Events Leading Up to the Civil War People moved west. And, new territories (TAIR-uh-tor-eez) formed. Territories were areas of land outside the borders of the United States. After enough people moved to an area, it could become a state. When a state joined the Union, it sent men to Congress. These men represented the state. The people in Missouri wanted to form a new state. Missouri could enter the Union in one of two ways. It could be a slave state or a free state. A free state did not let people have slaves. The people in the South did not want those in the North to have more power in Congress. The Northerners did not want slavery to spread. So in 1820, Henry Clay made a plan. It was called the Missouri Compromise. With it, Missouri joined the Union as a slave state. The land that is now Maine split from Massachusetts. Maine was a free state. All states above Missouri s southern border would be free states. All states below that border would be slave states. In 1850, California wanted to join the Union. It was a free state. But that meant there would be more free states than slave states. The Southerners were afraid. They thought Congress might end slavery. So, Henry Clay helped write the Compromise of 1850. With it, California entered the Union as a free state. Utah and New Mexico could choose to be free or slave states. 109 Shell Education #50082 Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union
The Fugitive (FEW-juh-tiv) Slave Act also began in 1850. It stated that all runaway slaves must go back to their owners. People who helped these slaves would be jailed or fined. Those who worked on the Underground Railroad did not follow this law. Dred Scott was a slave. His owner lived in Missouri. Then, his owner moved to the free state of Illinois. Next, he moved to Wisconsin, a free territory. Each time Scott went along. With the help of some people, Scott sued for his freedom. Why? He had lived in a free state and a free territory. His case went before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857. The judges said that slaves were property! Like a horse, slaves had no rights. The Southerners were mad when Abraham Lincoln was made president. He did not like slavery. Before he even took office, South Carolina seceded (suh-seed-ed) from the Union. To secede means to break away. It was December 1860. The Civil War was about to start. Comprehension Question Why did Dred Scott sue for freedom? 110 #50082 Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union Shell Education
Events Leading Up to the Civil War New territories (TAIR-uh-tor-eez) formed as people moved into the West. Once an area s population grew big enough, it could become a state. When a state joined the Union, it sent men to Congress. These men represented the state. The people in Missouri wanted to be a state. Missouri could enter the Union as a slave state or a free state. A free state did not let people have slaves. The South did not want the North to have more votes in Congress. The North did not want slavery to spread. So in 1820, Henry Clay made a plan called the Missouri Compromise. With it, Missouri joined the Union as a slave state, and the land that is now Maine split from Massachusetts. Maine was a free state. This kept the number of free states and slave states the same. And, from 1820 on, all states above Missouri s southern border would be free states. All states below that border would be slave states. In 1850, California wanted to join the Union as a free state. But that meant there would be more free states than slave states. The Southerners were afraid that Congress might end slavery. So, Henry Clay helped write the Compromise of 1850. With it, California entered the Union as a free state, and Utah and New Mexico could choose to be free or slave states. 111 Shell Education #50082 Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union
The Fugitive (FEW-juh-tiv) Slave Act also began in 1850. It stated that all runaway slaves must go back to their owners and that those who helped escaped slaves would be jailed or forced to pay a large fine. The people who worked on the Underground Railroad did not follow this law. Dred Scott was a slave. His owner lived in Missouri. Then, the owner moved to the free state of Illinois and later to Wisconsin, a free territory. Each time Scott went along. With the help of some people, Scott sued for his freedom. After all, he had lived in a free state and a free territory, so he should be free. His case went before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857. The judges said that slaves were property! Like a horse, they had no rights. Slaves were not United States citizens (SIT-uh-zuhnz). Most Southerners were unhappy when Abraham Lincoln was elected president. He did not like slavery. Before he even took office, South Carolina seceded (suh-seed-ed), or broke away, from the Union. It was December 1860. The Civil War would soon begin. Comprehension Question What made Dred Scott think he should be a free man when he had been a slave? 112 #50082 Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union Shell Education
