[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart contains information about the renewed debate over the spread of slavery after the Mexican War. It describes the Wilmot Proviso, popular sovereignty, the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive...

A brief biography of the life of Vice President John C. Calhoun, along with photos of his monument and tomb. The Library of Congress also includes a sample of Calhoun's forty-two page speech against the Compromise of 1850.

Thomas Rusk's Oath of Citizenship, Report from San Jacinto, and Letter on the 1850 Boundary Compromise are found here. You will see a picture of the original document, and a typed translation.

American history from 1820-1861 is interwoven with the history of the Capitol as it was expanded to accommodate a growing government body. A timeline of significant events in the debates over slavery, the addition of free and slave...

The official site for the Henry Clay Estate presents a biography and a timeline of important events in Clay's life. Other topics of interest: Henry Clay the Statesman, the Attorney, the Farmer, Henry Clay and Abraham Lincoln. Click on...

The Dirksen Congressional Center provides abundant lesson plans on all aspects of the US Congress and the US Constitution. All lessons contain time frames, objectives, and links to material, and are built around Bloom's taxonomy.

As Franklin Pierce became president, the question of slavery in the territories occupied his handling of his domestic policies. Read about the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the resulting turmoil in Kansas as abolitionists and...

This extensive learning module examines how the United States became more connected with the world as it pursued an expansionist foreign policy, became the destination for many new immigrants, and encouraged migration to the Pacific...

Presents key ideas for examining the events and issues that led to the American Civil War.

Providing an overview of the life of Daniel Website, this article focuses on major events and accomplishments, particularly those related to his political career.

The Compromise of 1850 did not solve all the slavery issues in the territories, which was not surprising. Read about the Kansas-Nebraska Act, put forth by Sen. Stephan Douglas, who proposed that the issue be decided by popular...

A concise review of the ways the issue of slavery split the country from the Missouri Compromise to eventual secession of the southern states.

From the basics about slavery to the attitudes that defended it and the efforts of those who wanted to see it abolished, in this lesson plan students learn about this dark part of America's past.

An in-depth biography on American statesman and orator Henry Clay which lists his numerous life accomplishments as well as a discussion of his political life. Content includes information on his "American System," his views on slavery,...

Read about these three titans of the Senate from 1812 until their deaths in the 1850s. Their last struggle against each other was the issue of slavery. See how Henry Clay, the great compromiser, offered one last compromise to try to keep...

A discussion of how the political balance kept shifting as free and slave states were admitted to the Union prior to the Civil War.

Solomon Northup was a free man of color who was sold into slavery. Students will read excerpts from his autobiography and analyze documents based on his life. These documents included slave manifests and census documents.

An essay by the South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun, outlining his belief in a "concurrent majority" and the power of individual majority groups to determine whether to follow a particular law that had been passed.

he A lengthy biography of Stephen Douglas. Discusses his involvement in politics, in particular, his involvement with the slavery issue, his runs for presidency, his famous debates, and much more.

Wikipedia offers detailed information on the United States Whig Party. Includes info on the creation, growth and end of the Whig Party.

Read a brief biography of Millard Fillmore's life. Hyperlinks to additional information about his private and political life.

From the Library of Congress, find a discussion of Daniel Webster and the slavery debate and a summary of the Selma March with historical pictures. LOC also includes links for further study.

A list with short descriptions of the issues and events that impacted the expansion of the frontier, with slavery being the most significant issue.

A map of the United States at the time of the passing of the Compromise of 1850 (September, 1850). This compromise was a series of bills attempting to resolve territorial and slavery issues raised by the Missouri Compromise (1820) and...