Events Leading to the Breakout of the American Civil War

By josiahdr

  • Nat Turner Rebellion

    Nat Turner Rebellion
    This slave rebellion occurred in Southampton County, Virginia. 55-65 people were killed.

  • Gag Rule

    Gag Rule
    The House of Representatives passed a resolution effectively tabling all bills relating to slavery. Causing much strife among Northern congressmen, this prevented discussion on the decisive issue.

  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850
    A resolution, this agreement settled the dispute over the admittance of California as a free state. In return, future states would determine the status of being a free or slave state by popular sovereignty.

  • Publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin
    This novel, authored by Harriet Beecher Stowe, encouraged abolitionists and other anti-slavery groups of people. It further escalated tensions between parties.

  • Harper's Ferry

    Harper's Ferry
    John Brown led a raid on a federally-operated armory. This violence eventually led to a slave revolt. An attempt to destroy the institution of slavery failed, but inflamed emotions on both sides of the argument.

  • The Election of 1860

    The Election of 1860
    Abraham Lincoln defeated his opponents his a strikingly sharp geographical difference. The first Republican president (who was LIBERAL) caused the CONSERVATIVE southern states to secede from the Union; war was upon the United States.