Road to the Civil War

By minnickc

  • Northwest Ordinance

    Northwest Ordinance
    • The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 brought slavery to the forefront of political discussion for the first time. In the NW Territory, slavery was outlawed, but fugitive slaves could be returned when found in the territory.
    • Political
    • Red

  • Missouri Compromise

    Missouri Compromise
    • The Missouri Compromise was a federal legislation which aimed to balance congressional power between free and slave states. This affected other events, encouraging sectional tensions.
    • Political
    • Red

  • Nat Turner Rebellion

    Nat Turner Rebellion
    • The Nat Turner Rebellion, August 21-23, was a slave revolt in Virginia led by Nat Turner. This led to new laws being passed in Virginia, oppressing enslaved, and free, African Americans even more.
    • Social
    • Red

  • Gag Rule Instituted

    Gag Rule Instituted
    • The Gag Rule was a series of rules which tabled matters regarding anti-slavery in the House of Representatives. This was in an attempt to quell the abolitionist movement, and the debate on it.
    • Political
    • Red, thousands of anti-slavery petitions flooded in after

  • Amistad Case

    Amistad Case
    • In 1839, the Amistad was a ship carrying 53 kidnapped Africans from Sierra Leone, set for Havana. They revolted and made 2 Spaniards steer them back towards Africa. The ship ended up on the East Coast, and the dispute over who owned the Africans began. In the end, the court ruled that no one owned them.
    • Political
    • Red

  • Annexation of Texas

    Annexation of Texas
    • The annexation of Texas in 1845 led to the Mexican-American War. Texas was also admitted to the union as a slave state, adding more power to the pro-slavery force.
    • Political
    • Green, postponed tensions because relations with Mexico became a problem after the annexation

  • Dred Scott Sued

    Dred Scott Sued
    • Dred Scott and his wife sued Emerson's wife in 1846 for bringing them into free states, and continuing to enslave them after. After residing in a Illinois (free state), and the Wisconsin Territory (free territory), the Scotts should've been free.
    • Political
    • Green, the decision was what caused major unrest.

  • Mexican War declared

    Mexican War declared
    • The Mexican-American War was fought mainly because Mexico did not recognize Texas as independent, and over a border dispute. The American victory led to land gained in the West.
    • Political, economic
    • Green, not directly tied to Civil War starting, even though there were disputes over land gained after the war.

  • Wilmont Proviso

    Wilmont Proviso
    • The Wilmont Proviso was a proposal in which it was stated that slavery was prohibited in the land gained from the Mexican Cession. This was unsuccessful, and heightened sectional tensions leading up to the Civil War.
    • Political
    • Red

  • California Gold Rush

    California Gold Rush
    • The California Gold Rush started in 1848, and continued until 1855, bringing hundreds of thousands of people to the West. This was important because it created an economy out West, along with more jobs, class divisions, and more.
    • Economic, social
    • Green

  • Compromise of 1850

    Compromise of 1850
    • The Compromise of 1850 had 5 main points: the admission of CA as a free state, a ban on the slave trade in DC, the amendment of the Fugitive Slave Act, leave the legality to slavery to the NM and Utah territories, and give the territories gained in the Mexican-American War that same choice.
    • Political, social
    • Red, neither side was going to be satisfied until they had 100 percent

  • Fugitive Slave Act

    Fugitive Slave Act
    • The Fugitive Slave Act made it possible for runaway slaves to be returned to their owners, even when in a free state. The federal gov't also played a large role in returning the slaves.
    • Political
    • Red

  • Uncle Tom's Cabin published

    Uncle Tom's Cabin published
    • The publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe instilled anti-slavery ideas into heads, and rallied support for the movement by highlighting the injustices.
    • Social
    • Red

  • Kansas-Nebraska Act

    Kansas-Nebraska Act
    • Proposed in January and ratified in May, the Kansas-Nebraska Act created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, repealed the Missouri Compromise, and allowed for popular sovereignty. It also led to bloody protests "Bleeding Kansas", between pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters.
    • Political, social
    • Red

  • Ostend Manifesto

    Ostend Manifesto
    • The Ostend Manifesto was a document in favor of buying Cuba from Spain. This led to sectional tensions increasing because those who wrote it were pro-slavery, leading the North to think that this was an attempt to expand slavery.
    • Political, social
    • Red

  • Dred Scott v Sanford

    Dred Scott v Sanford
    • Sanford, Emerson's brother, fought that since Scott was a slave, and not a citizen, he couldn't sue. Scott's previously granted freedom was revoked.
    • Political & social
    • Red

  • John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry

    John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry
    • An attempt to squash slavery by starting an anti-slavery movement, abolitionist John Brown gathered a group of his supporters to raid the arsenal at Harpers Ferry. This was unsuccessful, but sparked a larger revolt against slavery.
    • Social
    • Red

  • Crittenden Compromise

    Crittenden Compromise
    • The Crittenden Compromise was an unsuccessful pro-slavery proposal with major points including: reinstating the Missouri Compromise line, compensating owners for runaway slaves, and forbidding the abolition of slavery on federal land in slaveholding states.
    • Political
    • Red