Causes of the Civil War

  • Missouri Compromise

    Prohibited slavery above the parrallel 36 30 north, except for Missourie
  • Know Nothing Party

    An anti-immigration party founded on the principles of Nativism.
  • Wilmot Proviso

    A law that banned slavery in any territory gained in the Mexican War and on.
  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

    The treaty that ended the Mexican-American War.
  • Compromise of 1850

    A package of five bills that attempted to prevent the civil war.
  • Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

    Runaway slaves had to be returned to their masters.
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    An abolition book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Was very popular, and challenged people to challenge the ethics of slavery.
  • Republican Party

    Founded by ex-whigs. and anti-slavery activists.
  • Gadsden Purchase

    The U.S. purchases New Mexico from Mexico.
  • Kansas/Nebraska Act

    Created the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, and allowing sttlers to determine whether they allow slavery or not through popular sovereignty.
  • Bleeding Kansas

    Violence broke out in Kansas as to whether it would become a slave state or free state.
  • Election 1856

    James Buchanan won the election under the Democrat platform.
  • Dred Scot v. Sanford

    Dred Scot was a slave who's master died while he was in a free state, he went to court in attempt to gain freedom.
  • Lincoln-Douglas debates

    Lincoln and Douglas were both running for senate. Lincoln wanted to prevent the new states from becoming slave states while Douglas believed that the states should vote on it.
  • John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry

    John Brown was a white abolitionist who attempted to start on armed slave revolt that failed quite miserably. Overall created tension between the North and South.
  • Election of 1860

    Abraham Lincoln wins the election for President of the United States on the Republican Platform.
  • South Carolina Seceeds

    South Carolina Seceeds from the Union after the election of 1860.