Popular Sovereignty
Compromise of 1850 Fugitive Slave Act Dred Scott Case Crittenden Compromise Emancipation Proclamation Tenure Office Act |
Created tension in western territories by establishing a system where the people individually choose whether to allow slavery or not in their areas. Led to "Bleeding Kansas" and later the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Entitled California to enter the Union as a free state, the Texas-New Mexico Act made New Mexico a territory with a boundary at Texas, the Utah Act created the Utah territory, the Fugitive Slave Act (as seen below) abolished slavery in the District of Columbia. Put apprehending runaway slaves under federal control. Caused kidnapping of free blacks for monetary awards. Federal marshals could request help of citizens and if people refused they could be imprisoned and fined $1000. Made in March of 1857. Dred Scott, a slave whose master just died, tried to buy his freedom upon returning to the free state of Illinois. Cheif Justice, Roger B. Taney, ruled that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. Last proposed solution prior to the war. Created by John Crittenden, it suggested a border at 36-30'. North of this border slavery was illegal, south of it slavery was allowed. Also declared Congress incapable of changing the terms. Approved in 1863. Abolished slavery in the new western states, District of Columbia, and Confederate states (states against the Union). Enabled African Americans to fight in the military for the Union. Emancipation was justified as a necessity for the military. Required Senate permission for the President to remove any official in office the Senate had appointed. Later violated by Andrew Johnson. Created in 1867. |
Government Decisions
These decisions include court cases, common ideas during this time, and articles or documents created by the American government.