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The Missouri Comprise
This compromise admitted Missouri to the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free sate. This made the number of slave and free states in the Union equal. Congress also drew an imaginary line across the Louisiana Purchase. North of this line, except Missouri, slavery was banned. South of this line, slavery was permitted. This compromise did not solve the issue of slavery, dividing the North and South even more, and led to the Civil War. -
Introduction
This timeline is about the events in the United States from 1820 through 1861 that led to the Civil War. Americans tried to come up with compromises in the issue of slavery, but each one created new problems and divisions. These issues that divided the United States for many years would be decided by a civil war. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850, written by Henry Clay to end the deadlock over California's request for statehood, admitted it to the Union as a free state. It allowed the New Mexico and Utah territories to decide whether to allow slavery. His plan ended slave trade in Washington D.C, and called for creating a strong fugitive slave law. The Fugitive Slave Act led to Civil War because Northerners did not want to enforce it, and Southerners felt it didn't do enough to ensure the return of their property. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was written by Senator Stephen A. Douglas in order to get the railroad built to California. This act created the Kansas and Nebraska territories. It abolished the Missouri Compromise by leaving it up to the settlers to determine whether slavery would be allowed in the new territories. This led to the Civil War because it created two competing governments in Kansas. It led to extreme violence in Kansas and in Congress when Preston Brooks beat Senator Sumner. -
The Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott Decision was based on a case brought by Dred Scott who tried to sue for his freedom in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decided that African Americans were not citizens of the U.S., so Scott could not sue in a federal court. They also decided the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. The Dred Scott Decision led to Civil War because, while the slaveholders in the South were delighted and hoped the issue of slavery was settled, the Northerners were stunned more enraged. -
Election of 1860
The 1860 presidential election was won by Abraham Lincoln. Republicans were united behind him, but there were 3 opposing candidates. Democrats were split between Stephen Douglas and John Breckinridge, and John Bell represented the Constitutional Union Party. Lincoln sailed to victory with only 40% of the votes. The election led to Civil War because Southerners feared slavery would be abolished. After Lincoln said slavery would not extend into the territories, 7 states seceded from the Union. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
The attack on Fort Sumter was where the opening shots of the Civil War occurred about a month after Lincoln was inaugurated. The Confederates opened fire in Charleston, South Carolina at Fort Sumter, This led to Civil War because it created patriotic fury in the North and they decided the time for compromise about slavery was over.
