10 Events that lead to the Civil War

By sl008
  • John Rolfe and the tobacco plantations in Virginia

    John Rolfe and the tobacco plantations in Virginia
    In 1612, John Rolfe started to plant the tobacco in the new colonies to make a good profit, since gold was not found in the new world as expected. The tobacco did bring some difficulties as the time passed, as the tobacco absorbed all nutrients from the soil. Therefore the plantation owners changed into cotton, which later n slaves would be needed to maintain the plantations of Cotton. Slavery will be one of the conflicts the civil war will be fought over,
  • The first Slave Ship

    The first Slave Ship
    In 1619, a dutch slave ship was brought into Jamestown, and introduced Slavery into the new colonies. This is what began slavery in America. Without the introduction of slavery to the new world, there wouldn't have been a problem with slavery in the first place, because there wouldn't have been any slaves.
  • Bacon's Rebellion.

    Bacon's Rebellion.
    In 1676, Nathaniel Bacon along with indentured servants rebelled against the Government of Virginia. This lead to the change in the type of labor needed, making slavery increase and the need for indentured servants decrease. The increase of slavery will later create a problem that will be resolved in war.
  • The Cotton Gin

    The Cotton Gin
    The invention of the cotton Gin by Eli Whitney, in 1693, lead to the increase of slavery because of the effectiveness of the machine. This invention made Plantation owners have really big cotton plantations which would later be made into money, and with that extra money more slaves would be bought. More black men will be seen as property and the war will be fought to make black men free,
  • Texas Annexation

    Texas Annexation
    Texas was a republic for about 10 years before being annexed to the U.S on December 29,1845 under Polk's presidency. This annexation crated an uneven balance between the free and slave states, as Texas was annexed as a slave state. This created tension between the free and slave states that will lead them to war.
  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850
    The Compromise made by Henry Clay in January 29, 1850 lead to the civil war because one of the four clauses of the compromise was to return a slave to his owner or would be given prison for not returning them. This made abolitionist angry because it would be hard to achieve their goal on helping slaves escape, creating more tension between the abolitionists and the pro-slavery people.
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe

    Harriet Beecher Stowe
    Harriet Beecher Stowe's book was published on March 20,1852. Her book later turned into a play, as it showed the bad side of slavery no one really knew. This made people realize it was wrong and ready to fight against slavery, that to their eyes was wrong.
  • Kansas-Nebraska Act

    Kansas-Nebraska Act
    The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed on May 30,1854 with the support of President Pierce. This act lead to "Bleeding Kansas", as abolitionists wanted another free states and the pro-slavery states wanted more slaves states, and later will lead to the civil war because of the massive amount of tension between the north and south.
  • Election of 1860

    Election of 1860
    Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, even with out the South's support, since they supported Breckenridge, Southern Democrat. This angered the south, making it the last thing they would take before exploding and taking action against the north and the Union. The action the south took lead to the civil war.
  • Secession

    Secession
    South Carolina seceded from the United States on December 20,1860, about 2 months after Lincoln's election. This action lead to the civil war, as after Carolina's secession, slave states started to leave the United States. In order to keep the Union together, the North went to war against the South, creating the civil war,