Download Events Leading Up to the Civil War

Events Leading Up
to the Civil War
People moved west. And, new territories (TAIR-uh-tor-eez) formed.
Territories were areas of land outside the borders of the United States. After
enough people moved to an area, it could become a state. When a state joined
the Union, it sent men to Congress. These men represented the state. The
people in Missouri wanted to form a new state. Missouri could enter the Union
in one of two ways. It could be a slave state or a free state. A free state did not
let people have slaves.
The people in the South did not want those in the North to have more
power in Congress. The Northerners did not want slavery to spread. So in
1820, Henry Clay made a plan. It was called the Missouri Compromise. With
it, Missouri joined the Union as a slave state. The land that is now Maine
split from Massachusetts. Maine was a free state. All states above Missouri’s
southern border would be free states. All states below that border would be
slave states.
In 1850, California wanted to join the Union. It was a free state. But that
meant there would be more free states than slave states. The Southerners
were afraid. They thought Congress might end slavery. So, Henry Clay
helped write the Compromise of 1850. With it, California entered the Union
as a free state. Utah and New Mexico could choose to be free or slave states. 109
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#50082—Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union
The Fugitive (FEW-juh-tiv)
Slave Act also began in 1850.
It stated that all runaway
slaves must go back to their
owners. People who helped
these slaves would be jailed or
fined. Those who worked on
the Underground Railroad did
not follow this law.
Dred Scott was a slave. His
owner lived in Missouri. Then,
his owner moved to the free
state of Illinois. Next, he moved
to Wisconsin, a free territory.
Each time Scott went along.
With the help of some people,
Scott sued for his freedom. Why?
He had lived in a free state and
a free territory. His case went
before the U.S. Supreme Court in
1857. The judges said that slaves
were property! Like a horse, slaves
had no rights.
The Southerners were mad
when Abraham Lincoln was made
president. He did not like slavery.
Before he even took office, South
Carolina seceded (suh-SEED-ed)
from the Union. To secede means to
break away. It was December 1860.
The Civil War was about to start.
Comprehension Question
Why did Dred Scott sue for freedom?
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© Shell Education
Events Leading Up
to the Civil War
New territories (TAIR-uh-tor-eez) formed as people moved into the West.
Once an area’s population grew big enough, it could become a state. When
a state joined the Union, it sent men to Congress. These men represented
the state. The people in Missouri wanted to be a state. Missouri could
enter the Union as a slave state or a free state. A free state did not let
people have slaves.
The South did not want the North to have more votes in Congress. The
North did not want slavery to spread. So in 1820, Henry Clay made a
plan called the Missouri Compromise. With it, Missouri joined the Union
as a slave state, and the land that is now Maine split from Massachusetts.
Maine was a free state. This kept the number of free states and slave states
the same. And, from 1820 on, all states above Missouri’s southern border
would be free states. All states below that border would be slave states.
In 1850, California wanted to join the Union as a free state. But that
meant there would be more free states than slave states. The Southerners
were afraid that Congress might end slavery. So, Henry Clay helped write
the Compromise of 1850. With it, California entered the Union as a free
state, and Utah and New Mexico could choose to be free or slave states.
111
© Shell Education
#50082—Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union
The Fugitive (FEW-juh-tiv)
Slave Act also began in 1850.
It stated that all runaway
slaves must go back to their
owners and that those who
helped escaped slaves would
be jailed or forced to pay a
large fine. The people who
worked on the Underground
Railroad did not follow this law.
Dred Scott was a slave. His
owner lived in Missouri. Then,
the owner moved to the free
state of Illinois and later to
Wisconsin, a free territory. Each
time Scott went along. With the
help of some people, Scott sued
for his freedom. After all, he had
lived in a free state and a free
territory, so he should be free. His
case went before the U.S. Supreme
Court in 1857. The judges said
that slaves were property! Like a
horse, they had no rights. Slaves
were not United States citizens
(SIT-uh-zuhnz).
Most Southerners were unhappy
when Abraham Lincoln was elected
president. He did not like slavery.
Before he even took office, South
Carolina seceded (suh-SEED-ed),
or broke away, from the Union. It was
December 1860. The Civil War would
soon begin.
Comprehension Question
What made Dred Scott think he should be
a free man when he had been a slave?
112
#50082—Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union
© Shell Education
Events Leading Up
to the Civil War
New territories (TAIR-uh-tor-eez) formed as people moved into the West.
Once an area’s population grew large enough, it could apply to become
a state. Every state that entered the Union sent representatives (rep-rihSEN-tuh-tivs) to Congress. The people in Missouri wanted it to be a state.
Missouri could enter the Union as a slave state or a free state. A free state
did not allow people to keep slaves.
The Southerners did not want the Northerners to have more votes in
Congress, and the Northerners did not want slavery to spread. To smooth
things over, Henry Clay developed the Missouri Compromise in 1820.
With it, Missouri entered the Union as a slave state, and the land that is
now Maine separated from Massachusetts. Maine was a free state. This
kept the number of free states and slave states identical. In the future, all
states above Missouri’s southern border would be free. All the states below
that border would be slave states.
Later, California wanted to enter the Union as a free state in 1850. If
that happened, there would be more free states than slave states. The
Southerners protested. They worried that Congress would abolish slavery,
and their economy relied on the free labor. So, Clay helped write the
Compromise of 1850. With it, California entered the Union as a free state,
and Utah and New Mexico could choose to be free or slave states.
© Shell Education
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#50082—Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union
The Fugitive (FEW-juhtiv ) Slave Act also went
into effect. It stated that all
runaway slaves must go back
to their owners and that those
who helped escaped slaves
would be jailed or forced to
pay a hefty fine. The people
operating the Underground
Railroad were in violation
(VY-oh-lay-shun) of this law.
Dred Scott was a slave whose
owner lived in Missouri. Then,
the owner moved to the free state
of Illinois and later to Wisconsin,
a free territory. Each time Scott
went along. Then, with the
assistance of some abolitionists
(ab-uh-LISH-uhn-istz), Scott sued
for his freedom. After all, he had
lived in a free state and a free
territory, so he should be free. His
case went before the U.S. Supreme
Court in 1857. The justices said
that slaves were property, and like
livestock, they had no rights! They
were not United States citizens
(SIT-uh-zuhnz).
Most Southerners were unhappy
when Abraham Lincoln was elected
president because he was against
slavery. Before he took office, South
Carolina seceded (suh-SEED-ed) or
withdrew, from the Union. The year
was December 1860. The Civil War
would soon begin.
Comprehension Question
How did the problem of free states versus
slaves states affect Dred Scott?
114
#50082—Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union
© Shell Education
Events Leading Up
to the Civil War
New territories (TAIR-uh-tor-eez) formed as people moved west. After
an area’s population grew substantially, it could apply for statehood. Every
state that entered the Union sent representatives (rep-rih-SEN-tuh-tivs)
to Congress. In 1820, Missouri wanted to join the Union. Missouri could
enter the Union as a slave state or a free state. A free state did not allow
people to keep slaves.
The Southerners did not want the Northerners to have more votes in
Congress, and the Northerners did not want slavery to spread. To smooth
things over, Henry Clay devised the Missouri Compromise. With this
arrangement, Missouri entered the Union as a slave state, and the land
that is now Maine separated from Massachusetts. Maine was a free state,
so that kept the number of free states and slave states identical. Also, all
states above Missouri’s southern border would be free, while all states below
would be slave.
Later, California wanted to enter the Union as a free state. But, that
would tip the balance in favor of free states, and the Southerners protested.
They were worried that Congress would abolish slavery entirely, and
their economy depended on unpaid labor. So, Clay helped develop the
Compromise of 1850. With it, California entered the Union as a free state,
and Utah and New Mexico could choose to be free or slave states.
© Shell Education
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#50082—Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union
The Fugitive (FEW-juh-tiv)
Slave Act also went into effect.
It stated that all runaway
slaves must return to their
owners and that those who
assisted escaped slaves would
be imprisoned or forced to pay a
hefty fine. Abolitionists
(ab-uh-LISH-uhn-istz ) operated
the Underground Railroad in
direct violation (VY-oh-lay-shun)
of this law.
Dred Scott was a slave whose
owner lived in Missouri. Then,
the owner moved to the free state
of Illinois and later to Wisconsin,
a free territory, taking Scott
with him each time. With the
assistance of some abolitionists,
Scott sued for his freedom. His
case, which stated that since he
had lived in a free state and a free
territory, he should be free, went
before the U.S. Supreme Court in
1857. The justices ruled that slaves
were property, and like livestock,
they had no rights! Furthermore,
they were not considered United
States citizens (SIT-uh-zuhnz).
Since he disliked slavery, most
Southerners were unhappy when
Abraham Lincoln was elected president.
Even before he took office, South Carolina
seceded (suh-SEED-ed) from the Union. It
was December 1860.
Comprehension Question
Do you agree with the decision the
Supreme Court made about Dred Scott?
Explain your answer.
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© Shell Education