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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise added Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. Also, it created an imaginary line across the Louisiana Territory. It allowed slavery South of the line and banned it North of the line. This led to the Civil War because although the Union was saved, neither the North or South were pleased. The South wanted the ban on slavery in the Louisianna Territory to be lifted and the North called anyone who voted to accept Missouri as a slave state a traitor. -
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Pre Civil War
From the start of the Missoui Compromise to the Attack on Fort Sumter, the tensions between the North and South kept rising. Each event helped to cause the Civil War by increasing the struggle over slavery. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 added California as a free state. It also made New Mexico and Utah into territories open to slavery. Also, the slave trade would be stopped in Washington, D.C. Finally, it created a stronger fugitive slave law. The Compromise was accepted to preseve the Union, but again no one was satisfied. Instead, the debating over slavery grew louder. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Act created two new territories, Kansas and Nebraska. It scrapped the Missouri Compromise line and instead let the settlers vote on whether to permit slavery in the territories. Northerners feared that slavery would march across the plains. The struggle soon grew violent went pro-slavery settlers invaded Lawrence, Kansas, the home of the anti-slavery government. They destoyed homes and abolitionist presses. Days later, John Brown and his men killed 5 men suspected of supporting slavery. -
The Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott, a slave who traveled with his master to Wisconsin, argued that his stay in a free state made him a free man. He attempted to win his freedom in court. The Supreme Court decided that his stay did not make him free, and because he is a slave he is considered property and has no rights. Slave-holders were delighted, but Northerners were enraged. -
Election of 1860
The Election was very divided. Republicans united behind Lincoln, but the Democrats split between Stephen Douglas and Jogn C. Breckinridge. Also, a new party nominated John Bell. Lincoln won the election with his opposition split three ways. However, he had only 40% of the votes. After Lincoln was elected, the South was talkiing of succession. Senators rushed to form a comitee that could save the Union. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Just as the senators began to discuss how to save the Union, rebels fired on Fort Sumter. The shelling lasted 33 hours, but no one was killed. This caused the start of the Civil War.
