The Missouri Compromise consisted of three parts. First, Missouri would become a slave state which benefited the South. Also, Maine became a free state which benefited the North. Lastly, it banned slavery in new territories or states north of the 36'30 latitude. This contributed to the Civil War because now the South was angry since the North got more benefits.
The Compromise of 1850 consisted of four parts which were made by Henry Clay. California would be a free state, slave trade was outlawed in Washington D.C., a stricter Fugitive Slave Act law was established, and 2 new territories would be created (Utah and New Mexico). The people in the territories would vote to determine if they would be slave states or not (called popular sovereignty). The Fugitive Slave Act made it a crime to help runaway slaves and allowed…show more content… He believed that because he lived in free areas for a while, he should be a free man and decided to sue for his freedom. It was decided that he was not free because all African-Americans no matter what, were not citizens of the U.S. and couldn't sue in court. This also meant that Congress couldn't outlaw slavery in the areas effected by the Missouri Compromise, therefore the Missouri Compromise was declared unconstitutional by the judicial branch.
Along with a self-established army of 20 men, John Brown attacked the federal arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia. His idea was to start a slave revolution by taking the weapons at Harper's Ferry. Colonel Robert E. Lee killed half of Brown's army and captured the other half. He was hanged in December of 1859 because of treason, murder, and conspiracy. The north's reaction was that most people viewed him as a hero but some thought he was too extreme with his ways. However, the south was threatened and were so scared of a slave rebellion that they thought they shouldn't live in the U.S.
