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Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850, proposed by Henry Clay, admitted California as a free state, adopted popular sovereignty in New Mexico and Utah, reinforced a stricted fugitive slave act, and ended slave trade in Washington.
The failure to ease the division between the north and the south showed that compromise was not a solution and led many moderates toward more radical beliefs -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1853 condeming the practice of slavery. Set in the slave-owning South, the novel became extremly popular in the North. Selling 300,000 copies in the first year, it spread antislavery sentiments in the North while infuriating the South. It helped to fuel the abolitionist movement, which eventually sparked the Civil War. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act divided the Nebraska Territory into two states, both allowed for popular sovereignty. It created potentia for slavery to spread to territories that had been free for more than 30 years, nullifying the Missouri Compromise of 1820. It was passed with the purpose to unite the nation. However, the act only caused further conflicts and eventually led to the creation of the Republican Party. -
John Brown's Raid
Abolitionist John Brown believed that violence was the most direct and only way to completely destory slavery. He seized the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virgina, with the hope of inspiring a local revolution. Although few joined him and his attempt was crushed within a few days, John Brown's Riad showed the imposibility of mending the division in peace, foreshadowing the approaching Civil War. -
The Election of 1860
During the Election 1860, the Republican party nominated a moderate abolitionist, Abraham Lincoln, as their presidential candidate. Lincoln ultimately won the election despite his extreme inpopularity in the south. It demonstrated the disunity between the north and the south as Lincoln was elected without a single southern vote. This angered the south and led to their sessesion from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America. -
The First Battle of Fort Sumter
Lincoln, who hoped to bring back the South with no blood shed, sent supplies to Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, the most important Union forts within the Confederate border. However, when the Union troops refused to surrander, the fort was attacked by the Confederate troops. A few days after the attack, President Lincoln declared the start of the Civil War and called for troops to fight the Confederacy. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiet day of the Civil War. After finding a copy of General Lee's battle plan, Union troops attacked Lee's army in three phases, causing more than 23,000 casualty or injuries in total from both sides. Although Union suffered from greater losses, with Lee's retreat to Virginia, Lincoln had the vitory he needed to move forward with his plan of emancipation. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln annouced the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, freeing all slaves in the Confederate states. However, it did not address the slavery issue in the border states that were under Union control. Although it did not actually free anyone, the Emancipation Proclamation redefined the war as being about slavery. It made more African Americans eager to join the Union army. -
Siege of Vicksburg
Union General U. S. Grant devised a plan to gain control of Vicksburg by placing it under siege. He attacked the rail lines and captured nearby cities to completely cut off Vicksburg. On July 4, 1863, the Confederate commander of Vicksburg was forced to surrander. This was one of the turning points of the Civil War as tide turned in favor of the Union forces. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg lasted three days and had the largest number of casulties of the entire war. It was often viewed as the turning point of the war. The Union General George Meade defeated Confederate General Lee, crushing the morale of the Confederate soldiers and Lee's attempt to invade the North. -
The Election of 1864
The campaign for Lincoln was difficult as many were dissatisfied with his approach to slavery and war. However, Union victories boosted his popular support, especially after the capture of Atlanta. As a result of Lincoln's reelection, the Civil War was able to be continued and eventually finished with Union victory. -
Assasination of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was assassinated days after Lee's surrander at Ford's Theatre by actor and Confederate synpathizer John Wilkes Booth during a performance. His death united the northern political parties, and Lincoln himself became the symbol of freedom.
