The Circle of Three
Three Events from the Epoch of Incivility was inspired by the Missouri Compromise of 1850. They were the three keys that ignited the Civil War
Event 1: Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was an example of the blood that was to come from the tensions between the North and South. It was caused when Nebraska and Kansas was admitted to the union as a sovereign state meaning the people would vote if they wanted slavery. Thus, abolitionists and pro- slavery supporters flocked the border trying to persuade the people. Eventually, tensions grew and resulted in bloodshed. This was the predecessor to the civil war.
Event 2: Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was proposed by Senator Stephen Douglas from Illinois. It was introduced after California was introduced into the Union through the Compromise of 1850. It allowed Kansas and Missouri to choose slavery based on popular sovereignty like the Compromise of 1850 gave New Mexico and Utah. This act lead to many people from both sides of slavery to flood the borders of these states. This was the bill that caused the event known as Bleeding Kansas.
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The Southerns were happy by this bill which gave them a chance to make Kansas a state under slavery. This act further divided the pro-slavery and abolitionists. This division created by this Act was not repairable, and from here on out war was inevitable.
Event 3: Dred Scott vs Sanford
It was a case taken to the supreme court. It was between the plaintiff Dred Scott and defendant Sanford. Scott tried to plead that he was free because when his owner died he was a slave in a free state. However, they made him move to Missouri a state with slavery. He pleaded that he was entitled for emancipation and to become a US citizen due to this. However, the Supreme Court didn't agree with this. Instead, they stated that no colored person free or in slavery could become a US citizen meaning they couldn't fight for their freedom in court in 1857. This was the last straw for the Northern states and abolitionists they were infuriated. However, the Southern states were happy. This situation resulted due to the Missouri Compromise where it was written in stone which states were free and could have no slavery.