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John Brown
John Brown was an active abolitionist who organized the raid on Harper's Ferry. Born on May 9, 1800, John Brown would go on to be executed for his abolitionist cause and further the divide between north and south with the south demonizing his actions and the north labeling him as a hero. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1852. This novel would expose the horror's of slavery in the south and is cited as a cause of the Civil War, due to it fueling abolitionists and being denounced by the south so much it was banned. -
Republican Party
We all know the Republican Party, which was formed in 1854 by former Whig members to oppose the spread of slavery into new territories, or in other words in response to the Kansas Nebraska Act. This would further widen the divide between the north and south by actively protesting against slavery and major support from up north. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
In summary the Kansas Nebraska Act was hated by abolitionists and most of the north for repealing the Missouri Act of 1820 which prohibited slavery from going above the 36-30 line. The territory past the Louisiana Purchase was divided into two sections; Kansas and Nebraska. In order to decide slavery in the areas popular sovereignty was implemented which allowed the people in the territories to vote for or against slavery. This divided the north and south due to angering northern abolitionists. -
Bloody Kansas
Bloody Kansas was basically a prelude to the Civil War and was a series of fights fought between pro and anti-slavery groups. These small fights occurred due to election fraud caused by outsiders flooding into Kansas to try and sway the election in interest of their views on slavery. These fights would amount to the Sack of Lawrence where pro-slavery forces would raid the town of Lawrence and then the Pottawatomie Creek Incident. This would raise the tensions between the north and south. -
Election 1856
This election was between James Buchanan, John C. Frémont, and Millard Fillmore. James Buchanan would go on to win and he would remain neutral in the slavery debacle. Despite this South Carolina would succeed under his presidency. His presidency would only divide the nation leading up to this due to his selection of northern and southern cabinet member's and his "sympathy for southern ideas". -
Brooks-Sumner Incident
Basically a Massachusetts Senator Sumner had made a speech which offended South Carolina Representative Brooks, and being very upset decided to beat Sumner into a pulp. This would divide the southern and northern states with many political cartoons painting the south as hostile people. -
LeCompton Constitution
Promoted by pro-slavery forces a constitutional convention was held in September of 1857 where multiple versions of the Kansas Constitution were written, each of these constitutions would make Kansas a slave state granting various rights to slave owners and preventing blacks from entering the state. Each constitution would be denied. This would alienate the democratic party causing further divide and lead to the splitting of the democratic party and in the process angered the north. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott a slave who had moved to a free state sued his current owner in order to gain freedom for his family and himself. After fighting in court for years Scott took his case to the Supreme Court where they ruled against him. This ruling made it so slaves could not become citizens and made the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional killing popular sovereignty. This would enrage abolitionists further dividing the country. -
House Divided Speech
The House Divided Speech would formally put Lincoln on the anti-slavery side and would divide the southern and northern states by saying there are two sides freedom and slavery. Essentially saying slavery either stayed or went. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
These debates would discuss slavery and popular sovereignty and would last from the 21 of August to October 15. These debates mostly consisted of Lincoln being attacked as a far radical and in these debates Douglas would divide the democratic party with the Freeport Doctrine causing him to loose the 1860 election. -
Harper's Ferry Raid
John Brown a avid abolitionist would raid Harper's Ferry's federal armory. This was done in order to help slaves in Virginia riot and break free from their owners. This would bring the Union closer to collapse by fueling slave owners rage and worries that the north would try to end slavery. -
Election 1860
The election of 1860 would be between Abraham Lincoln, John Breckinridge, John Bell, and Stephen Douglas. As we all know Abraham Lincoln would be elected and would spark the Civil War due to his backing being the north. Abraham Lincoln would also receive 180 electoral votes and win in both the Electoral College and Popular Vote. -
Secession
With Abraham Lincoln elected as president, South Carolina saw it as a threat to their rights, had a hissy fit, and decided to succeed. They would be followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. This would be the event that would kick off the Civil War. -
Lincoln's 1" lnaugural Address
In Lincoln's address he told the south that he wouldn't interfere with slavery where it existed, and tried to make peace with the south. Although these attempts would be futile since the Civil War would begin shortly after his election.