Antebellum Period
(Era prior to the Civil War)
Essential Question: How did the antebellum period
increase sectionalism and eventually lead to the Civil
War?
Brainstorm
• What issues/topics have we learned that has led
to sectionalism between the North & South?
• For the unit think about this…
– How can a band aid be used as a metaphor to
describe the politicians decisions regarding slavery
during the Antebellum Period?
Free vs. Slave State Simulation
1. The room will be divided in ½
2. Each of you is assigned a state or territory
3. We will trace the events of U.S. expansion
west & the issue of slavery in the new states
4. Which ever side (North or South) has more
states at the end of the day has NO
homework that night!
Missouri Compromise
United States 1845
Free State
Free State
Slave State
Slave State
Slave State
Day 1 Recap
• The year is 1846
– 15 Slave states
– 14 Free states
• What problem could come up with the Missouri Compromise
in the future?
California & New Mexico Territory
After victory over Mexico the U.S. needs to decide
what to do with new land. Should it be slave or
free?
Wilmot Proviso
All territory won
in war is FREE
land.
Let’s vote
Compromise of 1850
• Henry Clay’s Compromise
– North got…
• California a FREE state
• No more slave trade in Washington D.C.
– South got…
• Popular Sovereignty would determine free or slave in new
territory
• Fugitive Slave Act – returned any suspected runaway slave
to South
United States 1850
Free State
Free State
• The year is 1850
Day 2 Recap
– 15 Slave states
– 16 Free states
• What might happen now that the Utah & New Mexico territories
can decide slavery or free based on popular sovereignty?
The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
• Stephen Douglas
– In hopes of building a railroad linking the state of Illinois to the west
Stephen Douglas suggests we form two new territories, Kansas &
Nebraska. He also thinks slavery should be determined in these new
territories based on popular sovereignty.
– Cancels out the Missouri Compromise
Bleeding Kansas
• A mad dash was made to vote Kansas free or
slave