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Opposition to the annexation of Texas
President Andrew Jackson and congress deny supporting the annexation of Texas. Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas, applied for statehood in the United States, many supporters of expansion had been anticipating it's annexation, however, Texas would have been admitted as a large slave territory. Now there are two sides to the argument, those who support expansion and slavery, and those who are willing to deny expansion in sake of more free states. This led to the Civil War. -
The Fugitive Slave Act (From the Compromise of 1850)
Under this law, all American Citizens (even in New England, who's opposition to slavery remained) were required to turn in any slaves. Even free-born African Americans were subjective to this, as southerners went as far as kidnapping and claiming them, in the courts, as slaves. The northerners became angered at the government and especially the south for such a pro-slavery law. This led to the Civil War. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel gave emotional and sentimental feelings that supported the abolitionist ideas. This book proposed the ideas of good, kind, and respectful slaves becoming victims of the cruel, unfair, and injustice system. This erupted feelings and strong emotional support for the anti-slavery activists. This led to the Civil War. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Senator Stephen A. Douglass introduced popular sovereignty, the idea that the region itself could choose to be free or pro-slavery. This had many consequences. This included the vanishing Whig Party, the splitting of the Democrats, and the emergence of the Republican Party, who opposed Douglass' bill. This led to the Civil War. -
Pottawatomie Massacre (An Event of "Bleeding Kansas")
An abolitionist by the name of John Brown moved to Kansas alongside his sons to fight for Kansas as a free state. Brown and his six followers (four of which were his sons) brutally murdered and mutilated five pro-slavery settlers. This sparked more conflicts and guerrilla warfare, not necessarily focused on abolishing slavery. The north and the south both blamed each other for the events of "Bleeding Kansas". This led to the Civil War. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott argued he should be free instead of being held as a slave in a free state. After his master's death in 1856, he sued his widow for his freedom. The court had decided it could not take action because Scott was merely property, and not a citizen. This angered, yet strengthened the North's will, as well as the Republican party. This led to the Civil War. -
Lincoln's debates Vs Douglass
Even though Lincoln was not elected into the Senate, he gained national recognition for his public debates and positions. Lincoln believed slavery was morally wrong, but not necessarily an abolitionist, only because he knew it would not be easy to rid slavery while preserving the Union. These strong justifications led to many Southerners in fear of his possible future in politics. (1860 Pres. Election) South Carolina threatened to seede if he became president. This led to the Civil War. -
John Brown's Raid Harpers Ferry
In 1859, John Brown and 18 followers attacked and took over the U.S. arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. The "slave uprising" he had anticipated, never occurred. His actions led to the U.S. sending troops, the death of 10 of Brown's supporters, and evidently his surrender. Brown was tried in Virginia for treason and alongside six of his followers, sentenced to death. This made southerners believe they were not safe, and that Brown may have had Republican support. This led to the Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
Soon after the tragic and chaotic events at Harper's Ferry, Republican Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860 with 180 electoral, but only 40% Popular Vote. This disrupted the idea of "Slave Power". (The idea that the government was run my pro-slavery supporters) Lincoln believed it was his responsibility to preserve the Union at all costs, however, the South responded aggressively, especially towards the idea of popular-sovereignty. SC seceded in response. This led to the Civil War. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
Due to southern secession, federal forts such as Fort Sumter became outposts in non-union territory. As Lincoln sent supplies to the fort, confederate warships attacked Fort Sumter for 34 hours, who surrendered two days after it began. This was the beginning of the Civil War.
