Causes of Civil War Flashcards
Missouri Compromise
A legislation in 1820 that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a non-slave state; created by Henry Clay. This establishes a balance of power between the northern and southern americans.
Missouri Compromise Line
The Missouri Compromise Line is created as a slave/non-slave state barrier.
Wilmot Proviso
A proposal in 1846 created by David Wilmot that would ban slavery in the territories acquired after the war with Mexico. This was an unsuccessful bill because it would create an imbalance of representation for the South.
Compromise of 1850
Known as the “Great Compromise and was proposed by Henry Clay. It would admit california as a free state, the abolition of slave TRADE in Washington DC. It would require runaway slaves to be returned to their owners even if they were in an anti-slave state.
Problems of Compromise of 1850
However, the strengthening of the fugitive slave law led to many in Utah and New Mexico questioning the popular sovereignty and idea of slavery such as: problems within the state territory, and possible cheating during voting.
Popular Sovereignty
The idea that the people of a state should be able to decide the status of slavery in their territory.
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
(Also known as the Runaway Slave Act) was an act that stated all runaway slaves must be returned to their masters which led to widespread anger throughout the north. People caught up in runaway slave auctions who weren’t the slave being looked for and weren’t given a trial by jury to prove who they were/testify for themselves. The Southern states argued that laws were necessary to protect their property.
Personal Liberty Laws
Laws passed in 9 northern states to protect runaway slaves from being returned to their masters. This prohibited state officials from aiding in the return of runaway slaves and gave the accused trial by jury. Was struck down by the supreme court in 1842.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
An attempt to settle the question of slavery in the western territories by forming two new territories (Kansas and Nebraska) and allowing for popular sovereignty in those areas in 1854. It allowed the new states to vote to be a free or slave state, the people would determine if they would allow slavery in their country.
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision was the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on March 6, 1857, that Dred Scott, an enslaved man, was not entitled to freedom just because he had lived in a free state and territory.
John Brown
A white abolitionist who was known for his more radical attacks on slave owners. Seen as a hero to most northerners and villian to southerners, during bleeding Kansas he and his sons lead an attack on pro slavery citizens (Harpers Ferry). He would claim that his actions were a will of God, and it never should have escalated to the way it did resulting in the hanging of December 2nd 1859 after being convicted of treason.
Abolitionists
People who support the removal of slavery. There were two types of abolitionists: gradual and immediate. Harriet Beacher Slowe, Frederick Douglas, and Harriet Tubman were three major abolitionists.
Bleeding Kansas
A name created from 1854-1856 due to the violent attacks that occurred during the settlement of the Kansas territory.
Secession of 1860
Southern states seceded from the Union-states rights. They formed the Confederate States of America and Jefferson Davis was elected the President of Confederacy on February 18, 1861.
Election of 1860
The election in which Lincoln won with a majority of the electoral votes (180) but only 40% of the popular vote. He dominated the northern vote but did not have a single southern vote. It established the idea between democrats and republicans being the major parties of the United States.
