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The Compromise of 1850 was a series of bills passed to balance power between free and slave states. It included admitting California as a free state, creating stricter Fugitive Slave laws, and settling border disputes. This tried to keep peace but angered both the North and South. -
California Joined the US as a free state in 1850, tipping the balance in Congress. This was part of the Compromise of 1850 and sparked debates over slavery in new territories. -
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was published, showing the harsh realities of slavery. It became a bestseller and turned many people against slavery, especially in the North. -
This Act allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery (popular sovereignty). It led to violent conflicts as settlers rushed in to vote, setting the stage for "Bleeding Kansas". -
The Republican Party was formed by anti-slavery activists and former Whigs. It opposed the spread of slavery into new territories becoming a major force in the 1860 election. -
Senator Charles Sumner was brutally attacked in the Senate by Preston Brooks after giving a speech against slavery. This event shocked the nation and highlighted the growing hostility between North and South. -
Violence erupted in Kansas as pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups fought for control. The sacking of Lawrence, an anti-slavery town, marked a key moment of this conflict, showing how deep the divide had become. -
The Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott, an enslaved man, was not a citizen and could not sue for freedom. It also declared that congress couldn't ban slavery in territories, fueling abolitionist anger. -
Abraham Lincoln, running for Senate, gave a speech saying a country half-slave and half-free could not last. This warned of a coming crisis and made him a national figure. -
Abraham Lincoln won the presidency as a republican, opposing slavery's expansion. His victory led southern states to secede, starting the path to the Civil war.