Causes of the Civil War

  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850
    Texas was paid $10 million to scale back its land claims in the West. Washington, D.C., was required to end the slave trade in the city, but slavery was still legal. California was admitted as a free state. A Stricter Fugitive Slave Act was passed
  • Fugitive Slave Act

    Fugitive Slave Act
    It stated that it's illegal to help a fugitive slave. It also stated that fugitive slaves must return back to their owners.
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Uncle Tom's Cabin
    Harriet Beecher Stowe sold over 2 Million copies of her book about a kind slave that was treated badly by their owner. Many people joined the abolitionist group after hearing about life as a slave.
  • Kansas Nebraska Act

    Kansas Nebraska Act
    Allowed each territory to decide what they want about slavery based on popular sovereignty. Kanas wanted slaves but it would've thrown off the balance so they started "Bleeding Kansas."
  • Dred Scott Decision

    Dred Scott Decision
    Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was property and couldn't sue. It also ruled that it was unconstitutional for slavery to be prohibited in the Northern states.
  • Harper Ferry

    Harper Ferry
    Brown leads a group of men to attack weapons Arsenal at Harper Ferry, to lead a slave revolt. Raid fails and he was executed.
  • Lincoln's Election

    Lincoln's Election
    Abraham Lincoln was elected president and was the only candidate against slavery. No Southern states voted for Lincoln so it pushed the nation to the edge of war.
  • Attack on Fort Sumpter

    Attack on Fort Sumpter
    Fort Sumpter was in North Carolina and was attacked by the South while they were restocking. They were outnumbered and didn't have enough materials so they surrendered to the south, starting the civil war. Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers.