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Uncle Tom's Cabin
This novel was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, an American abolitionist author. She wrote this book in regard to the life the slaves had to live and their struggles. This novel was a best-selling novel because it highlighted the injustice of the slaves, and while many people were not able to relate to it, it gave them insight of life for slaves. It caused tension between the North and South because this is a book the North favored, but the South though it misrepresented slavery itself. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was presented by Stephen A. Douglas. This Act attempted to tackle the expansion of slavery. There were three parts of this act. First, it repealed the Missouri Compromise. Secondly, it permitted popular sovereignty for the decision of being for or against slavery. Lastly, it created two new territories. This Act had some horrible effects. Succeeding this was the Bloody Kansas event. -
Republican Party
The Republican Party was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin by the Whigs who met to create this new party. This party would oppose the spread of slavery into the west. The Republican Party gained support in the North because they were on the same side as them. This new Party served as opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Abraham Lincoln became the head representative for this party. He would win the election in one of the upcoming elections, 1860 Election perhaps. -
Bloody Kansas
This was a series of violent confrontations in the Kansas Territory. Anti and pro slavery proponents butted heads with one another in attempt to make Kansas either a slave or free state. The Pottawatomie Massacre was a gruesome event because John Brown and at least 5 of his men attacked, mutilated, sliced, and diced the pro-slavery people, their enemies perhaps. After all of these compelling events went down, the aftermath of this was that Kansas eventually became a free state. -
Brooks-Sumner Incident
The Brooks-Sumner incident was also referred to as the Caning of Charles Sumner. It occurred in the Senate Chamber. Preston Brooks, a representative attacked Senator Charles Sumner with a walking Cane. which is why the Caning of Charles Sumner is the alternate name. Sumner gave a speech imitating Andrew Butler which shortly led to him getting attacked with a cane. The cane knocked him unconscious. The South saw Brooks as a great person. However, the North saw Sumner as a sufferer. -
Election of 1856
The 1856 election was a hectic election because it would impact the 1860 election. John Fremont was the Republican candidate and James Buchanan was the democratic candidate. John made a promise to abolish the Kansas- Nebraska Act and slavery in the south. However, James Buchanan had no problem with the current circumstances. It was a three-way election with an addition of the Whig Millard Fillmore. However, James Buchanan was the winner of the election. -
Lecompton Constitution
This Constitution was proposed by slavery advocates in Kansas. It was controversial because if it was approved, slavery would be permitted in Kansas. This would protect the South and slavery if approved. Kansas became a free state since it was repealed twice. This increased tensions further leading up to the Civil War. -
Dred Scott
Dred Scott was a part of a very popular court case which is the Dred Scott v. Sanford case. Scott went before the court and told them that he should be a free man since he lived in a free territory. However, the Court considered Scott property since he was a slave and of African Descent. He could not sue the court or be freed since he was not a citizen. Sadly, it is not unconstitutional because the Constitution gives people the right to their property, in this case, slave owners. -
House Divided Speech
The House Divided Speech was given by Lincoln himself during his time for running for senator. He was nominated for the Illinois Republican Party in which he accepted. His most famous line is "A house divided against itself cannot stand". He doesn't think the nation can run if it is half slave and half free. Lincoln mentioned how the Dred Scott case further legalization of slavery to the Northern States from the territories. -
Lincoln Douglas Debate
A series of 7 debates known as the Lincoln Douglas Debate took place in August of 1858. In this Debate, Lincoln and Douglas competed head-to-head for the spot of the senator. These Freeport debate established the Freeport Doctrine. Lincoln overpowered Douglas and asked him a very serious question. How can people support slavery after the Dred Scott case? His response was if you don't vote for people who support slavery, it will not happen. The Freeport Doctrine weakens the Supreme Court. -
John Brown
John Brown was an abolitionist who did not support slavery at all. He was the leader of the Pottawatomie Massacre and mutilation of pro-slavery advocates. Many were not sure to call him a madman or a saint. He was also a part of the Harper's Ferry raid in 1859. His intentions were unclear to many though. John Brown was involved in so many key events that brought about the Civil War. -
Harper's Ferry
John Brown was the main figurehead recognized in the Harper's Ferry raid. Him and a small group of mean were going to the federal armory. Him and his men attempted to collect weapons from the arsenal itself. He wanted the slaves to rebel, so he tried to get weapons for them. Eventually, they were undermined by the soldiers. He was taken into custody for committing treason. He was found guilty, and he was executed for his crime. -
Election of 1860
This was one of the elections since 1824 that had four candidates. These candidates were Douglas, Lincoln, Breckenridge, and Bell. Lincoln was the winner over of the whole election. He did not have any support in the South, but he still managed to pull through. Many southerners feared that slavery would be diminished because of the Republican Party. Succeeding this event, was the secession of many Southern states, -
Secession
States begat to secede the Union in December of 1860. South Carolina had been the first state to do so. It all just depended on who the people voted for. South Carolina succeeded because of the Republican Party would get rid of slavery. Many southern states such as Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Louisian, Florida, etc. would secede soon after. -
Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
Lincoln's First Inaugural Address was important because it was all about keeping the Union intact. Lincoln had support on both sides, but this address put him in a rough spot. He wanted to maintain northern support with getting the South to be against him. He reassured the South that they will not be stripped of their slaves and to keep slavery safe in order to keep the Southern support. This did not solve anything because the Civil War still occurred,