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Compromise of 1850
A compromise that allowed the new state of California to be part of the Union and also created a new fugitive slave law, which allowed territories to vote if they wanted to be an anti-slavery or pro-slavery state -
Dred Scott case
A controversial case that a slave said that since he was in a free state he should be set free. This case, after years, was ruled against Dred Scott because was property, not a citizen. This caused northerners and southerners to argue about how slaves should be treated. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
A debate between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln and argued whether or not popular sovereignty should exist. Lincoln lost the debate but it got national attention which helped him become a candidate for president. -
Harpers Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown believed that there should be an uprising of slaves in the United States. His aim was to take a federal arsenal and start a general slave uprising. He failed and was put to death. -
Southern Secession
After Lincoln's victory Southern states decided to secede from the Union, starting with South Carolina. After the South left the Union they created the Confederate States of America(CSA) which forced Lincoln to act. -
Bull Run
The first major battle of the Civil War. When the battle started it looked like a Union victory, but as time went on the Confederate held their own and pushed the Union with their general Thomas J. Jackson(Stonewall Jackson). -
Proclamation Emancipation
Document that promised any slave behind Confederate borders will be free when the Union wins the war. This showed the south that there was no room for compromise. -
Gettysburg
The first battle that was a turning point of the war. During the first two days it was looking like another Confederate victory, but on the third day the Confederate pushed too far forward then were forced to retreat giving the Union a victory. This was also the battle before president Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address speech. (July 1st-3rd, 1863) -
Vicksburg
Second major battle in the turning point of the war and was important because it could control all water traffic. (April 30th-July 4th 1863) -
Thirteenth Amendment
After the war the Emancipation Proclamation freed all the slaves in the Confederate states, but there was still slavery in the border states and Lincoln wanted to abolish slavery. (end of 1865) -
Johnson's Plan
Johnson's plan for Reconstruction was different from Lincoln's because Johnson was excluding white rich southerners and believed that "white men alone must manage the south". -
Surrender at Appomattox
The day that general Lee surrendered to general Grant. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Five days after Lee's surrender Lincoln was assassinated by a Southern sympathizer. Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated. -
Congress Reconstruction
Created the fourteenth amendment prevented states from denying rights and privileges to any U.S. citizen and defined a citizen as "all persons born or naturalized in the United States". Also passed the Reconstruction Act which did not recognize any state government formed under the Lincoln and Johnson plans. The act also divided the Confederate states into five military districts. -
Postwar South
After the war the South's economy was devastated which drew wealthy Northerners to the South to make a quick buck. These Northerners created an economy that was hurtful towards the real Southerners.
