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In 1790, as the country began to newly form into democratic-republic many debates and clashes arouse, mainly surrounding slavery. Many northern groups urged congress to abolish the slave trade. However, representatives from the south urged congress that they would not have joined the union if their property was being taken away from them. It was until Madison convinced congress not to emancipate slavery just yet, which set the road to foreshadowing the civil war.
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On September 12-13, Chapultepec Castle was the last objective for the U.S. to win the Mexican-American war. After the Americans took siege of the base and of Mexico City, American envoy, Nicholas would negotiate Mexican territory that increase the United States by ¼ and decreased Mexican by ½, continuing on America’s future plan of Manifest destiny. Most active military men that fought in this battle, Captain Robert E. Lee and Lieutenant Ulysses S.would later fight in the American Civil War.
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With California joining the union, all sorts of issues arose after the request for California wanting to be a free state. Opening up new seats in Congress to free state representatives would break the peace between free and slave states in Congress. The compromise was created by popular sovereignty California could decide whether to be free or not, an amended Fugitive Slave act, regional disputes solved regarding the border with Texas, and the abolition of slavery in the U.S. capital.
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The anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, a prominent activist and abolitionist. The challenges and hardships of a slave named Tom are the focus of the book. It details reports of horrifying physical abuse as well as a slave's normal life. Due to the events depicted in the book, its significance increased the abolitionist movement in the North and undermined people's views of the South.
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Senator Charles Sumner addressed Congress, discussing the topic of whether Kansas should come into the Union as a free or slave state. Sumner was giving a speech about this issue when he decided to include in his argument personal attacks on Southern representatives, Stephen Douglas and Andrew Butler. Representative Preston Brooks, being related to Douglass, charged at Sumner with his metal cane and repeated to assault him for a minute. The dispute between the 2 men only made matters worse.
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After Dred Scott was brought to the free state of Illinois and the free territory of Wisconsin, he, his wife, and his abolitionist lawyers tried suing for their freedom. They argued that because they were slaves in a free territory they were free. After denying him his freedom, in a 7-2 decision, the court ruled that slavery was legal in U.S territories, illegalized slave citizenship, declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, and that slaves could not bring cases to the Supreme Court.
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John Brown was known throughout history as the abolitionist who took the fight to the plantations. He is best known for his assault on a plantation in Harpers Ferry, Osawatomie, West Virginia, where he led 21 men. His actions ended up killing 1 slave owner and freeing 11 slaves. He was also recognized for holding a secret anti-slavery meeting where he created an anti-slavery constitution. John Brown was eventually caught and killed for his actions but remained a figure for activists.
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Outraged by the election of Abraham Lincoln and the continuous disrespect of Southern morals of slavery, one by one southern states left the Union forming the Confederate States of America. The South appointed Jefferson Davis as their President and set their capital in Richmond Virginia, not far from the Union’s capital in Washington D.C. This ultimately made the American Civil War inevitable. Not too long after in April of 1861, the battle of Fort Sumter, officially started the war.
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The Battle of Belmont was one of the many battles fought in the American Civil War. The battle was fought in Mississippi County, Missouri and though this battle was not as significant compared to others it was one of the first battles Ulysses S Grant participated in along with Union troops. Along with giving experience to a young general, this gave Lincoln one of the first battles of the war that he was so eager to have. Union was overrun which gave the upper hand to the Confederates.
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The River War of 1862, which lasted from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, was a protracted and brutal conflict. General Ulysses S. Grant and Yankee Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote headed the Union forces. Confederate forces confronted Union forces in Middle Tennessee. This battle was significant since it had one of the greatest death tolls during the Civil War. Tennessee was successfully taken over by Union forces, which greatly boosted northern morale.