Unit 10: Leading up to Civil War

• Missouri Compromise


  Used to make the Free States and Slave States balanced to appease both sides. Created in 1820. Missouri became a slave state, North split Massachusetts and created Maine, no Territories north of the 36° 30' parallel could allow slavery, except for Missouri.
• The Missouri Compromise


  Led to the constant back and forth on if new states should be Free States or Slave States. Many other compromises and laws were created solely because of this, which made it a main cause for the start of the Civil War.
• Groups connected to the Missouri Compromise

  • Anti-Slavery politicians
  • Pro-Slavery politicians
• Reactions of the North and South to the Missouri Compromise

  Neither side got what they really wanted. The North didn't like it because slavery was expanding into the westward territory. The South didn't like it because it would be more common for slavery to be opposed in new laws.
• Mexican-American War


  Conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. Sparked by diplomatic disputes and territorial disagreements, including the disputed border between Texas and Mexico.
• Causes of the Mexican-American War

  • Diplomatic issues
  • Effects from Mexican revolutions
  • Physical injury and property loss
  • Texas annexation
• Texas annexation


  Pulled the U.S. closer to the disputes between Mexico and Texas
• Mexico refused to recognize Texas as independent even after its annexation
• The southern border of Texas was disputed between the U.S. and Mexico, and inevitably caused the war
• This war was between the Mexicans and Americans over the territory of Texas
• North's reaction to the Mexican-American War

  • Anti-War Sentiment
  • Opposition to Slave Expansion
• South's reaction to the Mexican-American War

  • Support for the War
  • Patriotism and Nationalism
• Compromise of 1850


  A list of five laws used to address the issue of slavery in newly added territories within the Union. Included California becoming a free state, Texas giving up territory, establishing governments in New Mexico and Utah with no slavery restrictions, and restricting slave trade in the U.S. capital.
• The Compromise of 1850


  Connected to the Missouri Compromise, as it followed up on the rules set by the Missouri Compromise after the United States expanded westward.
• The Compromise of 1850


  Also connected to the Mexican-American War, as it gave the country access to new land that needed to be compromised on.
• People and groups involved in the Compromise of 1850

  • Henry Clay (proposed)
  • Millard Fillmore (signed into law)
  • Stephen A. Douglas (split the Compromise into laws)
  • Congress (decided whether to pass)
• Compromise of 1850 introduced to the Senate


  January 29, 1850
• Compromise of 1850 signed into law


  September 1850
• North's reaction to the Compromise of 1850


  • Did not love the idea, still believed slavery should be prohibited from new territories, broke out in anger over the Fugitive Slave Law, many states refused to obey the law
• South's reaction to the Compromise of 1850

  • Developed a slogan of "give us slavery or give us death", in favor of the Fugitive Slave Law, felt they were robbed of power over the government
• Uncle Tom's Cabin


  A novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852 that carried abolitionist ideals and became very popular, shining a new light on American slavery that other countries observed.
• Uncle Tom's Cabin


  Connected to the Missouri Compromise, as the novel highlighted the divide that the compromise unintentionally created, leading to the need for the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
• Uncle Tom's Cabin


  Caused the North to be dramatically transformed, with more abolitionists and average people desiring to get rid of slavery. The South also changed, with intense opposition in the North and fear of slave rebellions.
• Kansas-Nebraska Act


  Introduced by Senator Stephen A. Douglas in 1854, it split the Nebraska territory into Kansas and Nebraska and allowed for popular sovereignty on the issue of slavery, going against the Missouri Compromise.
• Kansas-Nebraska Act


  Caused violence to break out, known as "Bleeding Kansas", as both Democrats and Republicans tried to influence the vote in Kansas.
• The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, as it allowed for Kansas to become a slave state despite being north of the 36°30' latitude line.
• South's reaction to the Kansas-Nebraska Act

  • Saw it as unacceptable and a betrayal, became more committed to state rights
• North's reaction to the Kansas-Nebraska Act

  • Became angry, saw it as an act for slavery and against freedom, stopped supporting the Democrat party, saw Northern efforts to stop enforcing fugitive slave laws as sabotage
• "Bleeding Kansas"


  A series of attacks over slavery between pro-slavery and Free-Soil forces in Kansas, increasing tensions between the North and South.
• The cause of "Bleeding Kansas" was the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which determined that popular sovereignty would decide the slavery issue in Kansas.
• "Bleeding Kansas" was a series of attacks over slavery between pro-slavery and Free-Soil forces in Kansas, which increased tensions between the North and South
• The Northerners were against the Kansas-Nebraska Act


  The Southerners supported it
• There was controversy in Kansas over the issue of slavery, known as "Bleeding Kansas"
• Northern manufacturers helped build Topeka and Lawrence (free-towns)


  They did not want Kansas to be a slave state
• A senator believed that a free Kansas would threaten the right to slavery in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas


  The South supported this view
• The Caning of Senator Charles Sumner


  1. Senator Sumner berating the Democrats over issues surrounding Bleeding Kansas

  2. Congressman Preston Brooks walks onto the floor to defend his uncle, Senator Butler

  3. Brooks started beating Sumner over the head with a cane, almost killing him
• The action of Preston Brooks caused great outbursts of rage from the North, who wanted to vote and censure him for his acts against the Senator
• The South rewarded Brooks for his actions against Senator Sumner
• LeCompton Constitution


  Pro-slavery document framed in Lecompton, Kansas in 1857 for Kansas to attain statehood, containing clauses protecting slaveholding and a bill of rights excluding free blacks
• President James Buchanan resolved to admit Kansas as a state as soon as possible in response to the violence surrounding Bleeding Kansas