1. Road to the Civil War
Chapter 15

2. Missouri Compromise- Problem
When Missouri applied for statehood, the Senate was balanced with 11 free states and 11 slave states
If admitted as a slave state, the balance of power would be unbalanced
Henry Clay’s solution suggested that Maine also be added as a free state, keeping the balance of power

3. Missouri Compromise- Solution
Clay also suggested a law be passed that prohibited slavery in all territories and states made from the Louisiana Purchase north of 36°30”N- with Missouri being the exception
Both proposals were passed by Congress in 1820

4. Argument over Territory
North and the South began competing for new territories in the West
North wanted to stop the spread of slavery, while the South resented the North for interfering
Missouri Compromise settled disputes on land from the LA Purchase, but as new lands were gained, the debate for slave v. free state continued

5. Wilmot Proviso
Debate b/t David Wilmot of PA and John Calhoun of SC over new lands in the West
Wilmot’s plan (Wilmot Proviso) called for prohibition of slavery in any lands from Mexico
Calhoun argued that the government did not have the power to prohibit slavery in a territory
Neither plan passed in Congress, and the heated debate b/t North and South continued

6. Compromise of 1850
Clay presented a 5-part plan to help settle the issue
CA admitted as a free state
NM Territory would have no slavery restrictions
NM/TX border dispute would go in favor of NM
Slave trade (but not slavery) would be abolished in Washington, D.C.
Stronger fugitive slave law

7. Compromise of 1850
The plan as a whole could not pass, so was split into 5 different bills so could be voted on separately in Congress
All 5 passed by September of 1850

8. Fugitive Slave Act Passed as a result of the Compromise of 1850
Said that all citizens should help capture and return slaves who had run away
Anyone caught helping runaways could be fined or put in jail
Many Northern juries refused to convict people accused of breaking this

9. Kansas-Nebraska Act
plans to make Kansas and Nebraska states were met with opposition b/c both would come in as free states under the Missouri Compromise
b/c this would shift the power in the Senate, it was proposed that they country abandon the Missouri Compromise and let settlers in the new states decide whether or not to allow slavery (known as popular sovereignty)

10. Kansas- Nebraska Act
1854 Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, opening the door to slavery in the new states
Northerners were angry and mistrust grew b/t the two regions

11. Bleeding Kansas
After K/N Act passed, proslavery and antislavery groups went to Kansas to influence voters
The actions led to blood shed and fighting b/t the groups continued until the U.S. Army was called to end it

12. Republican Party
Critics of the Kansas-Nebraska Act formed a new political party called the Republican Party
Main issue was the abolition of slavery, very strong in the North
Disagreed with the extension of slavery into any new states

13. Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
Dred Scott (slave) was taken by his owner to the North where he lived for a few years, then back to the South into slavery
Scott sued for his freedom, claiming that he could not be taken back into slavery
Case was taken to the Supreme Court

14. Supreme Court Decision
1857 Chief Justice Roger Taney gave the decision that stated that b/c Scott was a slave he could not file a lawsuit
Also said that slaves were “property” and belonged to their owners
This meant that Congress could not prohibit slavery b/c it would be taking away people’s property

15. Lincoln-Douglas Debates
1858 Lincoln challenged Senator Robert Douglas, author of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, to a series of debates
Lincoln said that African Americans were human beings with rights guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence and opposed any further spread of slavery

16. Debates
Douglas claimed that Lincoln wanted African-Americans to be equal to whites, but Lincoln denied it saying that he just felt slavery was wrong
Douglas won the election of 1858 over Lincoln, but the Democrats began feeling increasing pressure from the Republican Party

17. Harper’s Ferry
1859 John Brown (a white abolitionists) led a slave revolt at Harpers Ferry Virginia
Planned more revolts in Kansas and VA
Rebellion quickly crushed and Brown was tried and executed, but Brown became a hero to ppl in the North