Political Divide- leading to the Civil War Flashcards
What was the Missouri Compromise and when was it reached?
1820, Maine (free) and Missouri (slave) were granted statehood, line established in Louisiana Purchase area for slave/ non-slave states
How did the Mexican-American War affect the slavery debate?
Wilmot Proviso any added states from the newly gained territory had to be free states
What did the Compromise of 1850 do?
Admitted California as a free state, no restrictions on slavery in other lands from mexican war
What did the Kansas-Nebraska Act do and when was it reached?
Illinois senator Stephen Douglas trades away guarantee that Kansas as a free state for northern route of new east
Why did Stephen Douglas negotiate the compromise?
to build west railway
What happened in Kansas as a result and why did it further divide the country?
Anti slavery and Pro slavery forces moved to the state to participate in voting on the status of slavery in the territory
The election was not seen as legitimate by most, pro slavery forces win
Anti slavery government is formed but not recognized by president Franklin Pierce
What were the facts of Dred Scott case and how did the Supreme Court rule?
a slave sued for his freedom (he argued he had resided in a free state so he should be free),
ruled a slave is not a citizen and had no social, political and civil rights, slaves can be taken to free areas of deprivation of property without due process of law
How did the Dred Scott case affect the Missouri Compromise? Why was that important?
declared unconstitutional because it deprives slave owners of property rights
the decision brought support for Republican party
What positions did Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln take on slavery in the 1858 Illinois Senate race?
Douglas, D- “popular sovereignty”, sought out compromise with South
Lincoln, R- wanted to stop spread of slavery, thought blacks should have rights but does not advocate strongly
What were John Brown’s views toward slavery and the government? What did he do in Kansas?
he believed the gov’t had failed to abolish slavery and action to do so was needed
moved to Kansas to join slavery debate
What was Brown’s plan when he raided Harper’s Ferry in 1859?What was the outcome?
his plan was to take over arsenal there, attempt to start slave insurrection in South
raid failed, federals fear white southerners, abolitionist saw Brown as hero
What significant development did the Raid at Harpers ferry lead to in the South?
believed that brown was part of “Republican conspiracy”
