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Abolitionist Movement
The abolitionist movement was a span of time where people wanted to abolish slavery. Many Northerners were helping slaves become free or trying to make slavery illegal. This created animosity between the South and the North because of how dependant the South was on slave labor. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state and made Maine a free state to keep a balance between free and slave states, and it stated that any territory north of 36 degrees 30' was free. Northeners didn't like that it allowed the expansion of slavery, while Southeners didn't like that it established the principle that Congress could make laws regarding slavery. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act stated that slaves must be captured and returned to their owners, even if they were in a free state. This act also made the Underground Railroad an illegal act, the fact that it remained after the act was passed made the Southerners angry. They believed that the North thought they could choose what laws they had to follow, while the South had to follow them all. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, an active abolitionist. The book depicts the reality of slavery and states that Christian love can overcome slavery. The South was angered by the book and the rise of the abolitionist movement it started. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a period of violent raids between 1855-1861. The Kansas-Nebraska act overturned the Missouri compromise, and let Kansas vote on whether it became a slave or free state. Abolitionists and pro-slavery supporters flocked to Kansas to influence the vote. Violence erupted as the factions fought, John Brown led the abolitionists in Kansas before his attack on Harper's Ferry. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens, so they do not have any rights, whether or not they are free. They also ruled that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because the government cannot take away people's, property rights without due process of law. This made the North mad and increased the South’s control over their slave. Also a majority of the judges were former slave owners which also made the North mad since the South had control over the Supreme Court. -
Election of 1860
The election of 1860 was between Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas, Southern Democrat John C. Breckenridge, Rupublican Abraham Lincoln, and John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party. Lincoln got 40% of the popular vote and 180 electoral votes thereby, winning the election. The Southerners did not accept this and a few weeks after the election South Carolina seceded from the Union. -
Southern Secession
On this date South Carolina secede from the Union and started a chain reaction that made 11 states secede from the Union in just one year. These states became the Confederacy, and were the losing side of the Civil War. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was an fort occupied by U.S. Major Robert Anderson, in South Carolina after South Carolina seceded from the Union, which initiated a standoff with a state's militia. When they learned that Lincoln was resupplying the fort Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard bombarded the fort for 34 hours until Anderson surrendered. This event is known as the first battle of the Civil War.
