PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Northwest Ordinance (1787)
This ordinance made the Northwest Territory be split into 5 states. People had their freedom of religion protected, a three stage process was used to approve states into the union, people had the right to a trial by jury, slavery was frowned upon, and education was encouraged. This could've caused tension as the North got 5 free states. The south was angry as it gave the North more political power, also.
MISSOURI COMPROMISE (1820)
This added Maine and Missouri to the Union. Maine prohibited slavery, Missouri didn't. This gave southern slave owners the right to pursue their escaped slaves in the North. The southerners were angry that Congress was allowed to make laws about slavery, and the North was angry as another slave state was added. This could've lead to the Civil war, as they both wanted totally different things. The south wanted more slave states, and the north wanted more free states.
Texas Annexation (February 1845)
This was when Texas became a state. The territory next to it became Washington, Oregon, and part of Idaho. This may have angered the North as this created several more Southern states, and therefore more slave states.
MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR (MAY 1845)
Mexico needed money, and we offered to buy a good amount of their land. However, Mexico refused, as they didn't want to give more land to the U.S. We tried to scare them into it, and they attacked us. We then declared war. People in the South supported the war, but people in the North did not. They thought that Polk started the war, and were angry. This caused a dispute between the North and South.
Wilmot Proviso (August 1846)
This proposal was supposed to settle the dispute between the North and South, because we gained land from Mexico that the Missouri compromise didn't cover. David Wilmot proposed that any land gained from the Mexican-American war be made a free state. It didn't become a law, but it made Southerners concerned. They saw it as the North attacking them. This could cause tension, as they had different views and the South thought the North was attacking them.
Free Soil Party Founded (Summer 1848)
This party was against slavery. They believed soil gained from the Mexican-American war should be free from slavery. This party did poorly in the election, but it prevented Cass from winning the election. This could've caused tension, as this was a party against slavery. Most of the South promoted slavery, and this could've made some angry. This could've helped lead to the war.
Fugitive Slave Law (September 1850)
This was due to the fact that the South threatened to secede if California was admitted as a free state. Clay settled this by passing five bills. Calhoun stated that the way to preserve the South's way of life was to secede or to have a Constitutional amendment to protect their rights. This caused tension as the South was still worried about Northerners attacks on slavery.
Compromise of 1850 (September1850)
This was the name of the series of 5 bills passed based on Henry Clay's proposals. This made California free, and Congress banned the slave trade in the Nation's capital. Congress, however, couldn't interfere with the slave trade between slave states. This could've caused tension, as it gave the North another free state, which could've made the South angry.
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
This Act proposed to have a Kansas and Nebraska territory. These places both were closed to slavery because of the Missouri Compromise, so Southerners objected immediately. But then, it was proposed that it would be decided if it was a slave state or not by popular sovereignty. Then the North was upset as Southerners could all move in and take over the vote. This caused tension as the North and South were fighting over whether Nebraska and Kansas were supposed to be slave states or not.
Republican Party Is Founded (1854)
This party was anti-slavery. This party was 105/245 candidates elected to the House of Representatives. This could've angered the South as this was mostly a Northern party. This could've made tension too, as one Northern party had just under half of the HOR. The South was upset by the North's huge representation.
Bleeding Kansas (1855)
This was about how people from the North and South both moved to Kansas and Nebraska to vote about slavery. They both were trying hard to keep their side. Also, Missourians went to Kansas to illegally vote about slavery. This could've created tension as they were both avidly fighting to keep their belief in slavery.
Dred Scott Decision (1857)
This was a huge decision that stated that slaves aren't citizens, they were still property, and that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. This caused issues as this was a huge defeat for the North. This caused so much shock and anger in the North towards the South.
Election of 1860 (November 1860)
This was Lincoln's successful election. This was a big boost for the North, as he was an avid anti-slavery activist. He won 40% of the popular votes, and won. People in the South didn't like this at all. This could've caused tension, as the South was very angry at the fact an anti-slavery president was elected. This could've lead to many discrepancies.
South Carolina Secedes From the Union (December 20, 1860)
This was a huge deal, as a whole Southern state left the union. The South thought that they would be destroyed with this new president, and every state wanted to secede in the South. This caused tension as the South was very angry over the new president. This lead to many arguments between the North and South.
