Slavery Issues 1820-1856

Slavery Issue 1820-1850

• Missouri Compromise (1820): Established Missouri as a slave state, Maine as a free state, and the 36°30' line prohibited slavery north of this latitude in the Louisiana Territory.
• Nullification Crisis (1832-33): Disputes over states' rights, particularly South Carolina's opposition to federal tariffs, highlighted divisions about federal power versus state power, indirectly related to slavery.
• Annexation of Texas (1845): Texas joined the Union as a slave state, intensifying conflicts over slavery's expansion.
• Compromise of 1850: California entered as a free state; the Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened, demanding the return of runaway slaves; Utah and New Mexico utilized popular sovereignty to decide on slavery.
• Slave Trade Abolished in Washington D.C. (1850): A symbolic gesture against slavery, while permitting the practice in Southern states.

Sectional Division Widening 1850-1856

• Fugitive Slave Act (1850): Increased resistance in the North, as abolitionists opposed returning escaped slaves; fueled the Underground Railroad.
• Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852): Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel exposed harsh realities of slavery and strengthened abolitionist efforts.
• Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854): Repealed the Missouri Compromise and introduced popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska, leading to violent conflicts (Bleeding Kansas).
• Formation of the Republican Party (1854): An anti-slavery coalition emerged, opposing slavery's extension to new territories, uniting northern Whigs, Free-Soilers, and abolitionists.
• Dred Scott Case (1857, Context): Early court decisions favored pro-slavery interpretations of the Constitution, increasing sectional division.

Republican Victory 1860 Election

• Democratic Party Split: Northern and Southern Democrats supported different candidates, splitting the party's vote. Northern Democrats supported Stephen Douglas and popular sovereignty, while Southern Democrats backed John C. Breckinridge and a pro-slavery agenda.
• Republican Platform: Opposing slavery's expansion, but not its elimination in existing states, appealed to northerners who favored free labor and infrastructure improvements.
• Lincoln's Leadership: Lincoln's moderate stance appealed to diverse groups in the North and West, and he won all free states.
• Sectional Divisions: Lincoln won all free states but was rejected in the South, demonstrating the growing rift between North and South -- he was not even included in some Southern ballots.

Civil War Beginning (April 1861)

• Secession Crisis: Following Lincoln's election, Southern states seceded and formed the Confederate States of America. South Carolina seceded in December 1860, followed by six other states by February 1861.
• Compromise Failures: Attempts at compromise, such as the Crittenden Compromise, failed to bridge the gap; Republicans rejected proposals attempting to extend slavery.
• Fort Sumter (April 1861): The decision to resupply Fort Sumter, a pivotal federal fort in Charleston Harbor, triggered a Confederate attack, initiating the Civil War.
• Conflicting Views on Sovereignty: The South viewed secession as a legitimate assertion of states' rights, while the North, under Lincoln, saw it as a rebellion threatening the Union's survival.
• Economic and Political Divide: Industrial North versus agrarian, slavery-dependent South exacerbated tensions; Southern fears of losing influence in federal politics pushed them toward war.

This quiz explores key events related to the slavery issue in the United States from 1820 to 1856. It covers significant legislations such as the Missouri Compromise, the Nullification Crisis, and the Compromise of 1850, illustrating how these events contributed to sectional divisions. Test your knowledge on how these historical moments shaped the future of slavery and state rights.