The Fugitive Slave Act
1. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required all citizens to help catch any runaway slaves by fining and imprisoning those who helped them.
2. Although the South believed this would help Northerners respect the rights of the Southerners, the North only became convinced that slavery was, indeed, evil.
3. Slaveholders worked even harder to capture the African American slaves, even seizing those who had never been slaves.
Resistance to the Law
1. Many northerners did not cooperate with the Fugitive Slave Act and continued to help runaways using the Underground Railroad.
2. Antislavery groups tried to rescue African Americans who were being pursued or to free those that had been captured.
3. Northerners also helped the enslaved population by contributing funds to buy their freedom and refusing to convict anyone helping them.
2. Although the South believed this would help Northerners respect the rights of the Southerners, the North only became convinced that slavery was, indeed, evil.
3. Slaveholders worked even harder to capture the African American slaves, even seizing those who had never been slaves.
Resistance to the Law
1. Many northerners did not cooperate with the Fugitive Slave Act and continued to help runaways using the Underground Railroad.
2. Antislavery groups tried to rescue African Americans who were being pursued or to free those that had been captured.
3. Northerners also helped the enslaved population by contributing funds to buy their freedom and refusing to convict anyone helping them.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
1. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was proposed by Stephen A. Douglas to organize the region west of Missouri and Iowa.
2. Although Kansas and Nebraska would become free states if determined by location, a compromise had to be made in order to make peace between the North and the South.
3. It was agreed that popular sovereignty would be used, and the settlers of the land would vote whether or not to allow slavery.
Passage of the Act
1. Many Northerners protested and many believed that the Congress should vote on the bill instead.
2. Southerners supported the bill, expecting the new states to be in favor of slavery.
3. With the support of President Pierce, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in May 1854.
Division Grows
1. The Northern Democrats split evenly on almost all votes in the House of Representatives.
2. This revealed divisions within the Democratic party.
3. Many Northerners believed that compromising with the South was no longer an option.
2. Although Kansas and Nebraska would become free states if determined by location, a compromise had to be made in order to make peace between the North and the South.
3. It was agreed that popular sovereignty would be used, and the settlers of the land would vote whether or not to allow slavery.
Passage of the Act
1. Many Northerners protested and many believed that the Congress should vote on the bill instead.
2. Southerners supported the bill, expecting the new states to be in favor of slavery.
3. With the support of President Pierce, Congress passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in May 1854.
Division Grows
1. The Northern Democrats split evenly on almost all votes in the House of Representatives.
2. This revealed divisions within the Democratic party.
3. Many Northerners believed that compromising with the South was no longer an option.
Conflict in Kansas
1. When it was time to vote in Kansas, thousands of proslavery supporters from Missouri crossed the borders to cast their votes.
2. Due to these border ruffians, more than 6,000 people ended up voting even though Kansas had a population around 1,500 people.
3. While President Pierce and the Senate favored the proslavery government, the House of Representatives was antislavery, confusing many people.
"Bleeding Kansas"
1. In May 1856, 800 slavery supporters attacked Lawrence, the antislavery capital.
2. The antislavery forces retaliated and John Brown led four of his sons and two other men to Pottawatomie Creek where they killed 5 proslavery citizens.
3. More violence followed, leading to a civil war in Kansas which became known as Bleeding Kansas.
Violence in Congress
1. In Congress, Charles Sumner, an abolitionist, criticized proslavery senators, like Andrew P. Butler, and any forces supporting slavery.
2. Preston Brooks walked into the Senate and repeatedly hit Sumner, ensuring that Sumner would not be able to return for several years.
3. The Brooks-Sumner incident and Bleeding Kansas revealed the hostility and violence that was erupting between the North and the South.
2. Due to these border ruffians, more than 6,000 people ended up voting even though Kansas had a population around 1,500 people.
3. While President Pierce and the Senate favored the proslavery government, the House of Representatives was antislavery, confusing many people.
"Bleeding Kansas"
1. In May 1856, 800 slavery supporters attacked Lawrence, the antislavery capital.
2. The antislavery forces retaliated and John Brown led four of his sons and two other men to Pottawatomie Creek where they killed 5 proslavery citizens.
3. More violence followed, leading to a civil war in Kansas which became known as Bleeding Kansas.
Violence in Congress
1. In Congress, Charles Sumner, an abolitionist, criticized proslavery senators, like Andrew P. Butler, and any forces supporting slavery.
2. Preston Brooks walked into the Senate and repeatedly hit Sumner, ensuring that Sumner would not be able to return for several years.
3. The Brooks-Sumner incident and Bleeding Kansas revealed the hostility and violence that was erupting between the North and the South.