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Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin
An ivention by Eli Whitney. The cotton gin was one one the most influential inventions in the late 18th century. Not only did it triple the production of cooton. But it made slavery increase in the south. And was on of the first causes for sectionalism. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo
The treaty was important at the end of the war with Mexico. The US aquired a lot of land in this treaty. They got California and most of the American SouthWest. The issue was the Government made California a free state. The south was furious because California is huge. They wanted the other territories to be slave states. This would cause even more issues. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
An Anti-Slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was the best selling Book in the 19th century, and was an explicit look into life as a slave. The book brought up the issue of slavery to many people. And it would deepen the sectional differences between the north and south. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
An act that made Kansas and Nebraska states. But also allowed slavery if voted on through popular sovereignty.This caused waves of people from the North and South to flood into this area. People were actually killing each other, to get what they wanted, whether it was slavery or no slavery. The most famous killing is John Brown. Who murdered a family. This greatly affected the relationship between the north and the south. -
Dred Scott V. Sanford
- A supreme court case that ruled that African-American slaves could not sue in Federal court because they are not citizens of the US. Dred Scott was a slave who was brought to a free state and tried to sue for his freedom. The ruling of the case caused an uproar from anti-slavery activists and Republicans. Making tensions worse between the North and the South.
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Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 was a very important election for the US. The outcome would force the South’s hand, in secession or remaining a part of the Union. The four Candidates were very different. Stephen A. Douglas (Northern Democrat), John Bell (Constitutional Union), Abraham Lincoln (Republican Party), and John C. Breckinridge a Southern Democrat. The election was important because whoever won could end slavery. The south didn't want that. So when Lincoln won, the south was upset and seceded. -
South Carolina Secedes
After the Electiojn of 1860 and Lincoln becomes President. And South Carolina decided to secede from the union, prompting other states to follow shortly after. The tension built up to a point where the south was done. And shortly after the south would strike first at Fort Sumter.
