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Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin addressed the issue of Slavery and the focus of family, and the pain of splitting the family apart as it was one of the largest issues in slavery. This novel sold 300,000 copies in the first year and 2 million in a decade! As this opened the eyes to many of the pains of Slavery, chasing many to follow Anti-Slavery and led the desire to abolish it. But created tensions as the Southerners felt her work was unspeakable. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
This act allowed the States to become Slave States or Non Slave States under the principle of Popular Sovereignty. As "Border Ruffians" fled to Kansas and Nebraska to determine the outcome of each state, crimes where committed and the country began to see the picture of crime and violence unfold infront of them as the question of Slavery and Anti-Slavery was debated. Tensions continued to grow because of this idea of Popular Sovereignty in this act. -
Dred Scott Vs. Sanford
Dred Scott was a slave suing for his freedom, yet the Supreme Court ruled that Scott was a piece of property and if he was granted his freedom than Sanford's property would be taken away from him. This ruling now proving that free states don't really exist, and the Northwest Ordinance overruled as it said certain states should be admitted as free. The North felt they where overwhelmed by the Supreme Court decision and that they no longer had choices in there State. The South ruled the US. -
The Panic of 1857
The Panic of 1857 was a financial panic in the United States caused by the over-expansion of economy. It occurred when the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company failed. Northerners blamed the South, saying it was due to their Pro-Slavery aggressiveness, causing many tensions between the two sections of the United States.
Link: http://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/9600 -
Brown and Harpers Ferry
John Brown committed murders of white families who where plantation holders, and also raided Government Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia to make a point about the evils of Slavery. He was captured by Robert E. Lee and later hung, but Brown was quickly seen as a Martyr for black rights in some eyes, the South saw it as a reason to bring about arms and to protect themselves from these abolitionists. This created many tensions as the South wondered if all abolitionists wanted to kill them. -
1860 Election of Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party of 1860
The Republican Party of 1860 held the widespread belief of anti-slavery. As Lincoln was a member of the Republican Party and won the Election of 1860, he become the "Ruler" of the United States. The South didn't agree with his doctrine in the slightest and didn't want to deal with it. In so, succeeding from the Union. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
South opens fire upon a Northern Supply Ship with a 34 hour stronghold, declaring an act of war against the United States of America.
Link: http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/fort-sumter
