Sectionalism and Slavery in the Territories

Flashcards summarizing key concepts related to sectionalism and slavery in the territorial debates leading up to the Civil War.

Sectionalism

A division or conflict based on regional differences, particularly regarding slavery in the U.S.

Compromise of 1850

A package of five bills aimed at defusing tensions between free and slave states.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Fugitive Slave Law

Laws that required the return of enslaved people who escape from one state into another.

Zachary Taylor

The 12th President of the United States whose presidency was marked by the debate over slavery in the territories.

Calhoun's Argument

A defense of southern rights in the territories and a warning of possible secession.

Omnibus Bill

A proposed law that encompasses multiple issues or subjects, often seen in the context of compromising political agreements.

Seward's Higher Law Argument

The idea that morality and divine law should take precedence over man's laws, particularly concerning slavery.

Stephen Douglas

A prominent politician known for his role in the debates over the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

A novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe that depicted the harsh realities of slavery, influencing public opinion.