Events Leading to the Civil War

By Thomas205

  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850
    DISPUTE OVER NEWLY ACQUIRED WESTERN TERRITORY LED TO COMPROMISE. Texas was paid $10 million to scale back its land claims in the West.

  • Fugitive Slave Act

    Fugitive Slave Act
    THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT OF 1850 INFURIATED NORTHERNERS. Any person who was caught giving shelter, food, or protection to a runaway slave could be subject to up to six months in prison.

  • Uncle Tom’s Cabin

    Uncle Tom’s Cabin
    BOOK SELLS OUT! NORTH IS IN SHOCK BY WHAT IT READS. Many joined the abolitionist movement after learning the harsh realities of life as a slave.

  • Kansas Nebraska Act

    Kansas Nebraska Act
    NORTH IS OUTRAGED. Kansas is violently torn in half for years between pro slave/anti slave.

  • Dred Scott Decision

    Dred Scott Decision
    SLAVE SUES FOR HIS FREEDOM AFTER LIVING IN A FREE STATE. Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was property and not a citizen and had no right to sue.

  • Harper’s Ferry

    Harper’s Ferry
    ATTACK ON HARPER’S FERRY BY ABOLITIONIST JOHN BROWN. Raid fails and Brown is captured and hanged for treason

  • Lincoln’s Election

    Lincoln’s Election
    LINCOLN ELECTED PRESIDENT. SOUTH SECEDES! Lincon was anti slave. On the basis of states’ rights, a too powerful federal government and the issue of slavery, the south started to secede.

  • Attack on Ft. Sumter

    Attack on Ft. Sumter
    FT. SUMTER ATTACKED! CIVIL WAR BEGINS. Ft. Sumter was a federal fort in South Carolina. The South fired upon Fort Sumter as the Union tried to resupply it.