-
The Missouri Compromise
In 1820 when Missouri was seeking statehood it wanted to enter as a slave state. This created a debate wether they should be slave or non slave causing a rift. Finally Henry Clay decided Missouri would be a slave state but Maine would become a free state. This would lead to the Civil War because it caused many southerners to think that the north were too aggressive in their anti-slavery views. -
Nat Turner Rebellion
In August, 1831 a slave named Nat Turner and about 55 others lead an uprising and killed about 55-65 White Southerners. They were then executed but it is the bloodiest uprising by slaves in US History. This will lead to the Civil War because it caused a many slaves to be tortured and killed many who had nothing to do with the rebellion. About 200 slaves were murdered. -
Mexican-American War
In 1836 right after Mexico had won independence from Spain Texas decided it had enough and wanted to become apart from Mexico. The result was a win but the effects of the war caused a lot of debate. At the time all the land it gained seemed good but political dispute if it were to be free or slave state became interesting. Finally the compromise of 1850 proposed by Henry Clay would settle the dispute temporarily. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was established by Henry Clay in order to stop the expansion of slave states while still strengthening the Fugitive Slave Act. It also stopped the sale of slaves in Washington D.C. However this still did not resolve the issue at hand which angered many American's which will lead to the Civil War. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act proposed by Congress along with the Missouri Compromise stated that any slave master can capture their runaway slave no matter where they are. It also stated any in aid of the runaway slave would be jailed. This created huge problems because if a slave managed to get to New York they could still be captured and denied there right to a trial. This would lead to the civil War. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by Congress in 1854. It was passed to let popular sovereignty decide if Kansas and Nebraska would allow for slavery. This repealed the Missouri compromise set by Henry Clay in the 1820's. This lead t the Civil War because people were killing others because if your dead you can't vote causing mass chaos. -
Bleeding Kansas
Nicknamed "Bleeding Kansas" due to the increase in mortality as a result of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. It involved many violent protest between Anti and Pro slavery people.One of them being John Brown a strong Abolitionist. This was also a factor that lead to the Civl War because it resulted in 56 deaths and displayed how much people believed in slavery. It sent shockwaves through the nation and showed what people would sacrifice for what they believe in. -
Dred Scott vs Sanford
The court case of a Virginia slave who sued for his freedom in 1857. This was very important case because it had reached all the way to the Supreme Court. In which it stated that Dred Scott was a slave therefore he had no say in court because according to them he was considered "property". This lead to the Civil War because it threw out what the USA stood for. It also gave the southerners more reason to believe they were right. -
John Brown's Raid
In 1859 Abolitionist John Brown lead a small group against a Federal Armory in Harper's Ferry VA. in order start an uprising of slaves against the southerner's. IT turned out to be unsuccessful and John Brown was then hung. This lead to the Civil War because it showed to White southerners were not safe in the union which would lead to secession. -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 was a major event because it was the day that Abraham Lincoln was elected POTUS. This Republican candidate defeated the Southern Democrat John Breckinridge. But in many states Lincoln was not even on the ballot which angered many. But since Lincoln was an abolitionist it struck fear into many southerners and 1 month after polls closed South Carolina seceded.
