The document summarizes key events related to slavery and western expansion between 1850-1860. It discusses the Compromise of 1850 which admitted California as a free state and established popular sovereignty in the Utah and New Mexico territories. Tensions rose as the Kansas-Nebraska Act established popular sovereignty in those territories, resulting in violence between pro- and anti-slavery settlers in "Bleeding Kansas." The 1857 Dred Scott decision found African Americans could not be citizens and Congress could not regulate slavery in the territories, further dividing the North and South. Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860 without any Southern electoral votes, prompting several Southern states to secede and form the Confederate States of America.
2. Slavery and Western Expansion
Wilmot Proviso
Any territory the US gained from Mexico would be slave free
Passed in House but never got to the Senate
Opposed by the Southern States
Popular Sovereignty
Each new territory would decide for themselves if they were slave or free
Secession
Taking states out of the Union
South began talking about it if California would enter as a free state
This would make the balance of power in the Senate unequal
3. Compromise of 1850
Was to ease tensions between the North and South over slavery
California enters as Free State
Popular Sovereignty determines slavery in Utah and New
Mexico territories
Texas and New Mexico boarder was resolved, New Mexico
gets more land and Texas gets 10 million dollars
Slave Trade abolished in D.C., but not slave trade in US
Federal Enforcement of Fugitive Slave Act
4. Section 2
Effects
of Fugitive Slave Act
Law unfairly sent free African Americans to the South
Led to corruption in federal govt.
Led to Northern Hostility toward the South
Underground RR
Well organized system that helped slaves escape to the North
Leaders were called conductors
Harriet Tubman
5. Section 2
Transcontinental Railroad
Railroad that would connect the eastern and western United States
Led to a debate of where the RR would start and what direction it
would go
Kansas Nebraska Act
Wanted settlement in Kansas and Nebraska Territories
SLAVE OR FREE?
divided Kansas into Slavery and Nebraska as a free state
6.
7.
Bleeding Kansas
Slave setters and anti-slave settlers were setting in Kansas
Boarder Ruffians-Pro slave men from Mizzou who stormed into KS and voted
illegally setting up a pro slave legislature
Free state settlers set up their own government ---KS has two governments at this
time
Lawrence Kansas was attacked by Boarder Ruffians who ransacked the town
Led to a nickname of Bleeding Kansas due to the territorial civil war between pro
and anti slave groups
Over 200 people died and millions of dollars of property had been destroyed
8. The Caning of Charles Sumner
Sumner was an anti-slave Senator from Massachusetts gave a speech
accusing the Southern Senators and Andrew Butler of South Carolina of
forcing Kansas into the ranks of slavery
Preston Brooks, a cousin of Butler beat Sumner savagely on the floor of the
Senate
Many southerners viewed Brooks as a hero
The event strengthened the Northern anti-slave movement
9.
10. Section 3
Political
Parties of the Era
Whig—opposed Democratic
Party
Democrat—Dominated by Southern Senators
Liberty—abolitionists
Free-Soil—made of Anti-slavery Whigs and Democrats
Republicans—Strong opponents of slavery, still a party
today
Know Nothings—anti Catholic and Anti immigration
11. Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who lived for a time in a free territory
Sued for his freedom
Decided that African Americans were not citizens and could not
sue
Said that the govt could not limit slavery in the territories
Led to further distance between the North and South
12. Lincoln vs Douglas
Held
a series of debates for Illinois Senate race
Lincoln
opposed slavery and Douglas wanted Popular
Sovereignty
Douglas
won the election but Lincoln gained new
support nationally in the Republican Party
13. John Brown
An extreme abolitionist
Moved to Kansas to help in the free settlers against slavery
Became a hero in the north
Led the insurrection in Virginia against slaveholders by raiding
Harpers Ferry
Was captured and hanged
14. Section 4
Election
of 1860
Lincoln won without any southern state support
Democratic vote was split between North and South, making
the candidates split votes vs Lincoln
Set the wheels in motion for the secession of the southern
states
15. Causes
Slavery
Kansas Nebraska Act
Violence
John Brown’s raid
Confederates attacked Ft.
Sumter in South Carolina
Slavery outlawed in the
U.S.
Southern States rebuilt
their economy
African Americans gain
citizenship and the right to
vote
First Civil Rights laws were
passed
Southern States Secession
Dred Scott Ruling
Effects