United States History

Mexican-American War

1846

The war resulted in the United States gaining additional territories such as California and New Mexico. It increased the debate over whether these new territories would allow slavery. This war increased the North and South divide. (McPherson 10)

The Wilmot Proviso (1846)

1846

The goal of this plan was to outlaw slavery in areas that the United States had acquired from Mexico during the Mexican-American War. It revealed strong divides between the North and South about the spread of slavery, even though it failed.

The Compromise of 1850

1850

This set of laws look to ease tensions between the states by allowing territories such as Utah and New Mexico to decide on slavery amongst themselves. They also strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act and admitted California as a free state. While it temporarily reduced conflict, in the end it caused more division.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

1852

Uncle Tom's Cabin is a novel that tells the story of "Uncle Tom". It was an influential anti slavery novel written by Harriet Beacher Stowe. The book played a pivotal role in shaping public option about slavery, especially in the North.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

1854

This act overturned the Missouri Compromise by giving Kansas and Nebraskan settlers the power to choose whether or not to practice slavery through popular rule. It resulted in bloody conflicts such as the "Bleeding Kansas" as forces supporting and opposing slavery struggled for dominance.

The Formation of the Republican Party

1854

The Republican Party was formed in 1854 and was founded on an anti slavery platform. It quickly gained support in the North an abolitionists, Free Soiler, and Whigs came together to support the party. The Free Soilers were an anti slavery party and the Whigs was another political party who focused on a strong federal government, amongst many things. The northern Whigs were anti slavery.

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

1857

In the case of Dred Scott v Sanford, the Supreme Court ruled that enslaved people were property and not citizens. They also ruled that Congress could not restrict slavery in territories. This ultimately outraged Northerns and reinforced Southern pro slavery arguments

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

1858

The debates between these two were crucial in shaping the nation discussion of slavery and its expansion into the territories. Lincolns position against the spread of slavery helped him gain popularity in the Republican Party while Douglas defended popular sovereignty. These debates were another example of ideological differences to be stored up between the North and the South.

John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry (1859)

1859

Although abolitionist John Brown's efforts to spark a slave uprising by invading a government armory was unsuccessful, it increased tensions between the North and South and drew the country closer to war.

Election of 1860

1860

Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860 without any Southern electoral votes. This triggered the Southern states as they feared his polices would abolish slavery. This was the final straw for the majority of southern states to come together to form the Confederacy. (Varon