-
Compromise of 1850
Admitted California as a free state. Utah and New Mexico territories with slavery being determined by the people. Settled the Texas-New Mexico boundary, ended slave trade. The North supported this as they believed in popular sovereignty. The South was against this and tensions started building. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Law that allowed slaves to be returned from their owners and to punish anyone who was an accomplice. The Northern States had already abolished slavery while the Southern states became concerned that the slaves would escape to freedom. This created some disputes which would lead to war. -
Underground Railroad
The underground railroad was a system used to escape slaves to freedom in the North. Abolition grew in the North while the South continued to impose threats. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a famous book called Uncle Tom's Cabin which completely changed the public's opinion about slavery. This inspired many people. In 1863, Lincoln announced the end of slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Kansas Nebraska act was a bill that mandated popular sovereignty. Allowed settlers to decide weather slavery would be allowed within a new states border. Conflicts led to a period of violence which would make way for the war. -
Bleeding Kansas
A period of violence over settling in Kansas. Kansas Nebraska Act overturned Missouri Compromise which let the settlers determine free or slave states. Conflicts erupted and violence as people fought for control. -
Dred Scott Decision
In the court case, there was a decision made that no black slave could petition the court for freedom. This increased tensions in the North and South which would lead to the outbreak of war. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
Charles Sumner was deeply committed to anti-slavery movements. The North were big abolitionists. He formed the Free Soil Party which opposed slavery into new acquired territories. Big tensions in the South. -
Election of 1860
Republicans elected Lincoln since they thought he would take victory. The democrats nominated John Breckenridge. In the end Lincoln won and the South got angered by their defeat. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
Abolitionists led by John Brown to establish a free stronghold in the mountains. He was captured and hung and it also strengthened fears of slave rebellions in the South and increased tensions. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Famous for being the site of the first shot of the war. A confederate general fired on the fort on April 12. The South then surrendered the fort on April, 13 -
Secession
11 south states left the union and established their own government and were called the Confederate States of America. The border states of Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina remained the united states.