The events that led to the Civil War

By emmajacobson

  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850
    • Texas was paid $10 million to scale back its land to claim West.
    • D.C. was required to end the slave trade when it was still legal. California was admitted as a free state.
    • A stricter Fugitive Slave Act was passed

  • Fugitive Slave Act 1850

    Fugitive Slave Act 1850
    • All fugitive slaves must be returned to their masters.
    • Any person who was caught giving shelter, food, or protection to a runaway slave; six months in prison.
    • The North felt it was a way of expanding the power and reach of slavery.
    • Congress made it illegal to even help a fugitive slave

  • Uncle Tom's Cabin 1852

    Uncle Tom's Cabin 1852
    • Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book sells 300,000 in the first year, over 2 million in five years. It was the 2nd highest selling book of the 19th century.
    • It is about a kindly old slave that is treated horribly by his master. • (- Many joined the abolitionist movement after learning the harsh realities of life as a slave. )

  • Kansas Nebraska Act 1854

    Kansas Nebraska Act 1854
    • The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed each territory to decide the issue of slavery on the basis of popular sovereignty. (the people decide)
    • Kansas with slavery would violate the Missouri - Compromise•“Bleeding Kansas” is violently torn in half for years between pro-slave/anti-slave.

  • Dred Scott Decision 1857

    Dred Scott Decision 1857
    • Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was property and not a citizen and had no right to sue.
    • The ruling declared that the Missouri Compromise prohibiting slavery in the Northern territories was unconstitutional.

  • Harper’s Ferry 1859

    Harper’s Ferry 1859
    • Brown leads a group of men to attack the weapons arsenal at Harpers Ferry.
    • Goal is to gain control of weapons and lead a slave revolt
    • Raid fails and Brown is captured and hanged for treason
    • Becomes a martyr in the North
    • South sees to what extent North will do to end slavery

  • Lincoln’s Election 1860

    Lincoln’s Election 1860
    • Lincoln was the only candidate against slavery.
    • He won, but the election showed that the country was divided.
    • No southern states voted for Lincoln.
    • On the basis of states’ rights, a too-powerful federal government, and the issue of slavery, the south started to secede.
    • Lincoln’s election pushed the nation to the brink of war.

  • Attack on Ft. Sumter 1861

    Attack on Ft. Sumter 1861
    • Ft. Sumter was a federal fort in South Carolina
    • The South fired upon Fort Sumter as the Union tried to resupply it.
    • Fort nearly out of food/ ammunition and badly outnumbered. Surrendered the fort to the Southern Army.
    • President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers.
    • The war had begun CIVIL WAR BEGINS!