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An act enacted in 1820 (passed March 3 - signed in on March 6) by the House in Washington D.C. established Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It also forbade the practice of slavery above the 36º 30' latitude line in the remainder of the Louisiana Territory. The reason behind this legislature is that, at the time, the government promised to keep an equal amount of free states and slave states.

Further divided the North and South more as it expanded the grasp of slavery to more territories, much to abolitionists' displeasure and magnified the differences between them. It highlighted that the South was for slavery and the North was against it.

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Denmark Vesey, a carpenter and formerly enslaved person, allegedly plotted an enslaved insurrection in SC on July 14, 1822. The planned rebellion involved around one thousand Black individuals, both enslaved and free. Black carpenter and Methodist leader Denmark Vesey, who was free, utilized his position to unite black people, who were particularly incensed about the recent decision to suppress their African Church. After the scheme was discovered, South Carolina authorities moved quickly, and following a questionable trial, Vesey and 36 of his accomplices were executed.

Made stricter slave codes and increased tensions between abolitionists and pro-slavery believers as they worked to sway the vote in other territories.

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Under his presidency, John Adams passed the Tariff of May 1828 (aka the "Tariff of Abominations") which was kept under newly-elected President Jackson. Though they were both Southern, Jackson did nothing about Southern tensions/complaints over the Tariff, while Vice President Calhoun wished to repeal it. The tariff was passed to reduce competition between foreign companies and American manufacturers, though that meant that more industrial power was placed in the North. SC was the first state to attempt to nullify it, which caused a 2 (1832-1833) year crisis over the constitutionality of laws and states' rights.

Further established the differences in ideologies on the subject of slavery and pro-slavery even in the confines of the federal government. It also made the South feel under-represented in government as they weren't being given the choice of nullification which was ironic as later on the North wouldn't be given the right to nullify the Fugitive Slave Act.

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Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher and self-styled prophet, launched the most lethal slave uprising in US history on the evening of August 21-22, 1831. Turner and his friends killed fifty-five white men, women, and children in Southampton County over a day as the rebels made their way toward Jerusalem. However, the insurrection was put down by opposing forces, and they resumed the following day. After a string of defeats, the group was disbanded and "tried."

Reinforced differences in political and social beliefs of the public, stricter slave laws, and increased the southern fear of slave revolts and justified their pro-slavery beliefs.

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Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was chosen as Mexico's president in 1833. His repeal of the 1824 Constitution sparked the Texas independence movement as well as the Mexican Civil War. His shift in political beliefs from federalism to centralism led to a civil war in Mexico and the desire for independence by Texas. Laws were altered to limit immigration and the degree of liberty that Texans had become accustomed to. Texas was integrated into the nearby state despite having a smaller population.

Tensions grew to a boiling point on Oct 2nd, 1835 (*conflict ended April 21, 1836) when shots rang out in Gonzales as Mexico wanted a cannon they gave to Texas. However, Texas refused.

Further established the idea of "Manifest Destiny" and went against the anti-slavery beliefs of the North to reduce the range of slavery. This displeased the South as it led to an influx of abolitionist laws and bills to fight for the abolishment of slavery.

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May 13, 1846 - February 2, 1848

Texas was accepted by the U.S. as a state; however, Mexico didn't accept Texas' statehood, as its admission into the U.S. aggravated Mexican officials and citizens. President Polk made a deliberate effort to aggravate hostilities with Mexico and start a war by commanding American troops to set up in the Nueces Strip (Jan. 13, 1846), which was a contested area that was not considered part of Texas. Though tension rose, war wasn't declared until May 13th, 1846.

Increased disputes over territorial expansions and land claims, increased the debate over the expansion of slavery to other territories, and many failed compromise attempts showed the determination of either side to hold their ground on the issue of slavery.

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August 8, 1846

Under the presidency of President Polk, Pennsylvania's representative David Wilmot proposed a proviso to limit the reach and political power of slavery within the New Mexico territories. The proviso was attached to an appropriations bill that would pay Mexico money for the land taken in the Mexican-American War. The bill and the proviso passed the House of Representatives (Aug. 8, 1846); however, only the bill was accepted by the Senate (Feb 1, 1847). This meant that the proviso wouldn't be made into a law, and thus slavery's grasp would expand to the New Mexico territories.

Increased the debate over the expansion of slavery to other territories and many failed compromise attempts showed the determination of either side to hold their ground on the issue of slavery.

