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The Invention of the Cotton Gin
In 1793, Eli Whitney, invented a useful machine known as the cotton gin. With the invention of the cotton gin, slavery, which some had considered a dwindling business, regained its momentum and became firmly fixed rooted in the South's soil. With the strengthened belief of a need for slaves, this would lead to Civil War. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act, made in 1793 gave slave-owners the legal right to reclaim runaway slaves. However, in Northern-states, people helped slaves escape custody. In 1850, the government attempted to expand on this and punished those who would help slaves escape. Despite this, states that were anti-slavery hotbeds ignored this law and still helped slaves. The South was upset and viewed the government's laws as pointless. This would help reinforce the idea of secession and lead to Civil War. -
Missouri Compromise 1820
In 1820, an amendment, proposed by Senator Jesse B. Thomas, would be passed which prohibited slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Purchase territory north of the southern boundary of Missouri. The debate until this resolution revealed strong traces of sectionalism which was competing with the unsteady power of nationalism which would lead to the Civil War. -
Compromise of 1850
In 1850, Henry Clay's initial proposed legislation, which he believed would settle the disputes between sections had been denied. Later, Stephen A. Douglas introduced a series of the separate disputes to be voted on one by one. However, this compromise was not made from widespread agreement on common ideals but a victory of bargaining and self-interest. This would leave an unsteady truce which would lead to the Civil War. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A book published in 1852, Uncle Tom's Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was emotional portrayal of good slaves victimized by a cruel system. In the South the book was reviled but in the North, Stowe was a hero. The novel inflamed tensions on both sides which would lead to Civil War. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
In 1854, Stephen A. Douglas would propose what would become and be called the Kansas-Nebraska Act gave a territory the potential to vote and enter as a slave or free state and repealed the Missouri Compromise. The repeal of the Missouri Compromise created an immediate divide within different political parties. The potential of what Kansas would enter as soon started conflict which would escalate and lead to Civil War. -
Pottawatomie Massacre
On the night of May 24, 1856, John Brown and six of his followers murdered five pro-slavery settlers and left their mutilated corpses to discourage other settlers. This led to a bloody episode which revealed the aggressive designs of the each other's side; the North and South. This increased the tensions between the North and South and would lead to Civil War. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
On March, 1857, the Supreme Court came to decide if Dred Scott could sue and be liberated from slavery on the grounds that his owner died while on free land. However, this was not the case because African-Americans had no claim to citizenship. While Southern whites were ecstatic, Northerners were left bitter and this would lead to Civil War. -
John Brown's Raid On Harpers Ferry
On October 16, 1859, John Brown and eighteen followers attacked and seized control of a US arsenal in Harpers Ferry and held for two days. However, he was quickly defeated and was sentenced to death. Despite his death and loss, his actions had convinced the South that the North could not be trusted due to their commitment to creating a slave insurrection. This distrust would further inflame the tensions between the North and South and would lead to Civil War. -
Election of 1860
The presidential election of 1860 had the most momentous consequences of any US history and was among the most complex. The divided parties each fiercely debated over who would be their presidential candidates, the end result being that Abraham Lincoln would become President. This made Southern states feel that the Union was hopeless and would secede from the Union. This event would finally lead to Civil war.
