Coming of the Civil War - Compromise of 1850

california statehood

The Constitution proposed by the citizens of California was written as a free-state constitution, however, the South went against this as they believed that they were majorly responsible for the Mexican Cession and wanted to expand slavery westward. It was later annexed as a free state in 1850.

fugitive slave act

In return for the annexation of California as a free state, the Fugitive Slave Act was to be strictly enforced in all states, including the North. It said that all slaves in the North must be returned to the South

anthony burns

captured in boston and taken back to slavery, people in boston didn't oppose it

margaret garner

killed own child before being returned to slavery

clay/douglas

Douglas attempted to take on Clay's place as a compromiser by suggesting that states decide on the issue of slavery with popular sovereignty.

kansas-nebraska act

repealed missouri compromise, gave purpose to free-soilers, organize territories, preserved the union, whig party split and died, dems aren't happy

popular sovereignty

Each state would have a majority vote on whether their constitution would allow the ownership of slaves

border ruffians

Southerners who flooded into Kansas during the vote of slavery to attempt to send the votes towards slavery

free-soilers

did not want the westward expansion of slavery due to economic reasons and more jobs, not necessarily abolitionists

lecompton

kansas is chiefly free-soilers, pro-slavery men write constitution that is boycotted by free-soilers, supported by buchanan, popular sovereignty championed by douglas, kansas denied statehood until 1861

lawrence

A town that was run down by border ruffians; sacked when a pro-slavery federal marshal and his posse went to arrest anti-slavery leaders and burned down the town

pottawatomie creek massacre

abolitionist John Brown, five of his sons, and three other associates murdered five proslavery men at three different cabins along the banks of Pottawatomie Creek

topeka

Anti Slavery part of Kansas; Free staters met at Topeka and created their own territorial constitution

john brown (harper's ferry)

A slave revolt led by abolitionist John Brown that ensued fear into the people of the South

sumner

Southern, Pro-Slavery Representative Preston Brooks walked into Senate and used his walking stick to beat Charles Sumner, a Northerner and anti-slavery advocator.

bleeding kansas

Proslavery MO's arrive (border ruffians) to vote and New England anti slavery people came to vote, led to lots of violence in Kansas

dred scott decision

Supreme court voted in favor of slavery (against Scott), slaves and their descendants are not considered citizens, property is protected by the 5th amendment (slaves considered property), MO Compromise was never valid because slavery was protected throughout all of the U.S. according to the 5th amendment; even living in a free state didn't make them free

lincoln-douglas debates

Rep. Lincoln was competing with the famed Stephen Douglas to be the senator of Illinois. During these debates, Lincoln said slavery should not expand westward. Douglas supported popular sovereignty as proposed in the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Lincoln used this against him to defame him in the South by getting him to admit that he was fine with a state not having slavery if they voted that way. Lincoln wins the debate, Douglas wins the seat

freeport doctrine

before becoming states, territories can decide if they want to be a free or slave state by passing legislation accordingly (supported by douglas, destroying his power in the south)