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Missouri Compromise
This allowed Maine to be a free state, and for Missouri to be a slave state. The balance between free and slave states was now equal. Slavery was allowed south of 36 degrees, and 30, but not north of this line other than in Missouri. This helped to form peace and held off the civil war. -
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Erin Slaughter- Events that led to the Civil War
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Compromise of 1850
This compromise was created by Henry Clay, and it began with admitting California to the Union as a free state. It allowed Utah and New Mexico to decide on slavery. The slave trade in Washington, D.C was ended. There would also be a strong fugitive slave law. This event added slave states to the Union, making the north ancious. The north also booed slave holders and wouldnt help them with the fugitive slave law, causing more conflict. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This created two new territories, Kansas and Nebraska. It allowed settlers to decided on slavery in these two territories. This made the north very angry, because they didnt want salvery to spread. There became two governments in Kansas, supporting and against slavery. Violence broke out in the territories, as well as in the Senate. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who traveled to Wisconsin, a free state, with his owner. He sued for his freedom, saying that his stay in the state had made him a free man. The Surpreme Court denied his plee, saying that he could not sue since he was an African-American, and not a U.S citizen. The fifth amendment based on property also affected the outcome of the case. The north became very angry about this, deviding the north and south even further. -
Election of 1860
Republicans supported Lincoln for president. the democrats were divided into Northern and Southern factions. Northern Democrats wanted Stephen Douglas, and Southern Democrats wanted John C. Breckinridge. The Constitutional Union Party nominated John Bell. W hen Lincoln won the election, the South became in the minority. Worried that Congress would try to abolish slavery, many southern states left the Union, and created the Confederate States of America. This divided the nation even more. -
Attack on Ft. Sumter
Confederates in Charleston, South Carolina opened fire on Fort Sumter for 33 hours. The fort replaced their American flag with a white one, surrendering. This made Northerners very angry, since the southerners fired on the American flag. Many decided that it was time for war.
