Slavery

Slavery is no longer allowed in America, but back before the Civil War, it was a way of life for most Southerners. People in the North frowned on slavery and sought to find ways that would end what they deemed was such an inhuman practice. There were many procedures throughout the 1800s that had an impact on the future of slavery. The Missouri Compromise of 1820, the Compromise of 1850, and the Dred Scott Decision of 1857 were all events that had an important impact on the institution of American slavery.

The first of these events to occur was the Missouri Compromise. Created in 1820, it allowed Maine to join the Union and separate from Massachusetts. In addition, it declared no more slavery north of 36 30" latitude within the Louisiana Territory. Since the compromise was directly limiting the areas in which slavery was allowed, it was not embraced by the slave-holding southern states. They felt that they were receiving unfair treatment and that the government did not sympathize with them. Since it happened so early on, the Missouri Compromise was one of the first events to set tensions in motion that would eventually lead to the Civil War.

A second act that had a great effect on the institution of slavery was the Compromise of 1850. The brainchild of Henry Clay, the plan was promoted by Stephen Douglas and first introduced the concept of popular soverignity. This meant that the states themselves could decide whether or not they wanted to allow slavery. Once again, this struck a dischord with the southern states. Feeling that their interests were being overlooked, southerners seriously began to wonder if their voice was ever going to be heard. The Compromise of 1850 once again struck a blow to slavery in America and brought the country one step closer to war.

Perhaps the most significant of these events was the Dred Scott Decision of 1857. Dred Scott, an African American slave, had been brought out of slave territory into the North with his master at the time. When his master died, Scott was sent back to be a slave to another owner back in the South. Since Scott had moved out of the slave states, he argued that he should be free, so he took it to court. After a long trial, Judge Roger B. Taney stated that the Missouri Compromise under which Scott had been freed was unconstitutional and therefore, he was still a slave. This controversial verdict was seen as a massive undermining of human rights for many people in the North.