The 1850s
	American History American Literature European History	1850s CE

1850 Millard Fillmore 1st Lady: Abigail The United States and Britain signed the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty guaranteeing the neutrality of a future canal across Central America. In September, Congress passed the Compromise of 1850, which delayed conflict over slavery by admitting California as a free state, organizing the territories of Utah and New Mexico without reference to slavery, abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia, and establishing a stronger fugitive slave law.	1851
1852  Authorized a mission to Japan by Commodore Matthew C. Perry. Rejected in his bid for nomination for a full term by Northern antislavery Whigs, who favored Gen. Winfield Scott.	1853  Franklin Pierce1st Lady: Jane The Gadsden Purchase settled boundary disputes with Mexico and gave the United States a southern railway route to the Pacific.
1854  The Kansas Nebraska Act, endorsed by Pierce despite misgivings, was adopted. The law touched off rivalry between pro- and anti-slavery settlers that eventually led to fighting. The Ostend Manifesto, a document detailing a plan to buy Cuba from Spain, caused a furor when it was leaked to the press.	1855
1856  Ordered federal troops into Kansas in an effort to end the fighting there. The Democrats, concerned about Pierce's connection with the Kansas issue, nominated James Buchanan for the presidency.	1857  James Buchanan  1st Lady: Harriet Lane
1858  Northern candidates opposing Buchanan won a majority in both houses of Congress.	1859  John Brown was seized at Harpers Ferry and hanged for his attempt to start a slave revolt.

1850s  

06/25/00 GRAPHIC HISTORY