Events Leading up to the Civil War

By SolM
  • Invention of the Cotton Gin

    Invention of the Cotton Gin

    Eli Whitney patents the cotton gin, which is a machine the cleans cotton up to 50 times faster than a man. This causes the demand for slaves in the South to skyrocket.

  • Missouri Compromise

    For every free state that entered the union, a slave state was to be admitted, and vice versa.

  • Compromise of 1850

    The North was to recieve California as a free state, while the South got stricter fugitive slave laws.
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Uncle Tom's Cabin, an anti-slavery novel by Harriet Beecher Stower, is publisehd, and becomes the number two selling book worldwide, after the Bible.

  • Kansas/Nebraska Act

    it is decided that the slavery issues of Kansas and Nebraska will be resolved by popular sovereignty.

  • Dred Scott Supreme Cout Case

    Dred Scott, an ex-slave who lived freely in the North for many years, wanted to move back to the South while remaining free. When he took his case to the Supreme Court, the results where disasterous. The Court ruled that slaves where property or their owners for life, and as such had no rights in the U.S., even if they had lived a free life for any period of time.
  • Lincoln/Douglas Debates

    Lincoln/Douglas Debates

    During debates with Senator Stephen Douglas, Abraham Lincoln emerges as a Republican leader. Although he loses the senate race, he is elected as president two years later.

  • John Brown's Raid

    Abolitionist John Brown & a group of followers mount an attack on the Harpers Ferry Army base. John Brown came away from the attack as a hero in the North, despite the Raid's failure.

  • John Brown's Raid

    Abolitionist John Brown & a group of followers mount an attack on the Harpers Ferry Army base. John Brown came away from the attack as a hero in the North, despite the Raid's failure.
  • Election of Abraham Lincoln

    Election of Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln is elected as the 16th president of the United States. The South sees that Republicans are goingto attempt to abolish slavey, and seceeds.

  • Secession of South Carolina

    Following the election of President Abraham Lincoln, South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the United States

  • Attack on Fort Sumter

    South Carolina authorizes an attack on the U.S.-controlled Fort Sumter, marking the first battle of the Civil War.
  • Attack on Fort Sumter

    Attack on Fort Sumter

    South Carolina authorizes an attack on the U.S.-controlled Fort Sumter, marking the first battle of the Civil War.