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Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was one of the first main events that lead to the American Civil War. This Compromise of 1850 was passed as a series of bills to de-escalate political altercation between northern free states and southern slave states over the slave status on new territory acquired by the Unites States from the Mexican American War. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was a part of the Compromise of 1850. This act enforced that all runaway slaves must be returned to the slave owner upon their capturing and that northerners must cooperate. I think that this act is important to include in the events leading up to the American Civil War because it divided the country further by making Northerners who were anti-slavery cooperate in captured escaped slaves against their beliefs. (Varon 235-243) -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe that revolved around underlying themes that focused on anti-slavery ideas. This book became the best-selling novel in the United States and is credited with promoting the abolitionist movement and spreading the ideas of the movement during the time period. Uncle Tom's Cabin had a significant affect on the lead up to the American Civil War as it helped to change the attitude of America on slavery. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a continued series of physical confrontations in Kansas from 1854 to 1859. These violent altercations between abolitionists and those in favor of slavery were fought over the debate of making slavery legal in Kansas after the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This event is needs to be included in important events leading to the Civil War because it drastically increased tensions between both sides and started the actual violent physical battles between both sides. (McPherson 145-56) -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, establishing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. This act's importance in leading up to the American Civil War is that the act repealed the Missouri Compromise which arose tensions between north and south and caused Bleeding Kansas along with other armed conflicts. The significance of this act being passed is very significant because it fueled many of the other events that lead to the American Civil War. -
Caning of Sumner
During 1856 in the United States Senate Chamber, an abolitionist senator from the north named Charles Sumner was assaulted with a cane by a representative from the south named Preston Brooks after Sumner gave a speech condemning southern slave owners. This event attributed to the disconnect between the abolitionist dominated north and slave owning southern states. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott Decision was the outcome of Supreme Court Trial Dred Scott v Sandford where the court decided citizenship from the United States Constitution did not extend upon to African Americans. This meant that even if a slave was freed, they wouldn't be a citizen guaranteed of the rights and privileges enforced by the United States Constitution. This decision further increased tensions between the north and south prior to the American Civil War. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
The Lincoln Douglas Debates were debates between Lincoln for the Republican Party and Stephen Douglas for the Democrat Party during their race for the Senate. This series of debates is important to include among things leading up to the American Civil War because they focused a lot on expanding slavery into the new territories acquired which was a large topic of tension disagreed upon by the north and south. (Varon 315-17) -
Irreprehensible Conflict
Lincoln's Secretary of State, William Seward's, "Irrepressible Conflict" speech talked upon the growing tension across the country on the topic of slavery and suggested that the country would eventually have to become all free or all for slavery. This speech was significant in leading up to the American Civil War because it mongered war for those who felt strongly about the issue of slavery which was a majority of the nation's population. (Varon 317-326) -
Lincoln's Election
Lincoln's election in 1860 over the democratic candidate, John Breckinridge was one of the final significant events leading up to the American Civil War because Lincoln was representing the mainly abolitionist Republican Party from the north and won over the Democratic nominee from the south who were mainly in support of slavery at the peak of tension between the two sides on the issue of slavery.