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The Constitution
The Constitution was created in 1787 by Thomas Jefferson, along with other men, in this second plan of government, there was no writing referring to whether slavery was right or wrong. Based on the interpretation of the Constitution, it can be implied that slavery was legal, nowhere on this document does it say otherwise. This allowed for the use of slaves in the South, creating tension with the North when they start disagreeing about the views on whether slavery was good or bad. -
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Events Resulting in the Civil War
List with description of the events that led to the Civil War, starting with the writing of the Constitution until the making of the Confederacy after Lincoln won the Presidential Election of 1860, and South Carolina seceded, setting up the United States for the Civil War. -
Invention of the Cotton Gin
The Cotton Gin was invented in 1793 by Eli Whitney, and was greatly used in the South by plantation farmers, making easier for the picking of cotton. This new contraption required the use of more slaves, causing problems with the North, who didn't like slavery and were strongly against it, arguing that there was no need for the use of slaves in order for the country to progress. -
Missouri Compromise of 1820
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 helped keep the balance between Free and Slave states in the United States. It stated that anything North of the 36° 30' line, would be free, and any state added to the South would be slave. This compromise would later cause problems with the balance of power and the notion of which side would be in charge and approve of laws to their benefit. The Missouri Compromise would cause a greater tension between the power of the North and the South. -
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 stated that all runaway slaves should be sent back to their masters, no matter where they are found, and established horrible consequences for anyone aiding these runaway slaves. This act made the North try to repeal it, as it did not allow slaves to gain their freedom. This caused a greater acknowledgement of the differences in views between the North and the South. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, helped the Northerners realize how badly slaves were being treated in the South. The revelation done by this book, led to the rise of many abolitionists and the distinct views that the South was doing wrong and the North was right about there not being a need for slaves, creating very different sides between the North and the South. -
Bleeding Kansas
After the desicion that Kansas would be Slave state and that Nebraska would be a Free state, many abolitionists decided to show the rest of the South what slavery was leading to and what consequences it would have. The main massacre was at Pottawatomie Creek, led by John Brown, showing his strong belief about slavery not being needed, resulting in the killing of people, posing the example that the result justifies the means. This massacre created fear of the Northern people, the abolitionists. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision claimed that even though Dred Scott, a slave, was taken to Illinois and the Wisconsin Territory, both Free places, he was still a slave. Chief Justice Tanney also said that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional since slaves were property and Congress didn't have the power to ban it. This created questions about popular sovereignty and whether anything could be done about slavery. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, showed the point that he was strongly against slavery and that he would do whatever possible to help slaves be free. He decided to attack a federal arsenal and arm the slaves for a revolt; he didn't care that he would be convicted of treason and that he would die. He showed the South that if you believe in something, you will do whatever to make it happen, this caused a threat to Southerners, as well as a growth of fear about what they were doing. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln's Presidential Election in 1860, would cause great problems that would lead to the Civil War. His idea of not allowing slavery to spread anymore would cause a threat to the South, forcing them to make a decision of continuing under his command or seceding. -
Secession of South Carolina
The secession of South Carolina was the last step needed to start the Civil War, with the breaking away of South Carolina, the Unites States was setting itself up for war, setting its two sides, one for slavery and the other against it. After South Carolina successfully seceded, there was the notion that states could now decide for their own whether they were part of the United States, or they were a separate place. This event triggered other secessions, and after these, there was no going back.
