Through the time period of 1820-1860, a Northern Abolitionist would be upset with both Congress's decisions of laws being passed and well-known social events, as well as the 1860 Presidential Election.
Later, the Compromise of 1850 was passed as law. Even though California was admitted as a free state and slave trade was abolished in the nation's capital, the rest of the territories retrieved from Mexico passed no laws about slavery. Soon after, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed as well, stripping fugitive slaves of their rights and further tightening slavery. Northerners were forced to assist in recapturing fugitives in the South, sometimes even free slaves. If the northerners did not cooperate they were often punished severely.
Soon after, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed. It introduced the idea of "popular sovereignty" into the nation, giving residents power to decide and vote on an issue. Due to people illegally voting for slavery in places like Kansas, giving proslavery representatives more power. The state was given the nickname "Bleeding Kansas" because of the amount of violence that occurred in it.
Not only did Congress's decisions overall lead to supporting views of slavery, but social events affected it as well; for example, the Dred Scott Case. Dred Scott, the slave boy, argued that because he was in a free state(where his master died) he was allowed to sue for his freedom. However, judge Roger B. Taney said that Scott was originally from a slave state and was bound by Missouri's slave codes. Taney also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.
Violence also burst out not only in Kansas, but in the Senate. Charles Sumner from Massachusetts was beaten by Preston Brooks with a cane, after he had given an insulting speech against proslavery forces. The happening was called "Bleeding Sumner" and showed that abolitionists were at a huge disadvantage, even when attempting to voice their opinions.
Soon enough, it was time for the 1860 Presidential Election. Lincoln was not an abolitionist himself, but supported the stopping of expansion of slavery; on the other hand, Douglas supported popular sovereignty. Sadly, Douglas won the election, but lead Lincoln to become a famous historical figure. With popular sovereignty now on the president's mind, it again became another issue for abolitionists.
All of these events--legislative and social--gives more than enough reasons to upset and anger a Northern abolitionist.
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