Examine the development of the concept of a Slave Power in the North from 1836 to 1861. What events made the presence of such a power credible to northerners? Why did northerners fear the Slave Power? What forces and events caused that fear to increase?

The concept of a "Slave Power" in the North developed in the years leading up to the Civil War, from 1836 to 1861. This concept referred to the perceived influence and control that Southern slaveholding interests had over the federal government and national policies.

Several events made the presence of such a power credible to northerners. The annexation of Texas in 1845 and the subsequent Mexican-American War raised concerns about the expansion of slavery into new territories. The Compromise of 1850, which included the Fugitive Slave Act, further solidified the perception of Southern influence over national policies. Additionally, the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which allowed for popular sovereignty in determining the status of slavery in new territories, heightened fears of the spread of slavery.

Northerners feared the Slave Power for several reasons. They were concerned about the moral implications of slavery and its expansion, as well as the economic and political power that slaveholding interests held. Northerners also feared that the Slave Power would undermine their own rights and freedoms, as seen in the enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act.

The fear of the Slave Power increased due to several forces and events. The Dred Scott v. Sandford Supreme Court decision in 1857, which ruled that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories, further solidified the perception of Southern influence over the federal government. The election of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican who opposed the expansion of slavery, in 1860, led to Southern states seceding from the Union, ultimately leading to the Civil War.

In conclusion, the development of the concept of a Slave Power in the North from 1836 to 1861 was influenced by events such as the annexation of Texas, the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott decision. Northerners feared the Slave Power due to its moral, economic, and political implications, and this fear was further heightened by the election of Abraham Lincoln and the subsequent secession of Southern states.