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Compromise of 1850
Kentucky Senator Henry Clay proposed to solve issues regarding the use of slavery in the territories gained from the Mexican-American War. In the Spetember of 1950, the compromised abolished slavery in Washington, D.C., left slavery matter up to popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico, and enforced the Fugitive Slave Act. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
Designed by Stephen Douglas, it established both the Kansas and Nebraskan territories, opening up land to settlers. This act made the Missouri Compromise null and void by allowing white settlers to use popular sovereignty to determine if slavery should be allowed. -
Bleeding Kansas
A multitude of bloody skirmishes in the Kansas territory between "Border Ruffians" and abolitionists over whether Kansas would become a slave or non-slave state, beckoning the main reason for conflict in the Civil War. -
The Dred Scott Decisions
The United Sates Supreme Court determined that the slave Dred Scott was not free for living in a non-slavery territory. This decision declared that not a single slave could truly be an inhabitant of America. -
Lincoln–Douglas Debates
A series of debates between Abraham Licoln and Stephen Douglas that helped determine the Senator for Illinois. The issue of slavery, a topic often brought up in the debates, would intertwine with Lincoln's destiny once more when he was elected president. -
Harper's Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on Harper's Ferry, Virginia in order to provoke an armed slave revolt. Ultimately, Brown and his crew were apprehended by Robert E. Lee's men. -
Lincoln's Election
Lincoln becomes the sixteenth president of the United States. Irritated by his voctory, the state of South Carolina seceded from the Union. -
Fort Sumter
The start of the Civil War; Confederate soldiers forced began to fire arms at Union Fort SUmter. The garrison commander of Fort Sumter, Robert Anderson, gave up the fort the following day. -
Bull Run
The first significant land battle of the Civil War. As Union forces from Washington began to drive the Confederate army back, reinforcements arrived and maanaged to weaken the Union flank. -
Antietam
The bloodiest "draw" in the war. Occurred just before Lincoln made his Emancipation Proclamation. The Union army under George McClellan assaulted Confederate soldiers at Antietam Creek. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln's important decree stating that all slaves in rebellious states were to be freed and allowed any slaves to volunteer for paid military service in the war. -
Battle of Gettysburg and Gettysburg Address
Battle: Robert E. Lee's second attempt to invaded the North gave poor results due to revitalized fighting spirit on the side of teh Union. Address: Lincoln prepared a speech to both mourn for the soldiers lost at Gettysburg and to push on until the end of the war is nigh. -
Andersonville Prison
Union soldiers who were captured by Confederate forces began to arrive at the encampment specifically made for POWs. -
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
The final brawl between North and South. TOnce Robert E. Lee understood how outnumbered the Confederates were to the Union, he agreed to surrender, ending the war. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln is killed by John Wilkes Booth. This occurred only 5 days after the surrendering of the Confederate army. -
Reconstruction
President Johnson announces the plan to rebuild America. Slaves are now teated fairly (or at least beginning to be appreciated).
