Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 consists of five laws passed in September of 1850 that dealt with the issue of slavery. In 1849 California asked to enter the Union as a free state, which could potentially upset the balance of slave and free states. As part of the Compromise the fugitive slave act and the slave trade in Washington D.C were abolished.
The Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska Act was said to be the single most significant event that led to the Civil War.The Kansas Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowing slavery in the territory north of the 36° 30´ latitude. The act was for people to pick themselves if they wanted to own slaves or not.
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was known as the small Civil War in the United States. Fought between pro slavery and antislavery advocates for control of the new territory of Kansas under the doctrine popular sovereignty.
The Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who lived in a free state but still had no rights. He decided to sue. It took 11 years for his case to reach the supreme court, and when it did the courts decision was the slaves were not citizens there for they could not sue.