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Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel depicted the harsh realities of slavery, galvanizing Northern abolitionist sentiments and increasing hatred towards the South. -
In response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Republican Party united various anti-slavery factions, signaling a political realignment that threatened Southern interests. -
This act allowed territories to decide on the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty, leading to violent conflicts known as "Bleeding Kansas," as pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions clashed. -
The election further polarized the nation as the Republican candidate, John C. Frémont, opposed the expansion of slavery, while the Democratic candidate, James Buchanan, supported it, James Buchanan's victory highlighted the sectional divide, with the Republican Party gaining significant support in the North. -
The violent confrontations in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers highlighted the deep divisions and made clear that compromise was increasingly difficult. -
The violent attack of Congressman Preston Brooks on Senator Charles Sumner in the Senate exemplified the breakdown of civil discourse and the rising tensions between North and South. -
The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans could not be citizens and that Congress had no authority to regulate slavery in the territories, infuriating abolitionists and emboldening pro-slavery advocates. -
Proposed as a pro-slavery constitution for Kansas, it was rejected by Congress, further inflaming tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. -
These debates highlighted the national debate over slavery and showcased Abraham Lincoln's opposition to the expansion of slavery, which alarmed Southern leaders. -
In this speech, Lincoln stated that the nation could not endure permanently half-slave and half-free, emphasizing the inevitability of conflict -
when John Brown led an armed raid on the federal armory in an attempt to incite a slave rebellion, this event was instrumental in heightening tensions between the North and South as it highlighted the growing divide over the issue of slavery. Brown's raid ultimately failed, but it intensified the national debate over slavery and contributed to the start of the Civil War. -
John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, intending to start a slave uprising. The raid failed, and Brown was captured, tried, and executed, becoming a martyr for the abolitionist cause. -
Following Lincoln's election, several Southern states seceded from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America, marking the definitive break between North and South. -
Lincoln's election as a Republican president without any Southern electoral votes was seen as a direct threat to slavery, prompting Southern states to consider secession. -
Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address focused on maintaining the Union and addressing the concerns of Southern states regarding slavery, emphasizing peace and unity