The Road to the Civil War Flashcards
What was the 4 proposals to resolve the question of rather slavery should be allowed to expand west? Explain the 4
Missouri Compromise- Above the line free belowe the line slave- Henry Clay
Wimot Proviso- Said that all land acquired from Mexico should be free (not open to slavery)
Compromise of 1850- Attempt to save the union- Henry Clay
Popular Sovereignty- Let the American People decide for themselves the issue of slavery- promoted by Stephen Douglas
What were the 6 events that polarized the North and the South between 1850 and 1860
The Fugitive Slave Law Uncle Toms Cabin Bleeding Kansas The Dred Scott Supreme Court Decision Raid at Harpers Ferry The Presidential Election of Abraham Lincoln
What was the Fugitive Slave Law?
Required all American citizens to help catch and return runaway slaves to the south
How did the fugitive slave laws split the two sides?
It caused many northerners to see slavery for the first time- This caused many to become aboltionists
What was Uncle Toms Cabin?
An anti slavery book written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe that revealed the evils of slavery.
It was an instant bestseller in the North and around the world
Queen Victoria Wept when she rid the book
What was Bleeding Kansas?
A border war between abolitionists and pro-slavery in 1854.
What was the Kansas Nebraska Act?
Introduced Popular sovereignty
A series of violent confrontations in the territory of Kansas involving anti slavery abolitionists and pro-slavery Border Ruffian People
Who was the leader of the Border Ruffians? And what were they called?
Henry Beecher was the leader and they were called “Beechers Bibles”
Who lead the Sacking of Lawrence and Potawatomie Creek Massacre? And how did it split the two sides?
John Brown
It was the first act of violence between the North and the South
What happened in the violence at congress?
Preston Brooks (Pro-slavery congressman) beats Charles Sumner (Abolitionist congressman) with a cane in congress`
What was the Dred Scott Supreme Court Decision of 1858?
A slave sued his master for his freedom based on where he lived (Illinois, Wisconsin)
What were the two questions that had to be asked before they could make a decision in the Dred Scott Supreme Court?
- Could blacks sue the USA government
2. Did freedom go with the territory
What was the ruling decision of the Dred Scott Case?
And why was it controversial?
- Blacks were not citizens of the USA thus could not sue
- Slaves were considered to be “property” thus the government could not take away a citizens property.
It was controversial because It said that slavery could exist anywhere in the North, South and West.
There was nothing the North could do to stop it.
What was the Raid at Harpers Ferry of 1859? And was Harpers Ferry? Why did it fail?
Abolitionist John Brown attempts to lead an armed slave uprising in Virginia
Purpose was to abolish slavery by force
Harper’s Ferry- USA federal arsenal-(storehouse of guns and ammunition)
It failed because no slaves came
Who came and put down the Raid at Harper’s Ferry?
And what happened to John Brown?
How did the event split the two sides?
Colonel Robert E. Lee
John Brown was captured and put on trial for treason
The North turned John Brown into a martyr (someone who is willing to die for a cause). He was compared to Jesus Christ
This angered the south, they thought of him as a traitor
What three new political parties came to the scene at the Presidential elections of 1856?
- Free soil party- opposed to the expansion of slavery west
- American Party- (Known nothings)- opposed to immigrants (Irish Catholics)
- Republican Party- anti-slavery party
In the Pro Slavery Party who wins? And who later becomes president?
The Democrats
James Buchanan
