
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