The Road to Civil War Get ready to write down the title and underlined information behind the flap in your foldable.

Missouri Compromise 1820 With the rise of support of abolition in America, people become concerned with the growth of slavery as America moves out west. The Northern and Southern politicians have heated debates over the growth of slavery Henry Clay, known as the Great Compromiser settles the debate by saying that Maine would be admitted as a free state and Arkansas would be open to slavery The Missouri Compromise were a series of laws that helped maintain the balance between slave state and free states

The Nullification Crisis 1832 Due to the passing of tariff laws of 1828 and 1832 Southern states like South Carolina felt that the tariffs were unfair and only supported the North. Vice President John C. Calhoun said any state could nullify (make void) a federal law it considers unconstitutional. When the federal government denied South Carolina’s argument that they had the right to reject a federal law, South Carolina threatened to secede. Henry Clay came up with a compromise and lowered the tariff.

Compromise of 1850 After the war with Mexico, congress had many heated debates as to whether the new territories won from Mexico would be admitted as slave states or free states. Henry Clay once again, helped make a compromise between the North and the South California would be admitted as a free state, and the slave trade would be abolished in Washington D.C. Congress would not pass laws banning slavery from the rest of the territories won from Mexico. Some people felt the compromise helped save the Union

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 The Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1850 by the Congress. The act permitted the capture of African-Americans who had fled to the north to escape bondage This act convinced many abolitionists that radical measures were necessary to end slavery. These laws heightened tension, and set the stage for John Brown's Raid and the American Civil War.

Bleeding Kansas 1855 Before Kansas was to enter the Union there was going to be an election of an official state legislature. 5000 people from nearby proslavery Missouri came and voted for proslavery representatives in Kansas illegally. As a result, Kansas had a proslavery legislature. Anti-slavery opponents started their own government. The anti-slavery government was attacked by proslavery forces. To avenge this attack, extreme abolitionist John Brown murdered several of his proslavery neighbors

Attack on Harpers Ferry 1859 John Brown wanted to inspire slaves to fight for their freedom. He planned to capture the arsenal at the army base in Harpers Ferry, Virginia to arm the slaves. Brown sent word to rally the slaves to join him in his fight, but none followed. Brown and his men were captured, and ten were killed. Abolitionists saluted John Brown as he was put to death, the issue of slavery had raised tensions in America to the breaking point.

Dred Scott Decision

The Election of 1860 Abraham Lincoln wins the election, despite his statements that he would do nothing to abolish slavery in the South, Southerners do not trust him. Southern states begin to secede from the Union shortly after Lincoln is elected.