major events leading to the civil war

By WolfMM

  • Missouri Compromise

    11 states permitted slavery and 11 did not. There fore evenly balanced between slave and free states. The admission of a new state would upset that balance.
    Significance: Preserved the balance between slave and free states in the senate and brought about a lull in the bitter debatein congress over slavery.

  • Wilmont Proviso

    Proposal in congress specified that slavery should be prohibited in all lands that are accquired from mexico.
    Significance: They wanted to keep open the possibilities of introducing slavery to California and new mexico.

  • The Fugitive Slave Law/ Act

    Required all citizens to help catch runaway slaves.
    Significance: North were mad because they were being forced to do something they didn't believe in.

  • Compromise of 1850

    California became a free state. New Mexico could be a free state. Washington D.C would not allow trading or selling of slaves.
    Significance: Another temporary solutin.

  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Harriet Breecher Stowe wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Which stunned people with her description of slavery.
    Significance: It showed how evil slavery was. Got people to join the fight.

  • Kansas/ Nebraska Act

    A bill stated that states could allow slavery by popular sovereignty.
    Significance: Many felt it undid the Missouri compromise.

  • Bleeding Kansas

    People who were against slavery and those who supported slavery moved to Kansas to vote on whether Kansas would allow slavery. Lots of violence.
    Significance: The violence started to grow. This was the first violence clash over slavery

  • Dred Scott Decision

    One of the most remembered slave court trials. Dred Scott sued for his freedom. He lost his case. They said slave are not citizens so he can't do anything.
    Significance: His case eventuall led to freedom for all slaves.

  • Lincoln Douglas Debates

    Stephan Douglas battled Abraham Lincoln in face to face debates around the state to win a seat in senate. They talked of slavery.
    Significance: South's introduction to Lincoln, they fear him.

  • John Brown's Raid

    John Brown and his army went to fight but failed.
    Significance: Try to free slaves by capturing slave owners but failed. Gave people further to fight for.

  • Lincoln Elected/ Election

    Elected eventhough his name wasn't on the ballot in south southern states.
    Significance: Pushed south toward secession.

  • The South Seceders

    The south's long-standing threat to leave the union became a reality when South Carolina held a special convention and voted to secede.
    Significance: Nation heads to war as Lincoln's goal is to preserve the union.