Free Soil Party
The Free-Soil Party was established to form the common goal of keeping slavery out of newly purchased territories. The Free-Soil Party captured enough votes from the Democratic candidate Lewis Cass to allow Zachary Taylor to become President.
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was broken down into individual parts to be persuaded to Congress to pass each part individually. The parts of the act were seen as the following: California would be a free state, Utah and Mexico would decide on slavery based on the popular vote, the slave trade would be banned in Washington D.C., and the "Fugitive Slave Act" was passed.
Republican Party
The Republican Party was established by anti-slavery activists in 1854 who quickly integrated the Whig and Free-Soil members. The idea behind the party was reflected by their slogan "Free labor, Free land, Free men".
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott, a slave, was taken to free territory and sued for his freedom because he felt that should be free. The Supreme Court ruled that a slave was property, without rights. As a result, the decision struck down the Missouri Compromise as unconstitutional because nobody anywhere was denied the right to own slaves.
Ku Klu Klan
White Southerners began to take action against African Americans because of their newly given freedoms and participation in government. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was a violent terrorist organization that had the goal of restoring white supremacy by murdering women, men, children, and burned African American businesses, churches, and schools. They wanted to prevent African Americans from exercising their rights in politics.
Freedman's Bureau
The Freedman's Bureau was created by the War Department to ease the transition from slavery to freedom. The agency focused on providing clothes, education, medicine, and rations to the people.
Ulysses S. Grant's Presidency
Ulysses S. Grant won the Presidential election of 1868. The Administration was corrupted, from the start, because of the poor choices that governmental appointees made. For example, Credit Mobilier was a corrupt construction company because they were skimming profits off the government's railroad contract.
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 ensured that African Americans were given equal treatments in public accommodations, transportation, and prohibited exclusion from jury service. This was a direct result from the rise of the organization known as the Ku Klux Klan. However, the government ruled that the act was unconstitutional because it gave a higher hand to those who wanted segregation.
54th Massachusetts Regiment
The 54th Massachusetts Regiment was the most famous African American infantry unit for the Union Army. The Regiment was lead by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw who fought at the Battle of Fort Wagner.
The life of a Solider
The life of a solider during this time was difficult because they had limited supplies such as food and clothing. Those who served in the war had a chance of having body lice, dysentery, diarrhea, and amputations. The conditions of war were unsanitary which resulted the death of soldiers doubling.