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Compromise of 1850
Preserved the Union. A group of five laws that admitted California to the Union as a free state, new tougher fugitive slave laws and allows states or territories to chose whether they should be free or slave states or territories. Ended the Missouri Compromise of 1820. -
Kansas--Nebraska Act
Divided the Nebraska territory into two parts and because of Compromise of 1850 allowed for self determination in new territories it led to the seven years of Kansas Bleeding. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas is the tern used to describe the violence that erupted in Kansas Territory between pro and anti-slavery people that moved into the territory. The violence was a direct result of the Compromise of 1850, because new territories could vote whether they would become a free or slave state. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857)
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that free or slave African Americans are not U. S. citizens and could not have their case heard in a federal court. The decision also clarified that the Federal government had no power to regulate slavery. -
First Lincoln - Douglas Debates
The first of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. Both men were running for U.S. Senate from Illinois and their debates drew wide spread newspaper coverage throughout the country. Lincoln lost the senate seat but was thrust into national prominence that then lead him to the Republican Party nomination for U. S. President in 1860. -
Last Lincoln - Douglas Debates
The last of seven debates between Lincoln and Douglas. These debates led the national prominence for Lincoln. -
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown was an abolitionist who wanted to encourage a slave revolt. He tried to steal guns and ammunition from a federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry VA. in order to arm salves. His attack failed and nearly all from Brown's party died in the raid. -
Lincoln Elected President
Elected as the 16th President of the United States. His stance against slavery allowed his to carry all the free states and propel him to victory. Lincoln's victory was the reason that southern states started to succeed from the Union. Lincoln is the first Republican to become U. S. President. -
Fort Sumter Attacked
Confederate states have been seizing Federal property after successions. Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter a Federal fort located in Charleston SC harbor. This action begins the civil war. -
Battle of First Manassas (Bull Run)
First great battle of the American Civil War fought shortly after the war began. The Union had a superior number pf troops but lost the battle. -
Battle of Antietam
Gen. George B. McClellan was able to stop Lee from seizing Washington D.C. and the battle ended in a stalemate. Lincoln blames Gen. McClellan for not pursuing Lee back into Virginia to deal a death-blow to the Confederate army. Two months after this battle McClellan is removed from command by Lincoln. Lincoln also uses the victory to announce the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln that freed all slaves in the United States. -
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Reconstruction Era
Period during which the US began to rebuild after the Civil War and ensure that freed blacks would not have their new rights denied by state governments in the South. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Starts on July 1st and lasts for three days near and in the town of Gettysburg PA. Both sides incurred heavy losses with nearly 50,000 men killed or wounded. This battle, along with the fall of Vicksburg the next day, was the turning point of the war. -
Lincoln Delivers Gettysburg Address
Speech given by President Lincoln at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Lincoln's speech is still considered to be among the most famous speeches in American history -
Camp Sumter is Opened
As know as Andersonville Prison, was a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp. Of the approximately 45,000 Union prisoners held at Camp Sumter during the war, nearly 13,000 died of starvation, malnutrition, diarrhea or communicable diseases. -
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
Robert E Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia to US Grant ending the civil war. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
The evening of April 14th, Good Friday, the President and Mrs. Lincoln attend a play at Ford's Theatre, During the performance John Wilkes Booth a famous actor slips into the presidential box and shoots the President in the head. The President will die the next day.
