-
Gold is discovered at Sutter's Mill California. This begins a period of intense immigration by Americans, Europeans and Asians into California. California's population increased tenfold in two years. An elected assembly presents an slavery-free constitution to Congress, provoking a crisis.
-
The Treaty of Gaudalupe Hildago bring the end to the Mexican American War (1846-1848.) It adds California and New Mexico territories to the US and increases the size of the nation by roughly 1/3
-
The Compromise of 1850 is passed to resolve the tensions that flared between the North and South regarding California, the Underground Railroad and slavery in the District of Columbia.
-
Settlers from the North and South clash over control of the Territory of Kansas
-
Stephen Douglas pushes the Kansas Nebraska Act through the United States Congress. It creates mayhem in the American political scene and is one of the leading causes of the United States Civil War.
-
US Senator Charles Sumner is savagely beaten by Representative Preston Brooks on the floor of the US Senate. Butler is forced to resign, Brooks never recovers from the beating. American Politics is broken.
-
The United States Supreme Court hands down the infamous Dred Scott decision. Roger Taney's majority opinion stated that neither slaves nor free blacks had constitutional rights and that Congress could not bar slavery in the territory.
-
From August - October, incumbent Democrat Stephen Douglas debates upstart Republican challenger Abraham Lincoln in a series of seven debates across the state of Illinois. Douglas wins, but the debates catapult Lincoln to national prominence and compromise Douglas' presidential dreams.
-
Abraham Lincoln Comes become the dark horse candidate of the Republican party. Southern states threaten secession if the "black Republican" wins the presidency. Lincoln achieves victory when the Democrat party can not agree on a nominee and splits into three faction.
-
South Carolina becomes the first Southern State to remove itself from the United States on December 20th. Read South Carolina's articles of secession here
