Unit 5: Topic 3 -- Division: The Road to the Civil War

Date Event What Happened? How did it lead to war? The MO Compromise admitted Missouri to the US as a It worked to keep the peace for almost 30 years, but it slave state and Maine as a free state, to keep the balance was only temporary. As more states entered the Union Missouri between free and slave states. (the US), they would have to face the issue of slavery in 1820 Compromise It drew a line at 36’30 through the Louisiana Purchase the territories. This increased sectionalism. territory - slavery would be allowed below the line, but prohibited above the line. A union that allowed state governments to ignore acts Tariffs and South Carolina argued that states could nullify the Tariff of of the national govt was not very strong, and faced the 1828- Nullification – 1832 and other acts of Congress if they thought they were danger of states seceding from the Union if Congress 1832 Review! unconstitutional. tried to abolish slavery.

 California would be admitted as free state Even through north and south got something they  Southern territories (New Mexico and Utah Territories) wanted from the Compromise, no one was very happy Compromise with it, because each side hated what they lost. 1850 acquired from Mexico could be open to slavery of 1850 Not a permanent solution to the issue.  Stronger Fugitive Slave Law passed

 Slave trade banned in DC (slavery still ok there) People in the North did not like being forced to  The Fugitive (runaway) Slave Law required people in the participate in slavery. This made people in the North Fugitive Slave 1850 North (free states) to capture slaves who had escaped care more about slavery. It made the abolitionists very Act and return them to their masters in the South. mad, and made them work harder to fight slavery.  It was a crime to help an escaped slave. Deepened the divisions between north and south.  A book by Harriet Beecher Stowe (an abolitionist) that Made many people in the North care about slavery for Uncle Tom’s described the life of a slave (Uncle Tom). the first time, so it helped the abolitionists. Southerners 1852 Cabin  It helped people in the North to understand how were angry because they felt it was an unfair and horrible slavery was inaccurate picture of the South (and made them look bad)  Kansas Territory was ready to apply for statehood. Allowed slavery north of the Missouri Compromise Line.  Gave people in Kansas and Nebraska the choice Showed that popular sovereignty was not the way to Kansas- 1854 whether to allow slavery in their states by a vote solve the problem – just created more problems. Nebraska Act (“popular sovereignty”) Led to Bleeding Kansas and the creation Republican  Repealed (took away) the Missouri Compromise line Party This was like a mini-Civil War, before the Civil War  Bloody fighting in Kansas as pro- and anti- slavery forces started. It was the first large violence between pro- 1854- Bleeding battled each other. slavery and anti-slavery forces. 1856 Kansas  Each side wanted to get the most supporters into Abolitionist John Brown went to Kansas to fight against Kansas, so they could win the vote on whether to allow slavery. slavery.  Created to oppose the spread of slavery. This united different people who opposed slavery, and  Made up of northern Democrats, anti-slavery Whigs, deepened the divisions between North and South. (The Creation of and Free-Soil Party members. Republicans were an all-northern party). Abraham 1854 Republican  They did not agree on many things, but they were all Lincoln would be the first Republican President. Party against the spread of slavery to new states. (Even if it was for different reasons.)  Dred Scott was a slave who had lived in a free state. He Takes away all rights of slaves, and all hope of ending sued for his freedom. slavery. Angers the free states and abolitionists. Takes Dred Scott  Supreme Court said that slaves were property, not away Congress’s power to limit slavery. 1857 Decision citizens, so they had no rights. South feels like they have the court’s blessing to  Also said that Congress does not have the right to ban continue slavery forever. (prohibit) slavery in any state. Abolitionist John Brown tries to start a slave rebellion. He John Brown becomes a martyr (someone who dies for a John Brown’s attacks the federal armory in Harpers Ferry (armory = cause). The South is convinced that the North is trying 1859 Raid on where the weapons are stored) and is defeated by federal to end slavery. The north celebrates John Brown as a Harpers Ferry troops. freedom fighter. People in the South did not trust the northern Election of  Abraham Lincoln (Republican) elected by northern Republicans. They did not feel like Lincoln represented 1860 1860 states. them at all. Deepened the divide between north and  Lincoln was against the spread of slavery but promised south. not to interfere with slavery where it already existed. Election of Lincoln is a “trigger” that results in secession Divides the US into the North (the Union) and the

(leaving) of South Carolina and then other southern states. Confederacy. Other southern states follow. 1860 South Carolina They feared that Lincoln would try to abolish slavery. The North and South will fight the Civil War because the Secedes north wants to preserve (keep) the Union.

The Road to the Civil War Vocabulary

Vocabulary Word Definition for this unit Example from this unit Antebellum Before the (Civil) War

Sectionalism Caring about your state or region of the country more than the country as a whole

Nullification Refusing to recognize a law. A state choosing to nullify (ignore) a federal law by not following it.

Abolition/Abolitionist Someone who is against slavery and thinks slavery should be abolished (gotten rid of). Abolitionists were against slavery because they thought it was wrong, or a sin. Popular Sovereignty A state choosing something for itself by a vote of the people, or popular vote (as opposed to being what to do by the federal government). Fugitive Someone on the run from the law, trying not to be captured.

Arsenal/Armory Where weapons and ammunition are kept. (guns, bullets, gunpowder, cannons)

Secession/Secede Leaving, or pulling apart from a larger thing. When the southern states left the US to form their own country, they seceded from the Union.