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Compromise of 1850
Created by Henry Clay this compromise said that Texas would surrender its control over New Mexico and the terrirories of Utah and New Mexico would be able to decide based on a popular soveriegnty vote if slavery would be allowed. It also said that California could be admitted as a free state and the slave trade was banned in D.C. -
Fugitive Slave Law
This law was apart of the compromise of 1850 and said that all slaves in free territory were still considered slaves and were to be returned back to their owners. All citizens in free territory had to abide by this law and some would come to these lands to hunt down slaves. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Publication
Written by black, female author Harriett Beecher Stowe this book presented an anti slavery story to the nation. It brought more power to abolitionists and served as groundwork towards the civil war. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This law establised the territories of Kansas and Nebraska in the Western frontier. It repealed the Missouri Compromise by now allowing slavery based on the vote by popular sovereignty. -
Brooks Attacks on Sumner in the Senate
After the Kansas Nebraska Act was passed Northerners began to fear that slavery would begin again in territories it had previously been banned. Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusettes presented a two day speech to the senate about how this law was considered a crime against Kansas. Preston Brooks of South Carolina was offended by the calling out of his cousin Senator Andrew P. Butler and began to beat Sumner with a cane at his desk. The beating was a symbol of strong hostility between N + S. -
Birth of the Republican Party
The first nominating convention was held in Philidelphia Pennsylvania and officially announed the Republican Party as a unified political party. A republican victory in the presidential campaign led to the succession of many states right before the civil war. -
Dred Scott vs Sanford
Dred Scott, a former slave argued against an owner's decision claiming that he was a free citizen in Missouri because he had lived in free territory years before. With the help of abolitionists his case was ultimately brought to court and ended with a ruling of him being considered a slave. This decision sparked tension between abolitionists and pro-slavery citizens because of its unconstitutional ruling; later being seen as a stepping stone to the civil war. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown, a white anti slavery northerner fought for the end to slavery by beginning raids. Him and an army of 22 other men, including five black men attampted to stage a raid by Harper's Ferry Virginia in hopes of starting a slave revolt. The raid was surrounded by US soldiers and ultimately led to John Brown being tried and executed by the state of Virginia. His raid although unsuccessful became a symbol and push for tensions felt before and throught the civil war. -
Election of 1860
During this election the Democratic Party split into North and South supporters, but the new Republican Party prevaled with Abraham Lincoln becoming the 19th President. The South was extremely aggitated by his victory and not long after seven states seceeded from the union to later form the Confederacy. -
Shots Fired at Fort Sumter, SC
This event is seen as the beginning of the American civil war at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The United States government held control over this fort when it was attacked by confederate soldiers. None were killed in the accident but it is significantly seen as the bloodless first battle of the war.
