Causes of the Civil War

By Josie05
  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850

    •Texas was paid $10 million to reduce its land in the West.
    •Washington, D.C., was forced to end slave trade, but it was still legal. California was turned into a free state.
    •A Stricter Fugitive Slave Act was passed.
  • Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

    Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

    •All fugitive slaves must be taken back to their masters.
    •People who were caught giving shelter, food, or protection to a runaway slave could be imprisoned for up to six months.
    •The North thought this was expanding the power of slavery.
    •Congress said it was illegal to help a fugitive slave.
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin 1852

    Uncle Tom's Cabin 1852

    •Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book sells 300,000 copies and over 2 million copies within five years, which is 2nd highest selling book of the 19th century.
    •It's about a kind, old slave that is treated horribly by his master.
    •Many joined the abolitionist movement after finding out how slaves are treated.
  • Kansas Nebraska Act 1854

    Kansas Nebraska Act 1854

    •The Kansas-Nebraska Act let each territory decide slavery by the people's vote. Kansas becoming a slave state would violate the Missouri Compromise.
    •“Bleeding Kansas” is torn in half for pro slave and anti slave.
  • Dred Scott Decision 1857

    Dred Scott Decision 1857

    •Supreme Court said that Dred Scott was property, not a person, who had no right to sue.
    •The ruling stated that the Missouri Compromise banning slavery in the Northern territories was unconstitutional.
  • Harper’s Ferry 1859

    Harper’s Ferry 1859

    •Brown leads a group of men to attack the weapons at Harpers Ferry. Goal is to take control of weapons and lead a revolt.
    •Raid fails and Brown is captured. He is hung for treason.
    •Becomes a martyr in the North.
    •South sees what North will do to end slavery.
  • Lincoln’s Election 1860

    Lincoln’s Election 1860

    •Lincoln was only candidate against slavery.
    •He won, but election showed that the country was divided.
    •No southern states voted for Lincoln.
    •According to states’ rights, a too powerful federal government and the issue of slavery, the south started to secede.
    •Lincoln’s election pushed the nation to war.
  • Attack on Ft. Sumter 1861

    Attack on Ft. Sumter 1861

    •Ft. Sumter was a federal fort in South Carolina.
    •The South shot Fort Sumter as the Union tried to resupply it.
    •Nearly out of food, ammunition, and badly outnumbered. •Surrendered the fort to the Southern Army.
    •President Lincoln asked for 75,000 volunteers when the war began.