Missouri Compromise Year: 1820 What happened Missouri wanted to be a slave state-but they were denied at first because they had slaves. The compromise: Missouri would be admitted as a slave state Maine would be admitted as a free state The rest of the land would be divided at the 36030’ line of latitude Everything north of that line would be free Everything south would be slave Only dealt with: the LOUISIANA PURCHASE territory!

Publishing of The Liberator Year: 1831 What was it: An abolitionist newspaper that: spread the word about the atrocities surrounding slavery. As time went on, it gained more and more popularity and argued for the immediate emancipation of slaves. Published by: William Lloyd Garrison

Nat Turner’s Rebellion Year: 1831 What happened Nat Turner was considered to be a “man of destiny” Saw signs from God where he believed it was his calling to end slavery. Rebellion: he led a group of over 40 slaves that ended up killing about 60 whites. Turner was later arrested and executed. It led to a fear of free African Americans- Turner’s Rebellion made some southerners view African Americans as savage murderers. Many slave owners now forbid their slaves from visiting other plantations and going to their own churches.

Compromise of 1850 Year: 1850 What land did this cover: the Mexican Cession territory (what we got from the Mexican War) What are the 4 parts: California would be a free state (north is happy) The rest of the territory would be divided into the Utah and New Mexican territories- each would have popular sovereignty (the people would get to vote and decide on slavery) The slave trade was banned in Washington D.C. (north is happy) ***MOST CONTROVERSIAL PART- a stronger fugitive slave law- said that if a northern suspected an African American was a runaway slave and they did not turn them in, they also could be jailed!

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Year: 1852 What was it: a historical fiction book that detailed the atrocities of slavery based on a family led by “Uncle Tom.” Written after the Fugitive Slave Law was passed- tried to make slavery into a moral issue. Written by: Harriet Beecher Stowe- nicknamed by Lincoln “Little lady who started the great, big war”

Kansas-Nebraska Act Year: 1854 What was it: Stephen Douglas wanted more people to move to the west. Since the land was perfect for farming, he proposed allowing the residents who lived in these territories to have the ability to vote on whether or not these areas would have slaves (popular sovereignty). Made the Missouri Compromise: void (remember, under that compromise, both of these territories, given their location, should be free) Led to the creation of the Republican Party- a political party committed to ending the spread of slavery in the new territories.

Bleeding Kansas Year: 1856 What was it: the first continued bloodshed/fighting over the issue of slavery. Once it was all over, over 200 people died and millions of damage to property was done. Pottawatomie Massacre: started “Bleeding Kansas”- here pro-slavery settlers are murdered by abolitionists. Who started it: John Brown

Dred Scott v. Sandford Year: 1857 What was it: Dred Scott was a slave who believed he should be free because he had been taken by his master to free territory. Ruling: Slaves were property. Property is an inalienable right guaranteed by the Constitution that CANNOT be taken away. Therefore, Scott cannot be freed just because his master moved. In effect, this ruling allows slavery to spread everywhere because slave owners could now move with their slaves to any state.

Attack on Harper’s Ferry Year: 1859 What was it: an abolitionist attack on the federal arsenal (weapons supply facility) at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia (now WV). The plan was to steal the weapons and give them to slaves in the south so they could lead their own rebellions and gain their freedom. It fails. Who led it: John Brown (same from Bleeding Kansas)- he is captured by Robert E. Lee and executed. This divides the country even more: North sees him as a hero/martyr and the South sees him as a terrorist.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates Year: 1858 What was it: Lincoln challenges Douglas to a series of debates for the Illinois senator race. They talk about many issues- the most important is slavery. Their ideas are later talked about when both men run for president in 1860. Douglas wins the Senator race, but loses the presidential race. What was the Freeport Doctrine: when in Freeport, Illinois, Stephen Douglas says he supports popular sovereignty. This is VERY important because when he runs for president in 1860, that belief of Douglas splits the Democratic Party 3 ways (1 part that supports popular sovereignty, 1 part supports abolition, and 1 part supports slavery) and allows Lincoln to win the presidency with all of the Republican support.

Election of Lincoln Year: 1860 What happened: With the democratic party split 3 ways due to their different ideas about slavery, Lincoln wins the Election of 1860 with all of the Republican support. Remember: Republicans ONLY support an end to slavery in the territories, not complete abolition BUT- many states fear that slavery will soon be outlawed. As soon as Lincoln is announced having won the election, South Carolina secedes. 5 other states follow: Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. The form the Confederate States of America and name Jefferson Davis their president.

Fort Sumter Year: 1861 What happened: Lincoln needs to deal with the secession of the now “confederate” states. Instead of declaring war, he announces that he is sending more troops and supplies to the U.S. fort, Fort Sumter, in Charleston, SC. He knows that either SC will fire upon the U.S. ships which would lead to war that THEY started or they will back down and the issue will be over. SC fires upon U.S. ships- the U.S. navy is forced to retreat and both sides declare war on each other. The final four confederate states secede: Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas Four other slave states stay with the United States- they are called “border states” because they still had many loyalties to the Confederate states.