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Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel created by Harriet Beecher Stowe who was against slavery. The novel tells a story about a slave and their perspective. This had gained sympathy from many but also angered lots. It was rare to see people create such a novel so it influenced others to also advocate for the cause. -
Bloody Kansas
Bloody Kansas was violence that occurred in Kansas territory due to slavery. This was between anti and pro-slavery groups and eventually the pro-slavery forces raided Lawrence where they destroyed the town. This only increased the tension and gave the yes to violence. -
Republican Party
The Republican party's goal was to abolish slavery in Western states and heavily opposed it. They fought for the rights of the African Americans. They would elect and come up with ideas to try and abolish slavery. This had increased tensions between the anti and proslavery people. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, created two territories (Kansas and Nebraska), and also ruled for popular sovereignty. This raised the chances of slavery being spread and increased the debate and tension over slavery. -
John Brown
John Brown became well known in 1855 where he became a well-known abolitionist. He contributed to "Bleeding Kansas" and led the raid of the harper's ferry and became a martyr for the antislavery movement. He wanted to use violence against the proslavery people and influenced the idea of revolting against them which contributed to the battle in the Civil War. -
Brooks-Sumner Incident
The Brooks-Sumner Incident was where Congressman Preston Brooks beat Charles Sumner a northern senator with a cane and he suffered many irreversible injuries. Charles was giving a two-day speech where he addressed Kansas which angered Brooks. This had just justified the hatred and aggression between both the South and the North. -
Election 1856
The Election of 1856 was between James Buchanan who was a Democrat and John Fermont who was a Republican. The democrats had won this election and the South had seen this as motivation to keep spreading slavery. This increased the division between the North and the South. -
Dred Scott
Dredd Scott was a slave who tried to fight for his freedom. He would later be taken to court where he was declared property and remained a slave. Since he was of African American descent he had no right to sue or declare freedom. This angered many abolitionists and increased the idea of abolishing slavery. -
LeCompton Constitution
The Lecompton Constitution was a document made in Kansas that supported slavery and protected it. Congress had rejected the document and infuriated the pro-slavery groups. This furthered the division between the nation. -
House Divided Speech
The House Divided Speech was delivered by Abraham Lincoln where he addressed how the nation can't be split between slavery. He said how things were getting out of hand and needed to decide whether the whole nation would have slavery or not. he said how slavery could weaken the country which did not sit well with many and increased the tension. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
The Lincoln Douglas Debates consisted of 7 debates between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln for senator. They addressed slavery and its extension to other states. Douglas came up with the Freeport doctrine where states could circumvent the Dredd Scott decision so slaves cant be brought into territories. The democratic party eventually split and Lincoln's impact increased over the country along with his ideas which angered many and increased tension. -
Harpers Ferry
There was a raid led by john brown and made up of abolitionists on the Harpers Ferry. Its goal was to help free slaves and start a rebellion. This had angered the South and also increased the worries of a rebellion against their states which would eventually lead to the civil war. -
Election 1860
The election of 1860 was between Abraham Lincoln who was a Republican, John Breckinridge a southern democrat, Stephen Douglas a Democrat, and John Bell who was a Constitutional Union candidate. Lincoln won the election and ultimately led to states seceding from the union and influenced the civil war. -
Secession
South Carolina had stated their secession from the United States. This also influenced ten other states to do the same and contributed to the civil war by creating even more division. -
Lincoln's 1" lnaugural Address
Lincoln's 1" inaugural Address was made to calm the South down from their anger toward the North. Lincoln wanted to prevent a civil war and keep the nation united which did not work. He also said that secession shouldn't happen and that they would have to take action which people saw as a threat and led to people ignoring his statement and going forward with the war.