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The Free Soil Movement began on the ideas of preventing slavery from spreading in the new western territories that were gained from the Mexican War. They believed that allowing slavery in the west would create competition with white workers and deemed this as unfair. The Liberty Party would eventually side with the Free Soil Party because they both did not agree that slavery should be an institution. (Bates, The Early Republic and Antebellum America NY, 2010, Page 387) -
The United States went to war with Mexico in 1846 with the intent of territorial expansion. The war ended two years later, in 1848, with America victorious. Many of the young officers who became close and fought side by side during the war would eventually end up facing each other sixteen years later during the Civil War. Two of these officers who provided many victories would end up being General Grant and General Lee, two key players that shaped the Civil War and how it ended. (McPherson,4-5) -
The discovery of gold in California speeds the process of it becoming a state. This creates conflict as some of the state is against slavery and the rest is for slavery. This motivated many to move out west in hope of becoming rich. Cities in California, such as San Francisco, began printing news papers and sending them east in hopes of getting women to move and boost the population. -
The Nashville Convention was a meeting that took place in Nashville, Tennessee, with its members being from the south, many of whom were slave owners. The purpose of the meeting was centered around slavery and the aggression of the north. This convention shows that the south had distrust and anger towards the north and its policies years before the Civil War ever broke out. (The Nashville Convention of 1850, Herndon, 203) -
With the presence of four American warships, Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Japanese waters for the intent of opening up to the western world and to reastablish trade relations. This was a rather bold move, as Japan had closed its doors to the world for two hundred years. In order to open up ports to trade, Perry used his warships to scare the Emperor while also handing over gifts; this eventually led to the Emperor agreeing. (https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/opening-to-japan) -
The formation of the Republican Party in 1852 is very important due to the fact that, from its short life span, it quickly became a dominant party in just eight years. From getting its first president canadate four years after the party was founded to holding the house majority in 1858 and winning the presidency in 1860 after electing President Lincoln, who was the first Republican president to serve in office. -
When Pierce was elected president in 1852, he handpicked individuals from the south that believed in slavery for his cabinent. Something he believed was high priority was acquiring Cuba from Spain, as he feared Spain could make slavery illegal, which would effect the United States. Created by Belgium, the Ostend Manifesto recommended that America acquire Cuba from Spain with any payment. This caused great tension. (https://www.olli-dc.org/uploads/PDFs/2022_Fall/733_Karmiat/OstendManifesto.pdf) -
The Lecompton Constitution was drafted in 1857 and was a proposed pro-slavery constitution for Kansas. It caused great tension and divide among Democrats by actors like President Buchanans, further creating a rift and eventualy leading to the Republicans winning the presidential elcetion in 1860. Due to President Buchanans being very open about pro-slavery, the Republicans became closer and more united, and the Northern Democrats lost faith in him. (https://doi.org/10.1353/cwh.1978.0055) -
Dred Scott was a slave and sued the state of Wisconsin due to the fact that slavery was illegal in the state and was never allowed. This case eventually is taken up to the Supreme Court, where Scott loses. The Head of Justice made the decision to dismiss the case due to the fact that Scott is a slave, which meant that he did not have any standing. He continued by stating that black people also do not have proper standing because they are not citizens. (Varon,347) -
Believed that the southeners must be taught a lesson and started a massive slave insurrection. He targeted a United States Army base stationed in Virginia, which held a large amount of ammunation. He and a group of twenty-two people attack the base at night; it immediately goes wrong as they are quickly spotted. John Brown later gets captured by federal forces and is executed six weeks later. This insurrection caused the south to hate the north even more.