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Compromise of 1850
Congress applys several measures forming the Compromise of 1850. The measures included California joining the Union as a free state, the territories of New Mexico and Utah are organized with no restrictions on slavery, slave trading is abolished in the District of Columbia effective January 1851 and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 is modified and strengthened to allow slaveholders to retrieve slaves in northern states and free territories. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes Uncle Tom's Cabin as a response to the pro-slavery movement. The book layed out the 'groundwork' for the civil work. When Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe, Lincoln passed a comment to her saying "so you're the little lady who caused the big war". -
Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
The Kansas-Nebraska Act passes Congress and this overturns the Missouri Compromise opening the Northern territory to slavery. Both sides begin to send settlers into the areas in an effort to influence the future status of these areas. -
Bleeding Kansas
As Kansas prepares for elections thousands of Border Ruffians from Missouri enter the territory in an effort to influence the election. This begins the Bloody Kansas period with duplicate constitutional conventions, separate elections and constant and violent attacks. Kansas got the nickname 'Bleeding Kansas' during this time period because of the bloody violence throughtout the state. -
Senator Charles Sumner
Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner delivers a speech attacking slavery supporters in the Senate. He singles out Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina in his speech. Two days later, South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks, Butler's nephew, attacks Sumner on the Senate floor and beats him with a cane. The House did not expel or censure Brooks for the attack, Sumner took three years to recover. -
Tariff of 1857
Congress passes the Tariff of 1857 lowering rates to the lowest level since 1812 to 20%, this is very unpopular in the North and praised in the South. The Tariff of 1857 was warmly greeted in the South and roundly derided in the North. The tariff was one of a number of major issues that was dangerously increasing the tension between the two regions. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court rules in Scott v. Sandford that blacks are not U.S. citizens, and slaveholders have the right to take existing slaves into free areas of the county. -
Harpers Ferry
John Brown attacks Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Robert E. Lee, then a Federal Army regular leads the troops and captures Brown. John Brown and two of the black members of his band were hanged. -
Lincoln Wins Presdential Vote
Abraham Lincoln is elected president. Lincoln received 40% of the popular vote and won 59% of the Electoral votes. He was not even on the ballot in the deep south. -
South Carolina seceeds
South Carolina convention passes ordinance of secession thus seceding from the Union. South Carolina seceding from the Union makes us now two seperate nations. There is divide between the US. This is the match to the gasoline which ignites the Civil War.
