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Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Her goal in publishing this book was to reveal the ugly truths of slavery. Southerners saw the book as a misconception about slavery. Sooner or later this book caused rebellions and it is said to have been one of the main reasons the Civil War began. -
Bloody Kansas
This began with the Kansas-Nebraska Act which established Kansas and Nebraska as new territories to the country. Bloody Kansas was an outbreak of fights against pro-slavery groups and anti-slavery groups. These groups were at battle because the issue was whether Kansas would enter the union as a free state or a slave state. The idea that states could choose whether they would allow slavery or not came from popular sovereignty. -
Republican Party
The Republican Party was formed in 1854, shortly after the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Abraham Lincoln was a part of the Republican Party. People of this party did not want slavery to spread into the new territories. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was established for many different reasons. It repealed the Missouri Compromise, created the states of Kansas and Nebraska, and allowed popular sovereignty. This act led to Bloody Kansas because people argued over whether Kansas would be a slave state or not. -
John Brown
John Brown was a strong believer in abolishing slavery. He was born into a super religious family which helped him shape his views on slavery later. Any action he took against slavery he would say was for god. He led many attacks in Kansas and Missouri, but unfortunately, he was captured in his last attack in Virginia. -
Election of 1856
The candidates of this election were John C. Fermont, James Buchanan, and Millard Fillmore. James Buchanan defeated John C. Fermont with 174 Electoral College votes. -
Dred Scott
Dred Scott was an African-American slave who lived in a free state, Illinois. He filed a lawsuit in the Missouri court because he claimed that he should be a free man because of where he resided. He lost that case and took it to the Supreme Court. At the Supreme Court, he also lost. The Court's reasoning was that he was of "African" descent and he could not be a citizen unless a new Act was passed. The Missouri Compromise was also ruled unconstitutional. -
Brooks Sumner Incident
The Brooks Sumner Incident occurred on the Senate floor. Brooks struck Sumner with his cane multiple times after he saw him attaching his postal frank to one of the copies of "Crime Against Kansas." Sumner's injuries were so bad he could not return to his job. This gave the reputation to the Southerners to be known as aggressive and crazy. It also raised the tensions the North and South were having. -
Lincoln-Douglass Debates
This was a series of debates between the two senate candidates, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglass. The debate was over slavery. Lincoln believed that slavery had to be stopped and no longer be spread into the new territories. On the other hand, Douglass believed that each state should have the right to decide whether they would allow slavery or not, known as popular sovereignty. -
LeCompton Constitution
This Constitution was the second of four that were proposed for the state of Kansas. It was drafted in Lecompton, Kansas. This constitution was extremely pro-slavery and it would allow it in the state of Kansas. It was never passed. -
House-Divided Speech
The House-Divided Speech, given by Abraham Lincoln, emphasized the division in the Union over slavery. In his speech, Lincoln referenced the Dred Scott case. He believed that because of the outcome of the case, slavery would spread all over the USA. -
Harper's Ferry
John Brown, a famous abolitionist who tried to gather slaves in an attempt to rebel, raided Harper's Ferry. His goal in raiding Harper's Ferry was to free the slaves. This raid was not successful. Brown was able to seize the federal armory and arsenal, but he was captured by the US marines. He was sentenced to death and was hanged on December 2, 1859. -
Seccession
The Southern States began to secede after Abraham Lincoln was elected. Since Abraham Lincoln was a Republican, Southerners believed he was going to abolish slavery. South Carolina was the first to take off. They believed their state rights were at risk and their ability to have slaves. -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 consisted of 4 candidates, Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglass, John Breckenridge, and John Bell. Abraham Lincoln won through the Electoral College votes. This election was significant because it threatened the South's slave rights and state rights. Southerners did not like the outcome of this election. -
Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
Lincoln's First Inaugural Address was his speech before entering the office. He addressed many issues and promises in his speech. One of the things he promised was not to allow slavery, this was not beneficial for Southerners. He also talked about keeping the nation together instead of letting it divide.