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Triangular Trade
The Triangular Trade didn't happen in 1640-1680 but around this time, there was a large number of slaves that were needed to work on the farms. This was a trade system between Africa, Europe and the New World. The New World sends materials to Europe and Africa sends slaves to the New World. This led to the Civil War becasue if the triangular trade didn't happen then there wouldn't have been any slave in the New World but because this happened a war over slavery happened. -
Creation of the Cotton Gin
The Cotton Gin was created by Eli Whitney on March 14, 1794. The creation of the Cotton Gin made it easier to pick cotton and for that reason the southeners wanted more slaves. This led to the Civil War bacuse when southeners couldn't get anymore slave beacuse of Slave Trade Act of 1807, which stopped the import of slaves, the only other way was to trade between the other states. The act may have put a stop to slave coming in from Africa but it didn't stop it as a whole. -
Missouri Compromise
Henry Clay made this compromise on March 3, 1820, which stated that in the Louisana territory, territories above the 36°30' line will be free and below will be slave. It also stated that Missouri would be admitted as slave and Maine as free. This led to the Civil War because both the north and the south wanted a balanced number of free and slave states and becuase Missouri wanted to be admitted as a slave state, as a compromise Maine was admitted as free state in order to balance the Senate. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850, written by Henry Clay on January 29, 1850, stated that in the Mexican Cession of 1848, Califorina will be admitted as a free state and the Utah and New Mexico territories will get to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty. This led to the Civil War because this would upset the balance of free and slave states. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act written on September 18, 1850 stated that if there were any slave that escaped and if found should be returned to their master. This led to the Civil War because there were quite a few abolitionist and citizens who didn't like this act so some states passed the Personal Liberty Laws to find a way around it. If citizens didn't want to reutrn the slave back to its owner then they would be penalize with a fine. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin written by Harriet Beecher Stowe on March 20, 1852, tells a story about how harsh slavery was and how they were treated as property. This led to the Civil War because this book was a best seller and it changed people's view about slavery. -
Pottawatomie Massacre
The Pottawatomie Massacre was part of Bleeding Kansas. This massacre started on the night of May 24 and the morning of May 25, 1856. This was caused by John Brown and his followers. This led to the Civil War becuase Brown attacked 5 pro-slavery settlers because he wanted Kansas to be a free state. This happened after the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which stated that the Kansas and Nebraska territories will decide on slavery through popular sovereignty. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford Court Case
The decision date was on March 6, 1857 but was argued on February 11, 1856. Dred Scott was a Missouri slave who claims that he is free because his master and him moved to Illinois and Wisconsin where slavery was not allowed. When his master died, Sandford took ownership of him. This led to the Civil War because Dred Scott lived in a free state that didn't even allow slavery. Brown was seen as property and not a citizen. Because of that the court said that he couldn't even sue Sandford. -
Attack on Harpers Ferry
The attack on Harpers Ferry happened on October 16, 1859. This was a rebellion led by John Brown. Brown and his 18 followers attacked and seized control of a US arsenal. The slave rebellion that Brown wanted didn't work out. Robert E. Lee arrested Brown and was later hanged for treason. This led to the Civil War because Brown tried to start a rebellion with the slaves. The southeners saw this and became scared that the slaves would rebel. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln
The Election of Abraham Lincoln happened on November 6, 1860. Because Lincoln was elected, this made the southern states afraid that they would take away slavery so each of the southern states seceded. South Carolina was the first to secede then the other southern states followed. This led to the Civil War because when the southeners started to secede this hurt the unity of the country and would later cause a war.
