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Kansas-Nebraska Act is passed. Allows territories to use popular sovereignty when deciding whether or not to allow slavery.
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Violent clashes between Anti-Slavery(Freesoilers) and Pro-Slavery Settlers.
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Charles Sumner (MA) is caned by Preston Brooks. Sumner was staunchly anti-slavery.
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President Buchanan is elected
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Dred Scott, a slave, sued his master for his freedom, based on the idea that he had been brought into free territory. Supreme Court ruled against Scott on the basis that slaves are NOT CITIZENS BUT PROPERTY.
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Series of 7 Debates between Lincoln & Douglas as they run for Senate. Argued about slavery & popular sovereignty.
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John Brown leads an armed slave revolt on Harper's Ferry, VA.
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Evidence of a divided nation. 4 Candidates in the race, not a single southern vote for Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln won with 39% of the Popular vote because the nation was so divided.
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South Carolina becomes the first southern state to leave the Union following the election of Abraham Lincoln.
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From December 1860 - February 1861, 7 states seceded. On Feb 8, 1861 they met and formed the Confederate States of America. They elected Jefferson Davis their president & set their capital at Richmond, VA.
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Violence breaks out at Fort Sumter in the Charleston Harbor. This is the official start of the Civil War.
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The last 4 states of the Upper South Secede (VA, AK, TN, & NC). CSA capital officially at Richmond. The country is now divided geographically into 21 Union & Border* States and 11 Confederate States.
CSA was made of:
SC, GA, AL, MS, FL, TX, LA, VA, AK, TN, & NC.- During the war West Virginia will become a state in the Union.
