Ch.15,Sec.2 – The Crisis Deepens The Fugitive Slave Act The Fugitive Slave Act - after the Compromise of 1850 was passed, Harriet Beecher Stowe expressed her outrage towards slavery by writing her famous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin - the 1850 law to help slaveholders recapture runaway slaves was called the Fugitive Slave Act - Northerners hated the law & resented having to help slave catchers
Ch.15,Sec.2 – The Crisis Deepens - also, Northerners hated watching slave catchers capture free African Americans and the Fugitive Slave Act also brought the issue of slavery to their front doors - Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published in 1852 and helped others to see the immoralities of slavery The Kansas-Nebraska Act The Kansas-Nebraska Act - slavery became a controversial issue in the Nebraska territory after Stephen A. Douglas drafted a bill separating the territory into two areas: Nebraska & Kansas - would the areas allow slavery or be free?
Ch.15,Sec.2 – The Crisis Deepens - the issue was left to popular sovereignty where the people in those areas would vote on the issue of slavery - if the bill was passed and allowed slavery, the Missouri Compromise would be voided - unfortunately for abolitionists, the bill passed and became known as the Kansas- Nebraska Act, which repealed the Missouri Compromise, pleasing Southerners
Ch.15,Sec.2 – The Crisis Deepens - Kansas would soon turn into a major battle-ground over the issue of slavery “Bleeding Kansas” “Bleeding Kansas” - thousands flocked into Kansas before the election to vote illegally on the legislation legalizing slavery - the legislation became packed with proslavery representatives and both sides began arming themselves after the political disputes - eventually, both sides continually attacked each other for a span of three years resulting in multiple deaths
Ch.15,Sec.2 – The Crisis Deepens Violence in Congress Violence in Congress - in May of 1856, Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts delivered a speech attacking proslavery forces in Kansas and Southern politicians - Sumner was attacked for his remarks and “Bleeding Sumner” & “Bleeding Kansas” became the rallying cry for Northerners seeking a new political party opposing slavery