History of Civil War Timeline

By natehumphrey66

  • Wilmot Proviso (Wasn't covered but was important because it proposed a ban on slavery in territories won from Mexico)

    The Wilmot Proviso, proposed by Congressman David Wilmot in 1846, aimed to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico after the Mexican-American War. Though it never passed, it ignited fierce debates between the North, which opposed slavery’s expansion, and the South, which supported it. The failure of the proviso to pass in Congress deepened the sectional divide over slavery and heightened tensions, contributing to the conflict that eventually led to the Civil War.

  • Free Soil Part is Formed (Was not covered but is important because it was a political party that opposed the expansion of slavery into western territories)

    The Free Soil Party was formed in 1848 by anti-slavery Democrats, Whigs, and abolitionists who opposed the spread of slavery into new territories. Its main goals were to prevent slavery’s expansion and provide free land for settlers. The party didn’t gain much power, but it helped shape the national debate on slavery and brought attention to the issue. Its influence played a key role in the formation of the Republican Party, who would later become an advocate against slavery.

  • Know-Nothing Part Emerges in the 1850s (Not discussed in class but had an important role in American politics leading up to the Civil War)

    The Know-Nothing Party was a political group formed in the 1850s, made up of people who opposed immigration, especially from Catholic countries like Ireland and Germany. The party aimed to limit immigrants' rights and prevent them from influencing politics. While it had some success in elections, the party quickly lost support as the issue of slavery became more important in national politics, leading to its decline.

  • The Election of 1852

    The Election of 1852 showed how divided the country was becoming over slavery. Franklin Pierce, the Democratic candidate, easily defeated Winfield Scott, the Whig candidate. The Democrats supported the Compromise of 1850 which tried to calm disputes over slavery. The Whigs were split on the issue, which hurt Scott’s campaign. Pierce’s big win led to the collapse of the Whig Party, as disagreements over slavery grew, paving the way for new political groups like the Republican Party(Varon 248-251)

  • Ostend Manifesto (Was not covered but is important because it talks about a secret proposal to annex Cuba as a slave state)

    The Ostend Manifesto was a secret plan created in 1854 by U.S. diplomats, suggesting that the U.S. should buy or take Cuba from Spain and make it a slave state. The idea was to expand Southern interests and strengthen the economy by adding another slave state. When the manifesto was leaked, it angered Northerners, who saw it as an attempt to spread slavery. The controversy over the manifesto deepened the sectional divide between the North and South, further escalating tensions.

  • The Caning of Charles Sumner

    The Caning of Charles Sumner happened in May 1856 and showed how divided the U.S. was over slavery. Senator Charles Sumner gave a speech criticizing slavery and insulting a Southern senator, Andrew Butler. A few days later, Butler’s relative, Preston Brooks, attacked Sumner with a cane in the Senate, badly hurting him. Northerners were angry and saw the attack as proof of Southern violence. This event made the tensions between the North and South even worse, leading closer to the Civil War.

  • The Dred Scott Decision

    The Dred Scott decision in 1857 was a Supreme Court case that made the divisions over slavery worse. Dred Scott, a slave, argued he should be free because he had lived in free areas. The Court ruled against him, saying Black people were not citizens and couldn’t sue in court. It also said Congress couldn’t stop slavery in the territories, making the Missouri Compromise illegal. This upset many Northerners, made the fight against slavery stronger, and pushed the country closer to the Civil War.

  • Lecompton Constitution (Wasn't covered but is important because its rejection highlighted deep divisions)

    The Lecompton Constitution was a pro-slavery document drafted in 1857 by a convention in Kansas, even though most settlers opposed slavery. It included provisions protecting slavery and excluding free Black people. President Buchanan supported it, but it was criticized as undemocratic, as it was created by a pro-slavery minority. After Congress rejected it and Kansas voters also opposed it, the controversy rose tensions, weakened the Democratic Party, and helped the rise of the Republican Party.

  • John Brown's Harpers Ferry Raid

    In 1859, John Brown, an abolitionist, led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with the goal of starting a slave revolt by arming enslaved people. The raid failed, and Brown was captured by the U.S. Marines led by Robert E. Lee. He was tried and executed for treason. The raid alarmed Southerners, who feared Northern abolitionists might use violence to end slavery, which deepened the divide between the North and South, contributing to tensions before the Civil War.

  • The Revolution of 1860

    The Revolution of 1860 highlighted the victory of Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln came into his presidency with a fractured political system, with the Democrats being split between both northern and southern factions. The Constitutional Union party was also seeking a compromise at this time. Having won the presidency with no support from the southern states, it showed a loss of political power in the South, which ignited internal conflict within the United States(McPherson 202-233)