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Compromise of 1850
After the Mexican-American War, divisions were made over slavery. The war was resolved in the Compromise of 1850. California was made into a free state and Utah and New Mexico was decided by popular sovereignty. Slave trade was ended in Washington DC, making it easier for southerners to recover fugitive slaves. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Because of this book, readers became aware of the horror's of slavery. It was published in 1852 and over 300,000 copies were sold in a year. However many people were opposed to this book. It was banned in the South, and many slaves said it was an inaccurate representation. This book added fuel to anti-slavery feelings with descriptions of slavery as cruel and inhuman. -
Dredd Scott Decision
Dred Scott was an African American slave who had been bought by an army doctor. He claimed to be free because he had been in Illinois and Wisconsin for 11 years. This went all the way ti Supreme Court where Roger B. Taney said that he was still a slave. He said that he was property and that he had no right to bring a lawsuit. The issue did not settle and it rather divided the country even more. Northern Democrats were happy with the decision, but antislavery groups and republicans were outraged. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln challenged Douglas to a debate. Douglas agreed so they met seven times throughout Illinois. They debated on slavery. Lincoln questioned Douglas on popular sovereignty while Douglas said Lincoln wanted African Americans to be equal to whites. Douglas gained support from antislavery followers but lost supporters in the South. Douglas nearly won these debates but Lincoln earned a national reputation. -
Raid on Harpers Ferry
Southerners began to feel threatened by growing republican power, after the 1858 elections. On October 16, John Brown, an abolitionist, led 18 men on a raid on Harpers Ferry Virginia. His target was an arsenal, where they stored ammunition and weapons. John Brown had hoped that he would start a rebellion against slaveholders by arming enslaved African Americans. They were quickly defeated by federal troops and local citizens. He was convicted of treason and was hanged. Some were outraged and som -
Election of 1860
The issue of slavery eventually broke the Democratic Party. Northern Democrats supported Stephen Douglas and popular sovereignty. Southern Democrats supported nominated John C. Breckinridge and supported the Dredd Scott Decision. They came together and nominatd John Bell. Republicans voted for Abraham Lincoln. They thought slavery should be undisturbed and that it should be excluded from the territories. Lincoln won with 40% of the votes and Douglas came in 2nd with 30% of the votes. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas started when John Brown thought that God chose him to end slavery. He took his four sons and two men, then killed five supporters of slavery. This continued when armed bands marched through the territory and newpapers reffered this as "Bleeding Kansas" and "The Civil War in Kansas". John Geary ended the bloodshed in October of 1856. -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
South Carolina is the first state to secede from the Union. -
Mississippi Secedes
Mississippi secedes from the Union. -
Florida Secedes
Florida secedes from the Union. -
Alabama Secedes
Alabama secedes from the Union. -
Georgia Secedes
Georgia secedes from the Union. -
Louisiana Secedes
Louisiana secedes from the Union. -
Texas Secedes
Texas secedes from the Union. -
Confederate States of America are formed
CSA is formed. -
Battle at Fort Sumter
Battle at Fort Sumter- In 1860, Major Robert Anderson moved his soldiers to Fort Sumter. Confederate P.G.T. Beauregard commanded him to surrender at the fort, but Anderson refused. The next morning, they came to the fort, and the Civil War began. They fired for the whole day, and later Anderson surrendered. This was an important battle because it was the first battle of the Civil War. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The battle of Bull Run is known as one of the first major land battles. 35000 Union troops marched to a Confederate force along the river of Bull Run. The Confederate troops won and forced the Union troops to retreat. The South felt confidence and the North were shocked. They realized that the war wasn't as easy to win as they thought. -
Monitor vs Merrimack
This battle was one of the first duels using warships. The Confederates wanted to block the Union from Southern ports. This was an inconclusive battle, but is remembered because it was one of the first naval battles. -
Battle of Shiloh
This was one of the early engagements in the Civil War. The Confederate army launched a surprise attack on the Union in southern Tennessee. However, the Confederates couldn't hold their positions and were forced to retreat. Both North and South were shocked from the great loss and violence. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was a battle with Robert E. Lee and George McClellan as the leaders. This was the first battle on Northern land. This was one of the causes of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. It is remembered as one of the bloodiest battles with over 22,000 deaths and injuries. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln's goal was preserving the Union, not ending slavery. However after all the battles in the Civil War, Lincoln believed that ending slavery was morally correct. On September 22, Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation. He said that all slaves were forever free. No slaves were freed, but this was an important turning point because the purpose of the war was now for human freedom, not keeping the Union preserved. -
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville
Known as one of Robert E. Lee's biggest victory, this battle was held for 16 days. There were twice as much Union troops than Confederate troops. Robert E. Lee split his army into two and attacked the North. Joseph Hooker, leader of the North, did not know what to do and eventually lost the battle. -
Siege at Vicksburg
Grant led his army to Vicksburg, Mississippi where they conducted a surprise landing where they pushed back the Confederates and took over Vicksburg. The Mississippi River was now in the Union hands. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg is considered the most important engagement in the Civil War. On June 1, the Union and Confederates clashed in The South tried to pierce the Union borders but eventually failed. The South lost many of their troops and Lee was forced to retreat back. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Union General, William T. Sherman, led his troops Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. Their purpose was to get the Georgia civilians to abandon the Confederate. They did not battle, but they did stole food and livestock and burned houses and barns that fought back. -
Surrender at Appomattox
On April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant. This officially ended the Civil War. -
Lincoln's Assassination
On January 14, 1865, John Booth planned to kill Lincoln. Lincoln was watching a play called the ¨Our American Cousin¨ when John Booth came behind him and shot him. Lincoln died the next day and Booth was caught in a nearby barn.
