Question

Explain the role each of the following individuals played as the United States drew closer to civil war:

Answer 1

Henry Clay- Henry Clay was an American politician who was trying to stop America from having a Civil War. He did this by helping organize two important compromises between Northern and Southern politicians. These compromises were known as the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850.

Stephen Douglas- He was an abolitionist (someone who wanted to get rid of slavery). He gave talks all over the country describing the horrible institution of slavery to huge audiences.

Dred Scott- This was a slave during the 1850s that sued for his freedom since he was brought to a territory were slavery was outlawed. He lost this case in the Supreme Court and it was ruled that slaves were considered property, not people.

John Brown- He was an abolitionist who used violence to try to get rid of slavery. He helped lead a massacre in Kansas and a raid on Harper's Ferry as a means to show his anger with slavery.

Jefferson Davis- Became the first and only president of the Confederate States of America.