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Missouri Compromise
For a long time, tensions between free and slave states kept growing. Then, Missouri was admitted to the Union as a slave state disrupting the balance between free and slave states. In order to prevent a war, Congress passed the Missouri Compromise which prohibited slavery in the former Lousisana Territory, and admit Maine as a free state. -
Nat Turner's rebellion
Nat Turner, a slave wants to send the nation a message: slavery is wrong. He then leads a band of slaves and slaughters 55-65 women and children. The rebellion is eventually suppressed by Virginian militia, and Nat Turner is executed, however this event dissuades many from freeing slaves and was a piece of slavery propaganda which portrayed slaves as savage creatures that would kill at any givien chance. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The fugitive slave act was the most controversial part of the Compromise of 1850. In it, it required the capture and return of all slaves in the North back to Southern plantations. For many slaves, it meant that staying in the North no longer meant freedom. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Uncle Tom's Cabin was an anti-slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Many including Abraham Lincoln attributed this book to starting the war. The book was a best seller selling millions, and enlightened many people to the horrible conditions of slaves in the South. As a result, the abolitionist movement grew, and people in the North started to care about slavery. -
Formation of the Republican Party
The Whig party, long divided over the slavery issue split in 1854. The new anti-slavery party, called the Republican Party formed as a result and soon gained popular support. Eventually, this was the party that would attract the future president Abraham Lincoln. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act effectively replaced the Missouri Compromise. The act was enacted as a result of Kansas joining the Union, and tried to attract more white settlers by introducing "popular sovereignty." Instead of having a set boundary between slave and free states, popular sovereignty let the settlers there choose whether to be admitted as a free or slave state. Northerners were enraged as soon states like Kansas were now open to slavery. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who lived on free, northern territory for a long time. When his owner died, nothern lawyers convinced him to sue for peace. The case reached the pro-slavery dominated Supreme Court who ruled that because Scott was black, he was not a citizen and therefore no right to sue, so had to remain a slave. This meant that all freed blacks had no rights. The Court also ruled that slavery was legal throughout the nation, making the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown, a northern abolitionist decides to get rid of slavery by raiding a large arsenal and inciting slaves to revolt and take up arms. This failed and after a battle, John Brown is captured, tried for treason, and hanged. The Northern reaction is one of admiration who revere John Brown as a martyr. The South however think of John Brown as a traitor, and are horrified of the North's reaction, who think that the North wants to destroy their way of life. This event fractures the nation more. -
Election of Lincoln
Lincoln was elected President after a close election over a heavily divided Democratic Party. His election made many Southerns feel like their voices were no longer being heard in government, and pushed them to do extreme acts. -
First State Secedes
When South Carolina learned of Lincoln's election, a special convention was called. After much deliberation, it was decided that South Carolina would secede for the Union, being the first state in the Confederate States of America -
The Civil War begins
A lone Union fort off the coast of Charlestown, South Carolina was beseiged for days by Southern forces. After a ship tries to resupply the fort, the first shot of the war is fired. The American Civil War has begun. -
Lincoln's call for troops
After the outbreak of war and the firing on Fort Sumter, Lincoln calls for 75,000 militiamen and recruits to expand the Union army and quickly stamp out the rebellion. His declaration unfortunately causes four more southern states to secede who refuse to fight their "Southern Brothers." -
First Battle of Bull Run
Lincoln, determined to put a quick end to the war sent an army to invade Virginia and capture Richmond. The Confederate army was waiting and defeated the Northern army at great loss to both sides. The battle was the first major land battle and showed both sides the war would be long and bloody. -
Battle of Shiloh
The battle of Shiloh was a great Northern victory for General Ulysses S. Grant, and advanced the western campaign for the North. The Conferderate forces tried to ambush Union forces before they got resupplied, but failed. The victory secured Tennesse for the North, and paved the way for Grant's victory at Vicksburg. -
Antietam
This battle stopped a Southern invasion of the North. It was the bloodiest day of fighting in the war, and while tactically a draw, it was a northern victory in the long run as the Emancipation Proclamation was issued as a result. -
Emancipation Proclamation Issued
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued after the Battle of Antietam. It made slavery in the Southern States illegal. It had little efect on the instituion of slavery at first, because it only freed people in areas that the Union didn't control, however, it meant that the South would get no help from other European nations as their own governments had abolsihed slavery. -
Battle of Chancellorville
The Battle of Chancellorville culminated as a result of another failed Northern attempt to capture Richmond. In it, the northern army lost many soldiers, and cleary showed the inferiority of northern officers. The battle built General Lee's confidence and prompted him to invade the north, even though he lost "Stonewall" Jackson in the battle. -
Gettysburg
Considered the turing point of the war, this is when the North started winning. After advancing deep into the north, General Lee's army was finally confronted in Pennslyvania. In the battle he lost a third of his army and was forced to retreat. -
Vicksburg
After long months of seige, Vicksburg was captured. It was the last Confederate city on the Mississippi River and afterwards, the Confederacy was cut in half when the Union gained control of the entire river. -
Sherman's March to the Sea Begins
Sherman's march to the sea was the first example of total war. General Sherman took his army through undefended Georgia and burned and looted his way through the state, in order to break Southern resolve to fight. His march ended with the sack of Atlanta, Georgia which boosted Lincoln's reputation enough to let him win the reelection of 1864. -
Appomattox Courthouse Surrender
After several battles throughout Virginia, Lee was forced to surrender to Northern General Grant. This marked the end of the Civil War with most Southern troops surrendered.
