Events Leading to Civil War

  • 1850: The Compromise of 1850 including the Fugitive Slave Act

    1850: The Compromise of 1850 including the Fugitive Slave Act

    The compromise led to Civil War due to it pushing people more against slavery. It ended the balance that came with slavery in the free and slave states. Some important people include the senator from Massachusetts, Daniel Webster, and senator of South Carolina, John C. Calhoun. California became a free state and the slave trade in Washington D.C was abolished.
  • 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act

    1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act

    The Kansas-Nebraska Act was put in place to repeal the Missouri Compromise, created more territories, and allowed for popular sovereignty. This act failed due to the division between both anti-slavery and pro-slavery. The Kansas- Nebraska act enraged Northerners. An important person during this time was Stephen Douglas
  • 1854-1856 Bleeding Kansas

    1854-1856 Bleeding Kansas

    Bleeding/Bloody Kansas was an outbreak of violent confrontations is Kansas Territory. To sway the vote, both sides of slavery, proslavery and antislavery, rushed into Kansas Territory. This came about due to political and ideological debates. This was important because it shaped American politics and contributed to the Civil War.
  • Preston Brooks vs Charles Sumner 1856

    Preston Brooks vs Charles Sumner 1856

    A Member of the House of Representatives entered the Senate Chamber and beat a senator unconscious. This happened because of the issue with deciding if Kansas should be a free state or a slave state.
  • 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford

    1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford

    Dred Scott v Standford was a decision made by the U.S Supreme Court. It held the U.S Constitution didn’t extend American citizenship of African Americans. The decision said having lived in a free state and territory did not entitle the enslaved. The division between pro-slavery and anti-slavery grew larger because of this.
  • Lincoln-Douglas Debates

    Lincoln-Douglas Debates

    -There were 7 debates total
    -Douglas accused Lincoln of being an abolitionist
    -Lincoln accused Douglas of wanted to nationalize slavery
    - Main debate topics were how to deal with slavery and where slavery should be allowed
  • John Browns raid on Harpers Ferry

    John Browns raid on Harpers Ferry

    -Effort made by John Brown to initiate a slave revolt in Southern States and destroy the institution of slavery
    -16 People were killed including 10 of Browns men
    -This made a resolution of slavery the center of national debates
  • Election of Abraham Lincoln

    Election of Abraham Lincoln

    • Won the election with less then 40 percent of the popular vote by carrying states above Mason-Dixon Line and North of Ohio River
    • He did not continue one slave state -His number one goal was to preserve the nation -People think Lincoln caused the war by calling out slavery