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Compromise of 1850/Fugitive Slave Act (1850)

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Compromise of 1850/Fugitive Slave Act (1850)

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September 1850

The Compromise of 1850 contained acts that called for the admission of California as a "free state," provided for a territorial government for Utah and New Mexico, established a boundary between Texas and the United States, called for the abolition of the slave trade in Washington, DC, and amended the Fugitive Slave Act. The Fugitive Slave Act required that slaves be returned to their owners, even if they were in a free state. The act also made the federal government responsible for finding, returning, and trying escaped slaves.

Emphasized the North and South's economic divide (hierarchical systems, economic foundations, etc.), extremely different views on slavery, and differing social/cultural beliefs.

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The Abolitionist Movement has roots in the late 1700s with local abolition societies in New York City (1785) and Pennsylvania (1789). It grew in notoriety in the 1830s with figures such as Llyod Garrison, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Fredrick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, and many others who influenced politics with literature and speeches. There were also more bold forms of activism, such as the acts of John Brown and Nat Turner. Abolitionists' beliefs differed depending on the person; however, a common abolitionist belief was that slavery should be abolished.

Increased sectionalist tensions between the abolitionist North and the pro-slavery South, heightened the fears of Southerners and unintentionally reinforced Southern pro-slavery arguments.

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An 1854 document described the ideas for the U.S. to purchase Cuba from Spain while implying that the U.S. should declare war if Spain refused. Cuba's occupation had long been a goal of U.S. slaveholding expansionists.

The manifesto functioned in the South's interest in expanding slave territories, Northern opposition, and worsening sectional relations between North and South.

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Kansas-Nebraska Act/Bleeding Kansas (1855 + 1859)

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Kansas-Nebraska Act/Bleeding Kansas (1855 + 1859)

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Bleeding Kansas was a turbulent period in the mid-1850s marked by violent clashes between pro-slavery and free-state settlers in the Kansas Territory. Triggered by the Kansas-Nebraska Act's provision for popular sovereignty on the issue of slavery, the conflict involved intense struggles, including the Pottawatomie Massacre led by abolitionist John Brown. The violence had national consequences, further polarizing the North and South, influencing political debates, and contributing to the rise of the Republican Party. Bleeding Kansas exemplifies the heated disputes over the expansion of slavery that foreshadowed the Civil War.

Created an atmosphere of distrust and disunity, as well as, increased struggle for control resulting in violent clashes, including raids, massacres, and guerrilla warfare

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The raid on Harpers Ferry occurred on October 16, 1859, when abolitionist John Brown attempted to seize a federal arsenal in Virginia to arm slaves and incite a rebellion against slavery. The raid failed, Brown was captured by U.S. Marines led by Robert E. Lee, and he was subsequently executed. The event intensified the national debate over slavery, polarizing opinions between the North and South. Brown's raid is considered a catalyst for the growing tensions that ultimately led to the American Civil War.

Escalation of abolitionist v. anti-slavery established the North and South's distrust in the federal government, increased the radicalness of abolitionist beliefs/practices, and increased Southern fear of slave rebellion.

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The Dred Scott v. Sandford case (1857) involved a legal dispute where Dred Scott, an enslaved African American, claimed that his residence in free territories should make him a free man. The Supreme Court, in a controversial decision, ruled against Scott because he, as a person of African descent, was not a U.S. citizen and had no standing to sue. The decision further declared slaves as property, invalidated the Missouri Compromise, and asserted that Congress lacked the authority to restrict the spread of slavery into the territories. The ruling heightened sectional tensions, contributing to the polarization between the North and South and playing a role in the events that led to the Civil War.

Created an atmosphere of distrust and disunity, emphasized the North and South's economic divide (hierarchical systems, economic foundations, etc.), extremely different views on slavery, and differing social/cultural beliefs.

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The election of 1860 featured deepening sectional tensions over slavery. The Democratic Party split, leading to the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas and John C. Breckinridge. The Republican Party, with Abraham Lincoln as its nominee, opposed the expansion of slavery. Lincoln won the election, triggering secession by Southern states, who perceived his victory as a threat to their way of life. The secession ultimately led to the formation of the Confederate States of America and the onset of the Civil War, marking a critical turning point in U.S. history.

Gradually led to the formation of the Confederacy because of divergent politics, rowing hostility, breakdown of compromise, and the victory of an abolitionist into office.