Events leading to Civil War

  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850

    -Was made up of 5 separate bills.
    -permitted slavery in Washington D.C., yet outlawed slave trade.
    -California was declared a “free state”
    -outlawed the slaved trade.
    -The Fugitive Slave Act was passed.
    -The Fugitive Slave Act required slaves to be returned to their slave owners, even if they were in a “free state”.
  • 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act

    1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act

    -Helped found the Republican Party
    -People had the option to decide whether they want to allow slavery within borders in Kansas & Nebraska
    -Repealed the Missouri compromise
  • 1856 Bleeding Kansas

    1856 Bleeding Kansas

    -The bleeding Kansas included a-lot of violence and hate.
    -The debate was whether the new territory in Kansas was going to be a slave free state or not.
    -Tension was created between North & South territory’s.
    -Pro-slavery & anti-slavery fought over the territory in order to gain control.
    -approximately about 55 people died fighting.
  • 1856- Preston vs. Charles sumner

    1856- Preston vs. Charles sumner

    Sumner delivered a speech criticizing pro slavery politicians. Many were upset with this especially Preston Brooks. Preston brooks confronted him on the Senate floor. They went back and forth until eventually he was very heated. Preston was outraged and beat Charles Sumner with a cane. Sumner was bleeding and had to be carried away.
  • 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debates

    1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debates

    The Lincoln & Douglas debate was a debate between both candidates on slavery. Douglas wanted slavery determined by the people within the states. He wanted the vote on popular sovereignty. Meaning the popular vote of the territory would go forward. Meanwhile, Lincoln on the other hand was against it and didn’t want to expand it into the new territories. He thought the slave states should stay the way they are without making expansions.
  • 1859- John Browns Raid on Harpers Ferry

    1859- John Browns Raid on Harpers Ferry

    John Brown was a staunched abolitionist & had a group of his supporters in a hideout in a barn on the route to Harpers Ferry. Brown & his men seized federal armory & arsenal. He was hoping by doing this the slaves would have weapons/ supplies to fight for freedom. He got captured by the US Marines. Many of the raiders got killed and Brown was captured. He was charged with treason against the state of Virginia. He was sentenced death and was hung on December 2nd,1859.
  • 1860- Election of Abraham Lincoln

    1860- Election of Abraham Lincoln

    Lincoln was elected without getting any votes from the south. This was because they were sure he would try to abolish slavery. He won with less then 40% of the popular vote nationwide. The south was upset with this since it was a largely farming region & needed enslaved Africans to work in cotton fields. The north & south did not get along. He then got assassinated April 15th, 1865.
  • 1857- Dred Scott vs. Sandford

    1857- Dred Scott vs. Sandford

    Dred Scott was a slave from Missouri. He moved to Illinois which was a “free state” at the time. Any slaved person that came into the “free states” became free man. Dred Scott sued the federal court for his freedom. Dred Scott & his family were considered “property” not a citizen. The court decided Mr.Scott could not be considered a citizen. This caused big tensions between the North & South states.