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Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a so-called "solution" to slavery, written by Henry Clay.
Five different aspects would be upheld, and these included:
- California would become a free state
- Mexican Cession land would belong to the federal government
- Texas and New Mexico were fighting about their seperate borders (and the New Mexico border was more popular)
- In Washington, D.C., slave trade would end (but slavery would still continue)
- The Fugitive Slave Act would be strengthened -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was written by abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe, who decided to investigate how slaves were really treated on southern plantations. The novel was fictional, but based on how she perceived slavery. When people in the northern states read the book, they were horrified, but the southern states disagreed and proclaimed that the book was overexaggerated. -
Bleeding Kansas
John Brown was a leading abolitionist, and organized the events that took place during the period of Bleeding Kansas. Kansas was an unclaimed territory, and Americans were fighting on different sides for the territory to become a free or slave state. The fights were violent and war-driven. President Pierce wanted for the state to become a slave state, and this upset many people. Kansas eventually entered the Union as a free state. -
Dred Scott Decision
As slavery issues heightened, a slave named Dred Scott moved to a free state with his master, rightfully making him a free man and no longer a slave. He sued for his freedom and right to live his life peacefully and freely. During the trials, the Supreme Court Justice Roger B. Taney was prejudiced and didn't grant Scott his freedom because he argued that African-Amercans weren't true American citizens and weren't able to sue. Scott never became a free man but these events angered northerners. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
During the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, pre-presidential election Abraham Lincoln went up against Stephen A. Douglas for a seat in the Senate. Lincoln announced his ideas about slavery, which roused crowds and made him popular among northern abolitionists. Unfortunately, Stephen A. Douglas won the Senate position, but people really got to know Lincoln. This set up the ideas of the Election of 1860. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
The Raid on Harper's Ferry was a violent event put together by dedicated abolitionist John Brown, who also organized Bleeding Kansas. Harper's Ferry was a town in pro-slavery Virginia, and John Brown wanted to steal weapons, which he would give to slaves, to start a revolution against slavery. Northerners thought that he was a hero, but southerners thought that he was a murderer. John Brown was arrested an hanged for treason against the state of Virginia. -
The Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 was, quite simply, the election in which tension was at its peak between abolitionists and pro-slavery followers. Abraham Lincoln, a Republican who was strongly against slavery, was running against popular-sovereignty supporter and Democrat Stephen A. Douglas. The other candidates were John Bell and John Breckinridge, members of the Democratic and Constitutional Union parties. Lincoln won by popular vote, angering southerners. The war began 5 weeks after his inauguration. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina secedes 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. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Southern forces were attempting to seize as many Union forts in the South as possible. Lincoln told Southern leaders the North would not fire on the South unless fired upon first. Southern forces fired! THE WAR HAD BEGUN! -
First Battle of Bull Run
During the war, Union General Irvin McDowell fought with his forces against Confederate Generals Joseph E. Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard. There were split armies, where Union men went different directions and used different tactics to beat the Confederacy, including surrounding the Union armies. Confederate soldiers and fought among regular people in New York, causing chaos and the win for the Confederate army. -
Monitor vs. Merrimack (Battle of Hampton Roads)
The South had covered an abandoned Northern ship with iron in an effort to break the Union blockade. The North countered with their own ironclad. The ships fought to a draw, but it is considered a Union victory. They kept the South in the harbor. -
Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing)
Led by General Ulysses S. Grant, the North defeated the South in the bloodiest 2-day battle of the Civil War. Grant earned the reputation as a "butcher" of men. Congress wanted him removed but Lincoln responded: "I can't spare this man, he fights." -
Capture of New Orleans
Union forces, led by Admiral David G. Farragut, surprised the South capturing New Orleans. The city was a major trade city of the South and its capture meant less supplies for Confederate soldiers. -
Battle of Antietam
Due to General McClellan's hesitation the North was attacked by Lee's forces. The North was able to hold off the South in the bloodiest single day battle of the war. The hesitation by McClellan caused Lincoln to replace him. Also, convinced Lincoln to write and issue the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
At Fredericksburg General Burnside mistakenly thought he could charge up a hill and overtake the Confederates. The Union suffered heavy losses and Burnside resigned as general. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln understood that taking a stand against slavery would make Britain and France less likely to aid the South. The Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves within any state in rebellion against the U.S. This allowed African-Americans to join the military and led to the 13th Amendment. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
At Chancellorsville the Confederates scored another victory but at a high cost (Pyrrhic). General Stonewall Jackson was shot and died 8 days later. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Northern and Southern forces met by accident at Gettysburg. The first 2 days saw the South push the North back to Cemetery Ridge. On the 3rd day Lee sent General Pickett over the ridge where they were easy targets for the North. The South had to retreat. The failed charge was known as "Pickett's Charge." -
Siege at Vicksburg
Over 9 months Grant led a siege on Vicksburg finally gaining victory on July 4, 1863. The North now gained control of the Mississippi River, thus splitting the Confederacy in two. Following this victory, President Lincoln named Grant commander of the U.S. Army. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
After capturing the city of Atlanta, Georgia, General Sherman decided to pursue the Southern troops on what is now known as his "March to the Sea." During the march, the Union troops were destructive and made a total war on southern soil. The South finally surrendered. -
Surrender at Appomattox
After the final battle of the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee was forced to surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant, and thus ended the Civil War. Lee was given his terms for post-battle life, and all of the soldiers went away unpunished. Upon this, Grant agreed, "The war is over. The Rebels are our countrymen again.” -
Lincoln's Assassination
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated just less than a week after the peaceful resolution of the Civil War (when Lee had surrendered). He was shot at Ford's Theatre by an actor at the time named John Wilkes Booth, who had made his way into the president's booth for the show that he was attending and shot him in the back of the head. Afterwards, he jumped out of the booth and ran out of the theater and was chased into hiding. Lincoln died hours following his fatal injury.
