-
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a deal made to settle disputes over slavery in the United States. It included the admission of California as a free state and the Fugitive Slave Act. -
The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was a part of the Compromise of 1850. It required escaped slaves to be returned to their owners, even if they reached free states. It was a controversial law that fueled tensions between the North and the South over the issue of slavery. -
'Uncle Tom's Cabin' Is Published
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852. It told the story of enslaved African Americans and the harsh realities of slavery. The book had a significant impact on public opinion and helped fuel the abolitionist movement. It increased awareness about the cruelties of slavery and played a role in shaping the events leading up to the American Civil War. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was a law in 1854 that allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether they would allow slavery. It led to violent conflicts between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers, further deepening tensions over the issue of slavery in the United States. -
Period: to
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas: Violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions over the status of Kansas as a free or slave state. -
The Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision was a ruling by the Supreme Court in 1857. It stated that enslaved African Americans were not citizens and could not sue for their freedom. The decision also declared that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories, which intensified the divisions between the North and the South over the issue of slavery. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
Caning of Charles Sumner: Charles Sumner, an anti-slavery senator, was brutally beaten with a cane by a pro-slavery congressman. -
The Pottawatomie Massacre
The Pottawatomie Massacre was a violent event that occurred in 1856. Abolitionist John Brown and his followers attacked pro-slavery settlers in Kansas, resulting in several deaths. The massacre further escalated tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups in the region. -
Lincoln–Douglas debates
Lincoln-Douglas Debates: Series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas discussing slavery and its expansion. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry took place in 1859. John Brown and a group of followers attempted to seize the federal arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, with the goal of starting a slave rebellion. The raid was unsuccessful, and Brown was captured and later executed. The event further heightened tensions between the North and the South, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the American Civil War. -
John Brown Insurrection
John Brown Insurrections: John Brown led armed uprisings against slavery, including the raid on Harper's Ferry. -
The Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 was a significant presidential election in the United States. It resulted in the victory of Abraham Lincoln, who represented the Republican Party. His election played a major role in escalating tensions between the North and the South, ultimately leading to the secession of several Southern states and the start of the American Civil War. -
The Formation of the Confederacy
Formation of the Confederacy: Southern states seceded from the Union, formed their own government, leading to the Civil War. -
Secession of 1861
Secession of 1861: Southern states left the Union, formed their own government, sparking the Civil War.