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The Liberator was abolitionist newspaper that called for an end to slavery. Founded by William Lloyd Garrison and Isaac Knapp, both abolitionists, and the newspaper ran for 35 years.
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The compromise of 1850 was a solution proposed by senator Henry Clay. If passed, California would be admitted as a free state, slave trade would be illegal in Washington D.C., there would be no slave restrictions Utah or New Mexico and the Fugitive Slave act would all be in effect.
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Released on March 20th, 1852, Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe saying that the U.S. should keep their promise of equality and end slavery.
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Passed on May 30, 1854, said that people on Kansas and Nebraska could choose for themselves to be a slave or free state, this was known as popular sovereignty.
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Dred Scott was a slave living on free soil in 1857, he believed this made him a free man. His case was brought before the court and Chief Justice Roger B, Taney ruled that no black man, free or slave, could bring a case to court. Scott was sent back to Missouri with his owner. This ruling outraged the North and satisfied the South. America was on the brink of a civil war.
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Serving from 1857 to 1861, James Buchanan was against slavery, but believed it was protected by the constitution. Buchanan tried to keep peace between the North and South but the Civil War broke out just a month after Abraham Lincoln took his spot in office.
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On October 16th, 1859, John Brown and a group of abolitionists led a raid on Harpers Ferry, arming slaves with guns and knives. The raid ultimately failed as Brown was captured, and eventually hanged. Many in the North would not view this as a failure, John Browns death fueled the Norths fight.
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In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected for president. Lincoln wanted to stop slavery from spreading to new states and territories. Lincolns election caused South Carolina to secede from the union, many states followed.
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On December 20th, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the union. They believed it was their right to secede since they volunteered to join.
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The battle at Fort Sumter was the first major battle of the civil war. Lincoln was warned that his troops at the fort were low on supplies, so he sent supplies to the fort. The South saw this as a threat and attacked, the battle lasted 3 days. Amazingly, nobody was killed from either side.
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On July 16th, 1861, the first major land battle of the Civil War took place. The Battle of Bull Run. Union General Irvin Mcdowell marched his troops to Bull Run where the Union would eventually accept defeat.
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The Battle of Gettysburg lasted from July first to July third in 1863. It is considered the greatest battle of the Civil War by some. General Robert E. Lee led the Union to a victory over the Confederate forces.
