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Invention of Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney creates the cotton gin, a hand-cranked machine that removes the seeds of cotton so humans no longer have to do the long and tedious process. However, this makes it easier for humans to produce cotton therefore needing more slaves to do the work-picking and working the cotton gin-as production increases. -
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Causes of the Civil War
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Missouri Compromise
In 1819, there are 11 free and 11 slave states, but what will Missouri become? The compromise is that Missouri becomes a slave state, Maine is separated from Massachusetts and becomes a free state, and the 36 30 line (slavery is allowed below it) is drawn. -
Compromise of 1850
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Uncle Tom's Cabin
A novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe is written about the crulety of slavery. North becomes even more fired up (against slavery) while the South is outraged by this book. After Europe reads this book and learns about the South and their slaves, they decide to not participate in the Civil War with the South. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
A law is passed in Kansas-Nebraska territory called Popular Sovereignty which means the people decide to allow slavery. This caused a fight in Kansas between pro- and anti-slavery forces, where John Brown (abolitionist) kills 5 pro-slavery men. -
Dred Scott Decision
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Lincoln Douglas Debates
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John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry
John Brown, a very radical abolitionist, has a goal to attack a U.S. arsenal, gaining control of a large number of weapons to arm the slaves with, hoping to start a slave revolt. However, he ends up being killed. While the North views him as a hero, the South couldn't be more outraged. -
Election of 1860
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Secession of South Carolina
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Attack on Fort Sumter
South Carolina attacks Fort Sumter and the American forces are forced to surrender. This begins the Civil War, or Brother VS. Brother, because it was all Americans in the same country.
