Pre-War Compromises
Missouri Compromise (1820)

Missouri wanted to become a slave state and
free states were angry. The balance in
Congress would be up set between the slave
and free states.
What was decided?

Missouri entered the Union as a slave state

Maine entered the Union as a free state
Compromise of 1850



What should happen to the Southwest
territory?
California wants to become a free state.
Northerners were upset over the slave trade
in Washington DC.
What was decided?




California entered the Union as a free state.
The rest of the Mexican Cession was given
popular sovereignty.
Slave trade was abolished in DC.
Fugitive Slave Act is enforced
Popular Sovereignty

Stephen Douglas’ idea that the authority of
the government comes from the people.
Fugitive Slave Act



All runaway slaves that were caught had to
be returned to the South
Slaves had no right to a jury trial
Some free blacks could be captured and sent
to the South
Kansas-Nebraska Act


If both Kansas and Nebraska were to be made
free states the balance in Congress would be up
set
Solution: People in each state would decide the
slavery issue (popular sovereignty)
Bloody Kansas

People from the North and the South
flooded Kansas to sway the vote causing a
bloody conflict between the states.
Tensions were building in Washington, DC leading to
Preston Brooks and Charles Sumner fighting on the
Senate floor.
It took Sumner three and a half years to recover.