U.S History Chapter 10 (Section 2)

Bleeding Kansas

(1856) a series of violent fights between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces in Kansas who had moved to Kansas to try to influence the decision of whether or not Kansas would a slave state or a free state.

Popular Sovereignty

(a system in which the residents vote to decide an issue); 1854 Douglas developed a proposal to divide the areas to 2 territories, Nebraska and Kansas; Douglas was anxious to organize the western territory because he believed that most of the nation's people wished to see the western lands incorporated into the Union. ; Douglas believed in Popular Sovereignty (the right of residents of a given territory to vote on slavery for themselves. ; he thought p.s was a great way to decide whether slavery would be allowed in the Nebraska Territory. ; Douglas was convinced that slavery could not exist on the open prairies, since none of the crops relying on slave labor could be grown there. ; to win over the South, Douglas decided to support repeal of the Missouri Compromise—which now would make slavery legal north of the 36°30'line. ;

Resisting the Law

1) northerners were afraid of the Fugitive Slave Act so they resisted it by organizing vigilance committees to send endangered African Americans to safety in Canada. 2) 9 northern states passed personal liberty laws, which forbade the imprisonment of runaway slaves and guaranteed that they would have jury trials.

Fugitive Slaves and the Underground Railroad

1) under the law of the Fugitive Slave Act, alleged fugitives were not entitled to a trial by jury, despite the 6th Amendment provision calling for a speedy and public jury trial and the right to counsel. Nor could fugitives testify on their own behalf. A statement by a slave owner was all that was required to have a slave returned. 2) federal commissioners would receive a fee of $10 if they returned an alleged fugitive but only $5 if they freed him or her, an obvious incentive to " return" people to slavery. 3) if anyone were to help an alleged fugitive was subject to a fine of $1,000, imprisonment for 6 months, or both.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

A bill that was introduced in Congress to divide the area into two territories: Nebraska in the north and Kansa in the south. If passed, it would repeal the Missouri Compromise and establish popular Sovereignty for both territories; the Kansas Nebraska Act became law in May 1854

Pottawatomie Massacre

Abolitionist John Brown and his men killed 5 pro-slavery men in the proslavery settlement of Pottawatomie Massacre; became the bloody shirt that proslavery Kansa settlers waved in summoning attacks on Free-Soilers. ; 200 people were killed. ; John Brown left Kansas leaving men and women with rifles. ; people began to call this territory the Bleeding Kansas

John Brown

Abolitionist involved in violence in Kansas. In 1859, he led a raid of a government arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, with the intention of arming slaves and starting a revolt. He became a hero of the abolitionists in the Civil War. Brown was considered a matryr by some and a madman by others.

Harriet Tubman

Born a slave, she escaped to the North and became the most renowned conductor on the Underground Railroad, leading more than 300 slaves to freedom.

Why was popular Sovereignty was so controversial?

It was controversial because he knew most southerners wanted the western lands incorporated into the union, and due to the right to vote on slavery

How did the Underground Railroad operate?

Series of escape routes from south to north run by 'conductors.'

Describe Northern and Southern reaction to the incident between Brooks and Sumner

The southerners applauded and threw more canes with " Hit him again", the Northerners saw it as another example of Southern Brutality and antagonism toward free speech. May 19, Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner delivered in the senate an impassioned speech later called "The Crime Against Kansas". He verbally attacked his colleagues for their support of slavery.

What effect did the Fugitive Slave Act have on abolitionist feelings in the North?

They felt that slaves should have right to trial.

Fugitive Slave Act

a law enacted as part of the Compromise of 1850, designed to ensure that escaped slaves would be returned into bondage

Uncle Tom's Cabin

a novel published by harriet beecher stowe in 1852 which portrayed slavery as brutal and immoral; it told the story of a family of slaves. They were split up, separated, and eventually reunited. It told readers what the lives of slaves was like. It was an anti-slavery novel

Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

series of safe houses which attempted to resist runaway slaves in journey to north; she was most famous "conductor" ; made 19 trips back to the South to free 300 slaves including her own parents flee from freedom

Personal Liberty Laws

statutes, passed in nine Northern states in the 1850s, that forbade the imprisonment of runaway slaves and guaranteed jury trials for fugitive slaves.