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Compromise of 1850
In January 9, 1850 Henry Clay introduced the Compromise of 1850, which would resolve the issue of slavery. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, a controversial novel detailing the hardships of slavery. This created a large rift between the North and South. -
Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman creates the Underground Railroad, a network of safehouses to assist runaway slaves in becoming free. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Kansas-Nebraska Act is passed, allowing popular sovereignty to decide out of the two territories, which would be free and which would allow slavery. -
1856 Election
With this election, the Republican Party and Know-Nothing Party fought and further divided the country with their different views on slavery. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
The US Supreme Court decided that Dred Scott could not become free, as he was not a citizen. -
The Great Debates of 1858
Douglas believed popular sovereignty should be exercised in determining where slavery could be legal, and Lincoln countered by stating that slavery was immoral and based off of making a profit. -
Georgia Addresses Their Laws
Georgia passed a law that would prohibit slaves from becoming free, in the event that the owner died. -
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown and his group of slaves captured the arsenal, until soldiers under command of Gen. Robert E. Lee kill many of the militia and capture and hang John Brown for treason. -
New President of Divided Nation
Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States of America, and as a candidate of the Republican Party, Southerners were afraid of his intentions to deal with slavery and as a result, thought of seceding from the Union.
