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Free soil party is organized
The Free Soil Party was a short-lived political party in the United States active from 1848 to 1854. The party was largely focused on the single issue of opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories of the United States. -
California gold rush begins
he California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848. The gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. -
Congress passes the Kansas- Nebraska Act and the Republic Party is founfded
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by the U.S. Congress on May 30, 1854. It allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. Founded in the Northern states in 1854 by abolitionists, ex-Whigs, and ex-Free Soilers, the Republican Party quickly became the principal opposition to the dominant Democratic Party -
A pro slavery mob sacks Lawrence,Kansas
The Sacking of Lawrence occurred on May 21, 1856, when pro-slavery activists, led by Douglas County Sheriff Samuel J. Jones. In a town which had been founded by anti-slavery settlers from Massachusetts who were hoping to make Kansas a free state. -
John Brown
John Brown was an American abolitionist. Brown advocated the use of armed insurrection to overthrow the institution of slavery in the United States. -
Charles Summer of Massachusetts is caned and seriously injured by a pro slavery congressman in the U.S. Senate
Democrat Preston Brooks, was the congress man that attacked Charles.Charles Sumner was known for his deep commitment to the cause of civil rights and emerged as an antislavery leader in the late 1840s. -
U.S. supreme court issues the Dred Scott decision
In 1857, the United States Supreme Court issues a decision in the Dred Scott case. It was affirming the right of slave owners to take their slaves into the Western territories. -
Lecompton Constitution declares that slavery will be allowed in Kansas
The majority of legal voters are free-state. The Lecompton Constitution is a pro-slavery document. If approved it would allow slavery in the state of Kansas -
Abraham Lincoln debates
The Lincoln–Douglas debates were a series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln, the Republican Party candidate for the United States Senate from Illinois, and incumbent Senator Stephen Douglas, the Democratic Party candidate. -
John Brown and his followers stage a failed raid at harpers ferry,virginia , in an attemped to incite a slave insurrection
He attacked and captured the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginian.Brown did a raid, accompanied by 21 men in his party, was defeated by a platoon of U.S. Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee. -
SDouth carolina and 6 other southern states secede from the Union Critteden Compromise is proposed but fails.
The secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of six more states—Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas–and the threat of secession by four more—Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. -
Abraham Lincoln is inagurated president
The first inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as the 16th President of the United States was held on Monday, March 4, 1861, on the East Portico of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C -
Fort fails and starts civil war
The Battle of Fort Sumter had several effects in the United States. The major effect of the battle was that it marked the beginning of the American Civil War. The battle had other effects as well, after the Battle of Fort Sumter several new states seceded from the Union giving the Confederacy 11 states in total.
