What lead to the Civil War

  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850
    Texas paid 10 million to scale back its land going west. Washington DC was forced to end slavery in the state but it was still legal. California became a free state.
  • Fugitive slave act 1850

    Fugitive slave act 1850
    All fugitive slaves must return to their masters. Anyone who helped a slave could be in jail for 6 months.
  • Uncle Tom's cabin 1852

    Uncle Tom's cabin 1852
    Harriet Beecher Stowe’s sold 2 million copies of her book within 5 years. Many joined the abolitionist movement after learning the harsh realities of life as a slave.
  • Kansas Nebraska Act 1854

    Kansas Nebraska Act 1854
    The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed each territory to decide the issue of slavery on the basis of popular sovereignty. Kansas could bypass the Missouri compromise.
  • Dred Scott Decision

    Dred Scott Decision
    Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott was property and not a citizen and had no right to sue.
  • Harpers Ferry

    Harpers Ferry
    Becomes a martyr in the North. South sees to what extent North will do to end slavery
  • Lincoln Election

    Lincoln Election
    He was the only candidate against slavery. The south started to secede.•Lincoln’s election pushed the nation to the brink of war.
  • Attack on Fort Sumter

    Attack on Fort Sumter
    Fort nearly out of food/ ammunition and badly outnumbered. Surrendered the fort to the Southern Army. President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers. The war had begun