Southern Reaction

Censorship: The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security. In response to Helper's book, some Southern states enacted censorship laws.

Fire-Eaters: A group of pro-slavery extremists from the South who advocated for secession from the Union as a way to protect and preserve their institution of slavery.

Bleeding Kansas: A series of violent civil confrontations between anti-slavery Free-Staters and pro-slavery "Border Ruffian" elements that took place in Kansas Territory and neighboring Missouri between 1854 and 1861 over whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free state or slave state.