THE COMPROMISE OF 1850American History

CALIFORNIA

California applies for statehood as a free state

Equal balance between slave states and free states is threatened

Southern slave state representatives fight to keep California out of the United States

THE COMPROMISE OF 1850

California admitted as a free state

In territories won from Mexico, voters will decide slavery issue for themselves

Sale of enslaved people outlawed in Washington D.C.

Fugitive Slave Act required all citizens to help return escaped slaves

THE EFFECTS OF THE COMPROMISE OF 1850

Compromise only temporary; issue of slavery in territories not really resolved

Neither southerners nor northerners were satisfied with the results

Compromise of 1850 fails

SLAVERY ISSUE DOMINATES THE NATION 1854-1855 – Proslavery and antislavery

settlers move to Kansas

1856 – Battle over slavery in Kansas leads to open violence; territory becomes known as “bleeding Kansas”.

1856 – Buchanan becomes President, promises to keep government out of slavery issue

DRED SCOTT CASE

Dred Scott is a runaway slave who is kept hidden by abolitionist. The owners of Dred Scott sue for his return.

The case goes to the Supreme Court

Supreme Court rules that enslaved people are property, and must be returned to rightful owner

FINAL STEPS TO THE CIVIL WAR

Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debate issue of slavery and its spread. Lincoln becomes known as someone who does not want slavery spread.

1859 – John Brown raids Harpers Ferry, deepening the distrust between North and South.

JOHN BROWN BECOME A HERO IN NORTH AND A VILLAIN IN THE SOUTH

PORTRAIT OF JOHN BROWN PAINTED IMAGE OF JOHN BROWN

THE FINAL STRAW

In 1860, Lincoln is elected President. His stance on not expanding slavery causes the South to secede from the Union.

Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia form the Confederate States of America.