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Missouri Compromise
This event was a compromise reached where Missouri entered the union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. This was to help prevent the spread of slavery into the West but keep the pro-slavery people content. -
Nat Turner's slave rebellion
Nat Turner was a man who was willing to kill and die for the abolishment of slavery, so in 1831 on August 21st he led a rebellion in Virginia in which he thought slaves in the town would join and revolt against their leaders. Sadly it was nothing like he imagined and it ended 2 days later and resulted in Nat getting hanged for rebelling. His attempt at helping slaves actually resulted in harsher treatment of them and strengthened the states pro-slavery opinion. -
Wilmot Proviso
A failed attempt by the US to ban the act of slavery in the territory that it had acquired from Mexico. -
Mexican-American War
The U.S was trying to expand westward towards the Pacific Ocean and in doing so had conflict with the Republic of Texas and ultimately the U.S. fought Mexico for that land and won. -
Compromise of 1850
A series of 5 new laws that were created to settle the North and the South's dispute over "balance" of slave states and free states in the senate. California was then admitted as a free state while Utah and New Mexico were created as new territories. -
Fugitive Slave Act
This law required any escaped slaves to be returned to their owners even if they were found in a free state. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
This book was considered abolitionist propaganda in the South and banned because of what it talked about. This publication helped to open the eyes of many to the reality of what it was like be a slave and the mistreatment that they dealt daily. Sadly many Southerners did not believe it and became furious. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska Act removed the Missouri Compromise and allowed for Kansas and Nebraska to choose whether their states would be a slave or a free state. This system is called "popular sovereignty". -
Bleeding Kansas
This was a battle that broke out in Kansas territories over the dispute of whether Kansas should be admitted as a slave state or as a free state. Ultimately Kansas was admitted as a free state. -
Dred Scott ruling
Dred Scott was a slave who's master had died so he sued for his freedom since he was being illegally held as a slave in a free state. The court however wouldn't take his case because he wasn't considered a citizen and therefor couldn't sue. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown was an abolitionist who attempted to lead a slave revolt, in doing so he took over a federal arsenal in Virginia known as Harper's Ferry and failed. He was then arrested and hanged. -
Abraham Lincoln elected as U.S. President
Once Abraham was elected president the South became angry because they knew Abraham was against the expansion of slavery and they feared the end of slavery. -
South Carolina secedes from The Union
Although illegal South Carolina decided to secede from The United States and no actions were made towards this decision. This began a domino effect as later more states would follow SC's footsteps. -
Confederation is formed
The Confederate States of America were those states that had seceded from The Union and fought against the United States during the Civil War. -
Fort Sumter
After South Carolina seceded from The Union, The Confederacy decided to attack at Fort Sumter. The battle was 34 hours long in which The Union surrendered because they were running out supplies. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest battle of the war for both the North and the South. It was fought in Maryland and The Union ended up winning. General McClellan was fired by the president after this battle because although they'd won he refused to go after General Lee's retreating soldiers. -
Battle of Vicksberg
The battle was fought along the Mississippi River so after The Union won they gained control over the river. This forced the Confederacy to split into two making it more difficult for them to move their supplies, while the Union was able to move their things much easier. -
Battle of Appomattox
This was one of the last battles of the Civil War. After a two hour long battle near the Appomattox court house General Robert E. Lee surrenders to the Union.
