The Crucial Decade By christinewhite1 Jan 24, 1848 the California Gold Rush begins Jan 1, 1849 Harriet Tubman escapes and begins the "Underground Railroad" Oct 18, 1849 California applies for statehood as a free state Jan 15, 1850 Millard Fillmore Mar 25, 1850 Compromise of 1850 passed Mar 25, 1850 Stricter Fugitive Slave Act passed to target Undergraound Railroad Jan 15, 1852 Franklin Pierce Mar 20, 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is published May 30, 1854 The Kansas-Nebraska Act passed Jun 1, 1854 "Bleeding Kansas" begins Jun 8, 1854 Gadsden Purchase of territory from Mexico is finalized May 22, 1856 Congressman Preston Brooks(SC) beats Senator Charles Sumner with a cane May 24, 1856 John Brown's "Pottawatamie Creek Massacre" occurs Jan 15, 1857 James Buchanan Mar 6, 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford Jun 16, 1858 Lincoln gives his "House Divided" speech Aug 21, 1858 The first Lincoln-Douglas Debates Aug 27, 1858 Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Freeport, Illinois. Douglas expresses "Freeport Doctrine," alienating pro-slavery Democrats Nov 6, 1860 Lincoln is elected president Dec 21, 1860 South Carolina Secedes from the Union Jan 9, 1861 SC state troops fire on unarmed merchant ship "Star of the West," and prevent relief supplies to Fort Sumter