Compromise of 1850
California and New Mexico wanted to enter the union as free states.
Henry Clay created compromise: New Mexico and Utah would vote on slavery, California would be admitted as a free state, Slavery would be banned in Washington D.C., and there would be a new fugitive slave act
Fugitive slave act
Pushed hard for civil rights, wanted to punish the south. Shifted the process of reconstruction from president to congress
Led a small raid on a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. His goal was to arm the southern slave population and incite a slave rebellion
The contested election was decided by a Republican-leaning committee the obv chose the Republican candidate. Democrats threatened to filibuster
divided Nebraska territory into 2 sections, Kansas and Nebraska. Put slavery to a vote in each new state. Effectively overturned the Missouri compromise!
All African Americans were citizens of the United States
Dred Scott case
A slave in Missouri was taken to live in free Wisconsin, for two years, and he sued for his freedom. The Supreme Court ruled that slaves aren't citizens, and they are property so nobody can be deprived of their property without due process.
White supremacy
Fighting broke out between the pro and anti-slavery factions
Americans believed they had a God-given right to have a nation from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
Tenure of Office Act
Stopped the president from removing a member of their cabinet without congressional approval (Johnson had tried to remove his secretary of war, who was a radical Republican)
Election of 1844
James k. Polk was a big believer in manifest destiny. He got the Oregon territory and started the Mexican-American River.
Positions on expansion of slavery
Argued that slavery was a constitutional right, wanted line established in the Missouri Compromise to extend all the way westward to the Pacific.
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Established the southern border of the United States and granted a huge portion of land known as the Mexican cession which included California and new Mexico
Pres. Johnson violated the tenure of office act, and impeachment failed by one vote
Election of 1860
Lincoln campaigned on halting the expansion of slavery. He won without a single Southern electoral vote, prompting the south to realize they no longer any voice in the future of slavery in america
An amendment to a law in congress that stipulated that any land gained in the Mexican-American war wouldn't be ineligible for the spread of slavery. Symbolized the growing tension over westward expansion and slavery.
Texan independence
Free Soil Party
Black codes
Restricted the civil rights of african americans in the south. Made it harder to vote, own property, even banned them from testifying against white people
Reconstruction acts
Divided the south into 5 zones under military occupation. Increased requirements for rejoining (also ratify 14th amendment and have universal suffrage)
15th amendment
Gold rush
Gold was discovered in California, population skyrocketed
Mexican-American war
Disputes over the Texas border sparked the conflict. American troops made it all the way to Mexico city.
Plan to completely cut off the south by blockading southern ports and eventually the Mississippi river
Republican party formed
A coalition of free soilers and whigs and northern democrats who's goal was to stop the spread of slavery.
Battle of Vicksburg
