Events Leading to the Civil War

By chrismotley

  • End of importation of Slaves

    End of importation of Slaves
    Enacted in 1807 and taking effect in 1808, the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves made it illegal to bring new slaves into any part of the country. This created a market for breedin slaves and trading them within our borders. Slavery also became more brutal.

  • Mexican War ends

    Mexican War ends
    Mexican WarThe end of this war created land cessions to the US from Mexico, which caused debates over whether or not new states should be allowed to have slavery, which exascerbated sectional issues between north and south.

  • Fugitive Slave Act

    Fugitive Slave Act
    This act made it so that all runaway slaves discovered are to be returned to their masters. This angered the northern states, who had previously never enforced this, allowing them to be a safe-haven for escaped slaves.

  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Uncle Tom's Cabin
    Harriet Beecher Stowe Center This book talked about the heinous acts of the slave trade, and many readers were outraged and swayed towards abolition

  • Attack on Charles Sumner

    Attack on Charles Sumner
    After making a speech against the Kansas-Nebraska act, Preston Brooks attacked Sumner and almost killed him. This caused people on both sides to rally to their causes.

  • John Brown raids Harpers Ferry

    John Brown raids Harpers Ferry
    John Brown raided a supply of US weapons with intent to stage a rebellion. He then argued a civil war was the only solution to the nation's problems. This caused people on both sides of the issue to become angrier.

  • Election of Abraham Lincoln

    Election of Abraham Lincoln
    The election of Abraham Lincoln almost immediately prompted the secession of South Carolina, the first of many states to secede which is the most prevalent cause of the War.