A Nation Dividing
The Fugitive Slave Act
Main Idea: The Fugitive Slave Act required all citizens to help catch runaways, yet many Northeners refused to cooperate
The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the Compromise of 1850.
- required all citizens to help catch runaways
- anyone who aided a a fugitive would be fined or imprisioned
The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the Compromise of 1850.
- required all citizens to help catch runaways
- anyone who aided a a fugitive would be fined or imprisioned
The Underground Railroad was a network or interconnected system of free African Americans and whites, who helped runaways make their way to freedom.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
Main Idea: The Kansas-Nebraska Act resulted from another dispute over slavery in Congress
The territories of Kansas and Nebraska seemed likely to become free states because they lay north of the 36°30'N latitude.
Senator Douglas knew southerners would object to admitting the states as free states.
- Douglas wanted to abandon the Missouri Compromise
- Popular Sovereignty: settlers in each territory would vote on the issue of slavery
"Bleeding Kansas"
Right after the law was passed pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups rushed into Kansas causing an outbreak of violence.
Many pro-slavery supporters crossed the boarder into Kansas to vote in the election. They became known as border ruffians.
Slavery supporters attacked the town of Lawrence. This became known as the "Civil War in Kansas."
The territories of Kansas and Nebraska seemed likely to become free states because they lay north of the 36°30'N latitude.
Senator Douglas knew southerners would object to admitting the states as free states.
- Douglas wanted to abandon the Missouri Compromise
- Popular Sovereignty: settlers in each territory would vote on the issue of slavery
"Bleeding Kansas"
Right after the law was passed pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups rushed into Kansas causing an outbreak of violence.
Many pro-slavery supporters crossed the boarder into Kansas to vote in the election. They became known as border ruffians.
Slavery supporters attacked the town of Lawrence. This became known as the "Civil War in Kansas."