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Events leading to the Civil War
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Gag Rule
The Gag Rule was a way for Congress to work without thinking of slavery. Slavery, with this law, was forbidden to talk about during congress, thereby ignoring a problem instead of solving it. -
Underground Railroad
Robert Purvis, a black abolitionist, starts the Underground Railroad, a movement to help slaves escape from the south to the north. -
Fredrick Douglass Publishes Autobiography
A former slave, Fredrick Douglass, publishes his autobiography, Narritive of the Life of Fredrick Douglass. The book sparks a wave of abolitionist movements in the north. -
Compromise of 1850
With new territories going to America from the Treaty of Guadulupe-Higaldo, the north and south had to find a middle ground on whuch states would be free or slave. With the Compromise of 1850, California was created as a free state, as well as other territories opened to slavery to keep the balance. -
California Becomes a Free State
With implementation of the Comprimise of 1850, one effect is California becoming a free state, giving the north an advantage of spreading "sea to shining sea". -
Fugitive Slave Act Modified
Another part of the Compromise of 1850 was an update to the Fugitive Slave Law. The modification allowed southern slave owners to go north to find their slaves if they escaped. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska was passed, opening both states to the possibility of slavery through popular sovereignty. The Act caused "Bleeding Kansas" and eventually led to both states being free, as well as repealing the Missouri Compromise. -
Dred Scott Decision
In 1857 the Supreme Court, led by Sumpeme Justice Taney, ruled that black people were not citizens on America, and therefor had no legal rights, such as the right to sue. The case also ruled that a slaveowner could bring his slave to a free state, and the slave would still be a slave, which virtually ignored ideas of free state or slave state. -
Lincoln Elected
In the 1860 presidential election, Abraham Lincoln wins with 40% of the popular vote. Lincoln, with his strong anti-slavery views, and desire to preserve the union, wins all northern states, and secures the presidency. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
Worried about his anti-slavery views, when Lincoln gets elected president, South Carolina declares it's need to leave the union through secession. This tear in the union paves the way for other southern states to secede, setting the stage for the Civil War.