-
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Following the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act, Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin", depicting the struggles slaves faced with empathy, a first for the widespread public. It garnered mixed reactions. Some were moved. They related to the slaves, shown to be humans with hopes, families, and struggles. However, southerners argued it was a misrepresentation and criticized the book. This new depiction of slavery led tensions between the North and the South even further. -
Republican Party
The rise of the Republican Party was partly inspired by the introduction of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in order to oppose the expansion of slavery into western territorities. It was comprised of formers members of the Whig Party and abolitionists from the North. The Republican Party would play a role in the Northern and Southern tensions by representing Northern ideals, along with being a main party in the Civil War. This would also be the main party Abraham Lincoln would align himself with. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The remaining land from the Louisana Purchase split into two territories, Kansas and Nebraska. This act repealed the Missouri Compromise by letting popular sovereignty decide on slavery in the lands. Southerners supported it while northerners opposed. With these new changes, ideologies became increasingly more divided. Political parties were split, such as the Whigs and Democrats, while a new party, the Republicans, was created in response. Aggression and violence became increasingly common. -
Bloody Kansas
Because of the decision to allow Kansas's stance on slavery be decided by the population, southerners and northerners flocked to Kansas to sway the vote to their favor. This resulted in violent outbreaks over the political struggle, leaving many killed and more injured. It continued until 1861, when Kansas would be admitted as a free state. The bloodshed of Bloody Kansas would set the stage for the era of violence over the ideological split and the resulting Civil War -
John Brown
A radical abolitionist, John Brown led mobs and riots against slavery. Believing it was a sin, he was driven by the strong desire to carry out God's will. He participated in Bloody Kansas, the attack on Lawrence and the Pottawatomie Massacre. Northerners saw him as a hero, though were shocked by his violence, while Southerners called him fanatical, greatly threatened by his extremist presence. John Brown proved no compromise could exist with slavery. Some say he was a spark for the Civil War. -
Election 1856
This was the debut of the Republican Party with the candidate, John Fremont. They promised to "seal Slavery's power" and repeal the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which would anger the South if followed through on. The election was extremely divided between the North and South until the Demcrats just barely came out on top. The Republicans' narrow defeat would set the stage for their victory in the 1860 election, and would be the closest the U.S. would be to entering war before the official Civil War. -
Brooks-Sumner
During a Senate meeting on Kansas's slavery stance, Senator Charles Sumner gave his "Crime Against Kansas" speech. In it, he insulted democratic pro-slavery Senators, including Andrew Butler, which Representative Preston Brooks, as a cousin of Butler, took personally. He stormed into the Senate and beat Sumner violently with his cane. After, the South viewed Brooks as a hero while the North praised Sumner. This incident represented the growing aggression between the North and the South. -
Dred Scott
Dred Scott became important to the increasing tensions between the North and South after the Supreme Court case, Scott v. Sanford. The decision of this case declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional by saying the federal government had no right to limit slavery. They also limited rights to citizenship for slaves, reinforcing the idea of slaves being property. This case quickened the path towards the Civil war, but afterwards inspired the creation of the 13th and 14th amendment. -
LeCompton Constitution
In 1857, a new constitution for Kansas was introduced in order to quickly get the territory into statehood. An elected legislature met in LeCompton and created a constitution, where slavery-holders were protected, free black people were prohibited from entering, and popular sovereignty was limited. In the midst of fradulent voting practices and heated debates, the constitution was ultimately rejected. It contributed to the split of the Democratic party and added to existing frictions. -
House Divided Speech
In response to the decision of the Dred Scott case, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech at the Illinois Republican convention, denouncing the case as a path to the nation-wide legalization of slavery. Lincoln argued that this case proved the country could no longer be split on slavery, and it must either all allow slavery or all be free. The speech successfully differentiated him from Douglas and put him in the spotlight to be nominated for the 1860 presidential election. -
Lincoln Douglas Debate
Following Lincoln's speech, Lincoln and Douglas held a series of 7 debates during a senatorial campaign. Both were against slavery, but had widely different stances. During the debates, Douglas created the Freeport Doctrine, saying slavery could be prevented by not passing legislation. Douglas barely won the campaign, but his credibility as a national democratic leader diminished while Lincoln became a spokesperson for Republican ideals. This debate was a prelude for the upcoming 1860 election. -
Harper's Ferry
Harper's Ferry was the site John Brown led an abolitionist raid against to seize the armoury in a slave revolt plan. He gathered 21 people and hoped that local slaves would help in the effort. However, the local milita countered his attempt and John Brown was captured. He was convicted of treason and executed later that same year. This incident made Southerners even more fearful of the future anti-slavery revolts, and the divide between North and South reached its point of no return. -
Election 1860
The Election of 1860 would be the peak of Northern and Southern tensions. Candidates were split along sectional lines, with the North being between Lincoln and Douglas and the South between Breckenridge and Bell. Democrats were split into North and South and a new party, the Constitutional Union, just wished to keep the Union together. The South despised Republican Abraham Lincoln, even refusing to put his name in the ballot. When he won the election, it proved to be the South's last straw. -
Secession
After Lincoln was successfuly elected and under the belief slavery would continue to be limited, the South reached their tipping point. South Carolina, by a unanimous vote, seceded. Their argument, rooted in the power of states' rights, said they were sovereign bodies who could secede if they wished. They were followed by Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. The federal government denied recognition of their secession. The stage was set for the Civil War to take place. -
Lincoln's 1st Inaugural Address
Lincoln delivered his first address as President. Knowing he was hated in the South, he avoided mentioning the Republican party or any interference with existing slavery. However, he did declare that by nature of the Union, secession was wholly illegal and the federal government will enforce their control over their property, promising to respond to any bloodshed. This address was Lincoln's final attempt to keep the nation together until shots were fired six weeks later, and the Civil War began.