-
Uncle Tom's Cabin was published
-
John Brown hacked to death 5 presumed pro-slavery men at Pottawatomie Creek.
-
Abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts gave a provoking speech condemning pro-slavery men. During this speech, Sumner also personally insulted Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina. Two days later on May 22, 1856, Butler's nephew, Preston
-
The Impending Crisis of the South was written
-
South Carolina's legislature met in Charleston and voted unanimously to secede. 6 other states joined South Carolina: Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.
-
The Union and Confederate forces met
-
The Trent affair occurred
-
Two Confederate warships were being constructed in the British shipyard of John Laid and Sons. Their large iron rams would have destroyed the Union blockade. To avoid infuriating the North, the London government bought the ships for the Royal Navy.
-
President Lincoln was shot and killed at Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth.
-
The British established the Dominion of Canada