States’ Rights Nullification
The belief that
the state’s
interests should
take precedence
over the
interests of the
national
government
The political belief
in the South that
the states had a
right to nullify, or
void, any federal
law that they
thought was
unconstitutional.
Missouri Compromise
Passed in 1820 that
admitted Missouri as
a slave state and
Maine as a free state.
It also prohibited
slavery in the
Louisiana Territory
Compromise of 1850
1. California entered the Union
as a free state
2. ended slave trade in the
District of Colombia
3. Texas gave up its claims to
New Mexico in exchange for
money
4. Utah would determine if
they wanted slavery
5. Fugitive Slave Act
Georgia Platform
Three congressmen from Georgia, Howell Cobb,
Alexander Stephens, and Robert Toombs,
supported the Compromise of 1850.
The support of the compromise by the Georgia
Platform helped it pass and helped the Union
stay together.
Kansas Nebraska-Act
Legislation that created
the territory of Kansas
and Nebraska and
contained a clause that
said that the issue of
slavery would be
decided by the
residents of each
territory, a concept
known as popular
sovereignty.
Dredd Scott Decision
A slave that was taken from a
slave state, Missouri, by his
owner, and moved to a free state,
Illinois. When Scott and his
master returned to Missouri,
Scott filed a lawsuit for his
freedom. The court ruled that
Scott could not sue because he
was a slave, and slaves were not
citizens.
Election of 1860
The Democrats split over the issue
of popular sovereignty and slavery
and split the Democratic Party to
Stephen A Douglas (North) and
John Breckenridge (South). The
Republicans nominate Abraham
Lincoln.
Lincoln won the election without
winning the popular vote and not
one vote from the southern states.
Sectionalism
The belief by the people
in a given region or area
that their ideas and
interests are better and
more important than
those of another region
or area.
Abolition
A second “Great
Awakening” swept the
country of a religious
revival which increased
support for the
movement to do away
with slavery.
Free Soilers
A group of people
who lived in the
new territories
that were against
slavery and wanted
land to be given to
western settlers for
farming.
John Brown
An abolitionist who
helped the free soilers in
Kansas and attacked the
federal arsenal at
Harpers Ferry, Virginia.
He was tried and
convicted for treason.
His death made him a
martyr in the North.
Republican Party
The Whig party
split over the issue
of slavery and the
northern wing
created a new
political party that
only existed in the
free states.
Confederate States of America
December 20, 1860 South Carolina secedes
from the Union after the election of Lincoln as
president.
On February 4, 1861 11 southern states voted
to form a new nation. Jefferson Davis was
elected President and Alexander Stephens from
Georgia was elected Vice president
Tariff
Tariff of 1828
Taxes on imported goods
from foreign countries
shipped into the United
States. These taxes would
increase the cost of goods.
The North supported
tariffs because of industry
and the South opposed
tariffs because they
received many of their
goods from foreign
countries
An act passed that
taxed imported goods
to help protect
Northern factories
from foreign
competition.
Fugitive Slave Act
A law stating
that slaves who
ran away to free
states would be
returned to their
owners.
Bleeding Kansas
The time period in
Kansas when there
were bloody fights
between proslavery
“Ruffians” and free soil
groups. Ruffians took
over the polls and
prevented free soilers
from voting on slavery
legislation.
Alexander Stephens
From Ga., was elected
Vice President of the
Confederate States of
America even though
he had spoken against
secession from the
Union.
Jefferson Davis
Elected president of
the Confederate States
of America.