The Impending Crisis of the Union
1854 to 1860

Context: In March 1857, the Supreme Court rules that Dred Scott is not a citizen because of his race. The decision goes even further, stating Congress has no authority to exclude slavery from any part of the nation or its territories. The Missouri  Compromise is therefore ruled unconstitutional

 "A Hell of a Storm"   The Impending Crisis of the Union, 1855-59
For years South Carolina had talked about secession (1830’s Tariff issue). Talk of

secession had become a perpetual threat…. The tide begins to shift  because of a  clash of interests (between 1820-1854)  abolition of slavery vs. territorial expansion - Remember the  word is  COMPROMISE

1854                              The Kansas-Nebraska Act   and the  Ostend Manifesto

1855-56                        Bleeding Kansas and the canning of Charles Sumner  

1857                              The Dred Scott Decision 

1858                               Lincoln -Douglass Debates

1859                              Harpers Ferry Raid