Events Leading Up to the Civil War New territories (TAIR-uh-tor-eez) formed as people moved into the West. Once an area s population grew large enough, it could apply to become a state. Every state that entered the Union sent representatives (rep-rih- SEN-tuh-tivs) to Congress. The people in Missouri wanted it to be a state. Missouri could enter the Union as a slave state or a free state. A free state did not allow people to keep slaves. The Southerners did not want the Northerners to have more votes in Congress, and the Northerners did not want slavery to spread. To smooth things over, Henry Clay developed the Missouri Compromise in 1820. With it, Missouri entered the Union as a slave state, and the land that is now Maine separated from Massachusetts. Maine was a free state. This kept the number of free states and slave states identical. In the future, all states above Missouri s southern border would be free. All the states below that border would be slave states. Later, California wanted to enter the Union as a free state in 1850. If that happened, there would be more free states than slave states. The Southerners protested. They worried that Congress would abolish slavery, and their economy relied on the free labor. So, Clay helped write the Compromise of 1850. With it, California entered the Union as a free state, and Utah and New Mexico could choose to be free or slave states. 113 Shell Education #50082 Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union
The Fugitive (FEW-juhtiv ) Slave Act also went into effect. It stated that all runaway slaves must go back to their owners and that those who helped escaped slaves would be jailed or forced to pay a hefty fine. The people operating the Underground Railroad were in violation (VY-oh-lay-shun) of this law. Dred Scott was a slave whose owner lived in Missouri. Then, the owner moved to the free state of Illinois and later to Wisconsin, n, a free territory. Each time Scott went along. Then, with the assistance of some abolitionists (ab-uh-lish-uhn-istz), Scott sued for his freedom. After all, he had lived in a free state and a free territory, so he should be free. His case went before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857. The justices said that slaves were property, and like livestock, they had no rights! They were not United States citizens (SIT-uh-zuhnz). Most Southerners were unhappy when Abraham Lincoln was elected president because he was against slavery. Before he took office, South Carolina seceded (suh-seed-ed) or withdrew, from the Union. The year was December 1860. The Civil War would soon begin. Comprehension Question How did the problem of free states versus slaves states affect Dred Scott? 114 #50082 Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union Shell Education
Events Leading Up to the Civil War New territories (TAIR-uh-tor-eez) formed as people moved west. After an area s population grew substantially, it could apply for statehood. Every state that entered the Union sent representatives (rep-rih-sen-tuh-tivs) to Congress. In 1820, Missouri wanted to join the Union. Missouri could enter the Union as a slave state or a free state. A free state did not allow people to keep slaves. The Southerners did not want the Northerners to have more votes in Congress, and the Northerners did not want slavery to spread. To smooth things over, Henry Clay devised the Missouri Compromise. With this arrangement, Missouri entered the Union as a slave state, and the land that is now Maine separated from Massachusetts. Maine was a free state, so that kept the number of free states and slave states identical. Also, all states above Missouri s southern border would be free, while all states below would be slave. Later, California wanted to enter the Union as a free state. But, that would tip the balance in favor of free states, and the Southerners protested. They were worried that Congress would abolish slavery entirely, and their economy depended on unpaid labor. So, Clay helped develop the Compromise of 1850. With it, California entered the Union as a free state, and Utah and New Mexico could choose to be free or slave states. 115 Shell Education #50082 Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union
The Fugitive (FEW-juh-tiv) Slave Act also went into effect. It stated that all runaway slaves must return to their owners and that those who assisted escaped slaves would be imprisoned or forced to pay a hefty fine. Abolitionists (ab-uh-lish-uhn-istz ) operated the Underground Railroad in direct violation (VY-oh-lay-shun) of this law. Dred Scott was a slave whose owner lived in Missouri. Then, the owner moved to the free state of Illinois and later to Wisconsin, a free territory, taking Scott with him each time. With the assistance of some abolitionists, Scott sued for his freedom. His case, which stated that since he had lived in a free state and a free e territory, he should be free, went before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1857. The justices ruled that slaves were property, and like livestock, they had no rights! Furthermore, they were not considered United States citizens (SIT-uh-zuhnz). Since he disliked slavery, most Southerners were unhappy when Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Even before he took office, South Carolina seceded (suh-seed-ed) from the Union. It was December 1860. Comprehension Question Do you agree with the decision the Supreme Court made about Dred Scott? Explain your answer. 116 #50082 Leveled Texts: Expanding & Preserving the Union Shell Education