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Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book that was published in 1852 and was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It is an anti-slavery novel that highly influenced the views of many in the American South and slavery. The novel encouraged abolition in which stirred up some conflict. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
In 1854 the Kansas-Nebraska Act was a bill that allowed settlers of a territory to decide whether or not slavery would be allowed within the state's borders. Essentially it mandated "popular sovereignty" for the people inside these territories. -
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Civil war
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The Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave and a social activist who wanted his freedom. His case is well known to this day because it was taken to the Supreme Court. The Court's decision claimed that since he resided in the northern part of the Louisiana Territory, it meant he was on free land, as stated through the Missouri Compromise. Therefore he couldn't sue through the federal court system because he was property, not a citizen. -
Harper's Ferry Raid
Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. He hoped to induce a slave rebellion but was unfortunately caught in the act and resulted in getting hanged for his efforts to cause a revolt. -
Election of 1860
President Abraham Lincoln wins the Election of 1860 after he obtained the most electoral and popular votes. At the time, his views on slavery were moderate and didn't exactly include abolition of slavery. Yet, he also did not want slavery to expand or continue way before he launched the emancipation proclamation after the Civil War ended. -
Beginning of the Civil War
