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The Wilmot Proviso (1846-1850)
The Wilmot Proviso was a part of legislation that was created by David Wilmot at the end of the Mexican-American War. The Proviso fought to prohibit slavery within U.S. territories, gained as an effect of the war. However, all of Wilmot's efforts to pass this bill resulted in failure. The dispute between Congress and the Proviso led to significant debate of secession. (American Battlefield Trust, 2021) -
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Road to the American Civil War
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California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush was one of the first of many events that would eventually lead to the start of the American Civil War. It all began when gold was discovered by, James W. Marshall in California. This significant discovery encouraged a large amount of people to migrate to California. The population significantly grew, leading California to apply for official Statehood. This caused a major debate between whether California should be a free or slave state. (The 1850s, Class Lecture) -
The "Battle of Christiana"
Christiana was a village in Pennsylvania, which was known to be a Quaker community that accepted fugitives. On September 11, 1851, a Maryland slaveowner entered the village looking for two fugitives that were in hiding after escaping around two years prior. Violence broke out when the two fugitives were caught along with "two dozen armed black men." This battle became known as a significant event throughout the nation, as it influenced the normalization of violence. (McPherson, 84-85) -
Election of 1852
The Election of 1852 resulted from the emergence of the Whig and Democratic parties. The Whig's selected General Winfield Scott to campaign, which they ran throughout the North and South. The movement centered around the fight to refuse the Fugitive Slave Law and to support the 1850 Compromise. The Whigs ended up only winning two Southern states, specifically Kentucky and Tennessee. This resulted in the Democratic party, specifically Franklin Pierce to win the election. (Varon, 248) -
Publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was published on April 1, 1852 by, Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was known to be the second most important book right behind the Bible. It is based upon a fictional account of slavery, while also depicting a realistic assessment. The novel significantly influenced the perspective towards slavery in the U.S., and played a crucial role towards the start of the American Civil War. (The 1850s, Class Lecture) -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was developed by Senator Stephen Douglas of Illinois. The act revoked the Missouri Compromise, to create two new territories, Kansas and Nebraska. Douglas declared in favor of popular sovereignty, which meant letting the people decide if they wanted to be a free slave state or not. This act led to an uptake in violence, referred to as "Bleeding Kansas" between proslavery and antislavery reformers. (The 1850s, Class Lecture) -
Pottawatomie Massacre
The Massacre took place in Pottawatomie Creek in Kansas, led by John Brown. The massacre resulted in the murder of five proslavery men. Brown followed the belief that violence would be most effective in ending slavery. This massacre resulted in the beginning of violence between proslavery vs. antislavery groups. These killings marked the start of what would become "Bleeding Kansas", which became a significant event leading up to the start of the American Civil War. (Rein, 2022) -
Dred Scott Decision
This historic case began with a lawsuit brought forward by a slave by the name of, Dred Scott. The suit revolved around his legal status as an officer in the U.S. military. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Robert Taney made the decision that Dred Scott along with other slaves would not have the right to sue. This decision meant that a free slave state essentially does not matter, as it does not provide an enslaved person with freedom or citizenship. (The 1850s, Class Lecture) -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
In 1858, Senator Stephen Douglas and former congressmen, Abraham Lincoln ran against each other for a seat in Senate specifically in representation of Illinois. They took place in seven historical publicized debates, centered around the controversial topic of slavery. These campaigns for senate were significant as their debates foreshadowed the outcome of the future Election of 1860. (American Battlefield Trust, 2021) -
Election of 1860: Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was elected President on November 6, 1860. At the time of his election, his views on slavery were considered to be "moderate." Lincoln's perspective on slavery became more significant during his presidential term, in terms of his belief to end the expansion of slavery. His election became an impelling force towards what would become the start of the American Civil War. (Election, Secession, & War, Class Lecture)