-
Nat Turner’s rebellion
Nat Turner was a slave that started an uprising amongst the slaves in plantations of southern Virginia. This uprising was a significant cause of the civil war because it was the bloodiest uprising yet. Turner and his band of around 70 slaves killed 60 white people before they were suppressed after two days of violence. The uprising caused even stricter laws to be enforced on black slaves in the south. -
Period: to
Conflicts leading to the civil war
-
End of the Mexican War
When the Mexican war ended, the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave America new territory. The new territory was of course made into new states, which meant they would have to be free or slave states. The dispute over slavery only grew thanks to this predicament, dividing the north and south more. -
Passing of the Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act meant any federal official that did not turn in an escaped slave would have to pay a fine. This act created more resistance by slaves and black rights activists, inciting more activity along the Underground Railroad to free slaves. It was now harder for the north to help slaves, but it didn’t stop them, which angered southern officials. -
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin
In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a book called Uncle Tom’s Cabin that showed the evils of slavery from a perspective many had never thought about. The book brought about a new view on slavery, causing many to see it as the true evil it was. Not only that, but the book rallied more people to the anti-slavery cause, creating more tension between north and southern views on slavery. -
Period: to
Bleeding Kansas
An act was passed allowing Kansas and Nebraska to decide if they would be free or slave territories through popular sovereignty. This caused many people from the north and south to come to the territories to try to sway the decision in their favor. The conflict quickly became violent with riots, giving a sneak peak at the war to come. -
Dread Scott Case
Dread Scott was a Slave that went to court for his freedom, arguing that he should be free because he was enslaved in a free state. The Supreme Court decided that this wasn’t so because he didn’t own any property, and he himself was property. The loss of this case strengthened the efforts of northern activists against the south. -
Lincoln Douglas debates
Stephen Douglas was an Illinois senator that had his seat challenged by a congressmen that wasn’t very well known at the time, Abraham Lincoln. The pro-slavery Douglas won the race, but their debates all across Illinois brought attention to Lincoln that he never had, attention that later contributed to his election as president of the United States. -
John Brown’s Raid
John Brown was an aggressive abolitionist that wanted to use violence and force to free slaves from southern slave owners. On October 16th, 1859, Brown lead a group of 17 to raid an armory in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. Their plan was to Give the stolen weapons to slaves and cause a violent uprising in the south. The group was stopped and captured by southern troops, Brown and his surviving men were later executed. This event fueled northern activists to fight harder against the south. -
Abraham Lincoln is Elected President
Abraham Lincoln’s election brought strength to the northern anti-slavery activists. The south had a growing fear that Lincoln would help to abolish slavery in the south, as he was known to be against it. After his election, 6 states seceded from the union, increasing divide within the nation -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was attacked by confederate warships after Lincoln had tried to send supplies to the fort. The 34 hour attack resulted in the surrender of the U.S. army and began the war between north and south.
