Causes of the Civil War

By costaleestrong
  • 1854 BCE

    Kansas Nebraska act- 1854

    Kansas Nebraska act- 1854
    The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed each territory to decide the issue of slavery on the basis of popular sovereignty. Kansas with slavery would violate the Missouri Compromise. “Bleeding Kansas” is violently torn in half for years between pro slave/anti slave.

  • COMPROMISE OF 1850

    COMPROMISE OF 1850
    Texas got paid $10mil to scale back its land claims in the west.
    Washington was required to end the slave trade, but slavery was still legal. California was admitted as a free state.
    A Stricter Fugitive Slave Act was passed.

  • Fugitive Slave Act- 1850

    Fugitive Slave Act- 1850
    this act stated that all fugitive slaves must be returned to their masters. Anyone who was caught giving food/shelter/ or protection to them could be put into jail for up to 6 months. The north felt this was a way to expand the power and reach of slavery. Congress had made it illegal to even assist a fugitive slave

  • Uncle Toms Cabin- 1852

    Uncle Toms Cabin- 1852
    Harriet Beecher Stowe's book sells over 300k copies in the first year and over 2mil copies in over 5 years. This was the 2nd highest selling book in the 19th century. The book is about a kindly old slave that is treated horribly by his master. Many joined the abolitionist movement after learning the harsh realities of life as a slave.

  • Dred Scott Decision- 1857

    Dred Scott Decision- 1857
    Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was property and not a citizen and had no right to sue. The ruling declared that the Missouri Compromise prohibiting 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 arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Their goal is to gain control of weapons and lead a slave revolt. The raid fails and Brown is captured and hanged for treason. Becomes a martyr in the North. South sees to what extent North will do to end slavery.

  • Lincolns Election- 1860

    Lincolns Election- 1860
    Lincoln was the only candidate against slavery. He won, but the election showed that the country was divided. No southern states voted for Lincoln. On the basis of states’ rights, a too powerful federal government and the issue of slavery, the south started to secede. Lincoln’s election pushed the nation to the brink of war.

  • Attack on Ft. Sumter- 1861

    Attack on Ft. Sumter- 1861
    Ft. Sumter was a federal fort in South Carolina. The South fired upon Fort Sumter as the Union tried to resupply it. Fort nearly out of food/ ammunition and badly outnumbered. Surrendered the fort to the Southern Army. President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers. The war had begun.