“Slavery is like a sleeping serpent”  Thomas Jefferson
"Free soilers" opposed extending slavery to the western territories.

Missouri Compromise of 1820-Missouri Compromise: This compromise settled the issue of slavery in the Louisiana Territory. Missouri was admitted as a slave state, Maine as a free state and all territory north of 36°30’ would be free territory.

1831 Nat Turner Leads Slave Revolt    An African American slave led a rebellion of almost 70 slaves who killed more than 50 whites in Virginia.  Turner and other leaders of the revolt were executed.

1846 The Wilmot Proviso: PA Congressman David Wilmot proposed that a bill be amended to forbid slavery in any of the new territories taken from Mexico; passed House twice but failed to pass Senate

Compromise of 1850: This compromise allowed California to enter as a free state and ended the slave trade in Washington, D.C.  Popular sovereignty would be used to determine the issue of slavery in the New Mexico and Utah territories.

Fugitive Slave Law 1850: State and local officials were responsible for capturing and returning runaway slaves to the South.  Northern states passed Personal Liberty Laws which, in effect, nullified the Fugitive Slave Law.

The Underground Railroad was operating quite effectively and inspired Harriet Beecher Stoweto write Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1853). This book made slavery look evil. The book was warmly received in the North, but despised and burned in the South. This further emphasized the division between the land regions over the issue of slavery.

1852 Ostend Manifesto  President Polk wanted to buy Cuba for 100 million from Spain, but Spain refused to sell the last part of its former empire

1854-Kansas-Nebraska Act:  This act reopened the issue of slavery in Louisiana Territories and caused fighting between slavery and anti-slavery opponents in what became known as “Bleeding Kansas.”

1857-Dred Scott v. Sanford:  The Supreme Court declared slaves to be property and stated that Congress did not have the Constitutional authority to legislate on the issue of slavery.  The Missouri Compromise was ruled unconstitutional as a result.

1859-John Brown’s Raid:  Brown, a white abolitionist, tried to encourage a slave revolt.  His group seized U.S. weapons at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia.  Federal troops captured and hanged Brown and his followers.