Road to the Civil War

Wilmot Proviso

Feb 21, 1846

David Wilmot could be consider a racist he was strongly against the extention of slavery.However he proposed to ban slavery in Mexico. Wilmot introduced "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist" in lands won in the Mexican-American War. Wilmot was angry at President Polk after the Mexican- American war began because he felt as though President Polk was trying to extend the slave power in the South.He envisition California as a place free of Slave labour.Since the north

Wilmot Proviso Continued

Feb 21, 1846

had more Representatives in the House the Wilmot Proviso passed.The Senate equally divided between free states and slave states for approval. The House passed Wilmots's Proviso about several times but it never became law.

The Fugitive Slave Law-1850 Continued

Feb 21, 1850

Any person aiding a runaway slave and providing shelter, food or any assistance was responsible to six months of imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.

The Fugitive Slave Law

Feb 21, 1850

The Fugitive Slave Law was very controversial because it declare that all runways should be upon captured and be returned to their master. The law stated that if any federal marshal who did not arrest an alleged runaway slave they could be fined $1,000. John P. Hale, Charles Sumner, Salmon Chase and Benjamin Wade voted against the Law. A suspected runaway slave couldn't ask for a jury trial or testify on his or her behalf.

The Compromise of 1850

Feb 22, 1850

The compromise of 1850 dealt with the issue of slavery. In 1849 California requested to enter the Unioin as a free state which upset the balanced between slave and free states in the U.S Senate. Five Bills were passed to retain the balance of power between slave and free states. These Bills were:
1. California entered the union as a free state.

The Compromise of 1850 Continued

Feb 22, 1850

1. New Mexico and Utah were each allowed to use popular sovereignty to decide the issue of slavery.
   
2. The Republic of Texas gave up lands that it claimed in present day New Mexico and received $10 million to pay its debt to Mexico.
3. The slave trade was abolished but not slavery.
4. The Fugitive Slave Act made any federal official who did not arrest a runaway slave liable to a fine.

Uncle Tom's Cabin-Hariet Beecher Stowe

Mar 2, 1852

Uncle Tom's Cabin is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was credited with helping fuel the abolitionist cause in the 1850s. The novel depicts the reality of slavery. When Abraham Lincoln met Stowe at the start of the Civil War, Lincoln declared, "So this is the little lady who started this great war."

Nativism and the Know Nothings

Feb 24, 1854

Immigration began to increase in the 1850s and citizens who had been born in the United States began to feel bitterness towards the new arrivals. Those opposed to immigrants became known as nativists. In July 1844 a riot broke out in Philadelphia. The Nativists battled Irish immigrants and two Catholic churches and a Catholic school were burned by mobs.

The New Republican Party Forms

May 20, 1854

Former members of the Whig Party meet to establish a new party to oppose the spread of slavery into the western territories. The party became known as The Republican Party and they gained supporters in the North. In 1856 their first presidential candidate John C. Fremont, won 11 of the 16 Northern states.

The Bleeding Kansas

May 30, 1854

Bleeding Kansas is the term that is used to described a period of violence during the settling of the Kansas territory. Pro-slavery and Anti-slavery state settlers flooded into Kansas to try to influence the decision. Violence soon took over and both factions fought for control. Abolitionist John Brown led anti-slavery fighters

Kansas Nebraska Act 1854

May 30, 1854

The Kansas Nebraska Act was passed on May 30, 1854 and it allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders.After the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters rushed in to Kansas to affect the decision for the first election after the law was passed. Pro-slavery settlers carried the election but were charged with fraud by anti-slavery settlers.

Charles Summer Beating- Preston Brooks

May 22, 1856

Charles Sumner was an abolitionist and leader of the Republican Party. He delivered a speech in the Senate called The Crime against Kansas which was a very bitter speech about Andrew Butler. Brooks was Andrew's cousin and he decided to teach Sumner a lesson he would not soon forget.Brooks entered the Senate chamber where Sumner was working at his desk. He told Sumner "You've libeled my state and slandered my white-haired old relative,

Charles Sumner Beating Continued

May 22, 1856

Senator Butler, and I've come to punish you for it." Brooks then began to strike Sumner with a gold tip cane repeatively. Brooks was levied a $300 fine for the assault and returned home to South Carolina. While Charles Sumner spent years recovering from the attack.

The Dred Scott Decision 1857

Mar 6, 1857

Dred Scott was a slave who was moved from a slave territory with his owner to Fort Snelling located in Minnesota in the 1830’s. He attempted to sue his owner because him and his family were being taking out of slavery. However Chief Justice Roger Taney ruled that Scott and his family were not citizens and couldn’t sue in a court of law.

Lincoln Douglas Debates

Aug 21, 1858

The Lincoln Douglas debates were a series of political debates between the challenger Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas.
Lincoln lost the debates but he gain alot of attention. The debates took place where Douglas had not spoken before.

Harpers Ferry Incident

Oct 16, 1859

John Brown was a white Northener who attempted a slave revolt at Hapers Ferry. He brought along 16 men, 2 of his sons, and 5 African Americans. However his plan was unsuccesfull and was found guilty and sentece to death by hanging on Dec. 5. His last words were "I, John Brown am quite certain that the crimes of this guily land will never be purged away but with blood." This made Southeners believed that they couldn't live as a unioun.

Lincoln Elected President

Nov 6, 1860

Lincoln was on the democratic party and running against Breckinridge was on Democrat. However Lincoln won and fear struck in the South because the country was now being run by man who was against slavery.

Southern Sucession-the Confederacy

Dec 20, 1860

After Lincoln became predident the South began to think that government was becomming too strong and southerners felt if they stayed in the United States the North would control them. South Carolina was the first to leave the Union and form a new nation called the Confederate States of America. Four months later,Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana joined them. Later on Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee also joined them. The people of these states

Southern Succession Continued

Dec 20, 1860

elected Jefferson Davis as president of the Confederacy. There were Union forts on Confederate land. The Confederates were upset and wanted the Union soldiers to leave these forts. In Charleston, South Carolina there was a Union fort called Fort Sumter. however Union soldiers refused to leave this fort. The Confederates began to fired cannons at the fort on April 12, l861. This was the beginning of the Civil War.