Pre-Civil War notes

Acquired from Mexico in 1853 for $10 million.
Aimed to facilitate a southern transcontinental railroad, providing a flat and hospitable route.
Transaction initiated by President Franklin Pierce, driven partly by southern interests in expanding slave territory.
The purchase included parts of present-day Arizona and New Mexico.

Established in 1848, the Free Soil Party was primarily a coalition of former anti-slavery Democrats and Whigs.
The party's slogan, "Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men," encapsulated its belief in preventing the expansion of slavery into western territories.
Key members included former President Martin Van Buren and Congressman Horace Greeley.
Participated in the 1848 and 1852 elections, winning some electoral votes and highlighting the sectional divisions within the country.

Began in 1848 after gold was discovered by James Marshall at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento.
The influx of gold seekers, known as "forty-niners," led to California's rapid population growth, with the state transitioning from a territory to statehood by 1850.
The Gold Rush significantly impacted demographic changes and resulted in the establishment of numerous towns and cities.
It also intensified debates over slavery as California sought to enter the Union as a free state.

A network of secret routes and safe houses used to help enslaved African Americans escape to free states and Canada.
The Underground Railroad became especially famous during the 1850s. Key figures included Harriet Tubman, who made 13 missions to rescue around 70 enslaved people.
Created a moral quandary for many in the North, intensifying sentiments against slavery.
This secretive operation relied on allies, some of whom risked their lives to aid escaped slaves.

A series of laws aimed to address the controversial status of slavery in territories acquired after the Mexican-American War.
Key provisions included:
- Admission of California as a free state.
- The creation of Utah and New Mexico territories with popular sovereignty, allowing settlers to decide on the legality of slavery.
- A stricter Fugitive Slave Act, requiring the return of runaway slaves to their owners.
- Abolition of the slave trade in Washington D.C.
The compromise temporarily eased tensions but had lasting implications for the sectional conflicts.

Founded in the 1830s in opposition to President Andrew Jackson’s policies, focusing on modernization and economic protectionism.
The party was comprised of various factions, including former National Republicans and anti-Jackson Democrats.
Key issues included promoting infrastructure projects and opposing the expansion of slavery.
The party began to fracture in the 1850s over the issue of slavery, eventually dissolving by the end of the decade.

A document written in 1854 that outlined the U.S. rationale for acquiring Cuba by purchase or force.
The manifesto sparked controversy among anti-slavery advocates, fearing that it aimed to extend slavery into new territories.
Though not acted upon, it reflected the aggressive expansionist mindset of the era and increased sectional tensions.

Fought between Britain and China from 1839 to 1842, primarily over trade disputes concerning opium.
Resulted in a decisive British victory, leading to the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, which opened several Chinese ports and ceded Hong Kong to Britain.
Significantly contributed to the decline of the Qing Dynasty and opened China to increased foreign influence.

Passed in 1854, the act created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing settlers to determine the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty.
Intended to facilitate the construction of a transcontinental railroad, the act soon led to violent conflicts over whether Kansas would be a free or slave state, known as "Bleeding Kansas."
The act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise and intensified national divisions over slavery.

Born into slavery in Maryland around 1822, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849.
Known as "Moses" for leading enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad, she made approximately 13 missions to rescue around 70 individuals.
Tubman was also an advocate for women's suffrage and played a role in the Civil War as a nurse and spy for the Union Army.
Her legacy embodies bravery and determination in the fight against slavery.

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1852, this novel illustrated the harsh realities of enslaved life, influencing public opinion and galvanizing anti-slavery sentiments in the North.
The book’s portrayal of slavery was emotionally powerful and became a bestseller, influencing the abolitionist movement.
It sparked anger and opposition in the South, where it was banned and criticized for its depictions.

A landmark 1857 Supreme Court case where Dred Scott, an enslaved man, sued for his freedom based on his residence in a free territory.
The Court ruled that African Americans were not U.S. citizens and therefore had no right to sue.
The decision declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, intensifying debates over slavery's expansion and deepening sectional tensions.

A series of seven debates during the 1858 Illinois Senate campaign between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas.
Focused on the issue of slavery's expansion into the territories, with Lincoln opposing its growth and Douglas advocating for popular sovereignty.
The debates elevated Lincoln’s national profile, aiding his eventual presidential candidacy in 1860.

An abolitionist known for his radicalism, John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry in 1859, aiming to instigate a slave uprising.
His actions were met with mixed reactions, seen as heroic by abolitionists and as terrorism by many in the South.
Brown was captured, tried, and executed, becoming a martyr for the anti-slavery cause in the North.

Held on November 6, 1860, the election featured multiple candidates: Abraham Lincoln (Republican), Stephen A. Douglas (Northern Democrat), John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat), and John Bell (Constitutional Union).
Lincoln’s election, secured without any Southern electoral votes, provoked immediate secession of several Southern states, fearing his anti-slavery stance.
This election is commonly cited as a catalyst for the onset of the Civil War, as it highlighted and exacerbated sectional divisions within the United States.