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The Road to Civil War
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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
1.
California would be admitted as a
free state, and the slave trade
would be abolished in
Washington D.C.
2.
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 AfricanAmericans 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.