-
Period: to
Before the Civil War: A Nation Breaking Apart
The United States was slowly breaking apart creating two worlds, the north and south. The North's way of life was completely different from the South. Northerners didn't believe in Slavery and relied mostly on the urban economy. Southerners however favored slavery and relied on the plant, cotton. The north and the south were two different worlds in one country. Something was about to happen and begin a nation wide conflict. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 entered Missouri to the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state to the United States. Congress also drew an imaginary line at 36 degree 30' across the Louisiana purchase. Below this line, slavery would be allowed. The Missouri Compromise partly led to the Civil War because many Southerners were not happy since there would be less slave states. Slavery was a big issue that led to the Civil War. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was created by senator Henry Clay of Kentucky. The Compromise first stated that California would be entered to the Union as a free state. Next, it allowed New Mexico and Utah territories to decide whether to allow slavery, which would happy the south. Thirdly, it would end the slave trade in DC. Lastly, there would be new fugitive slave laws in place. This compromise effected the start of the Civil War because the Northerners were not happy about the Fugitive Slave Laws. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed two new territories, Kansas and Nebraska, to be entered in the Union and decide whether to allow slavery. The Act also abolished the Missouri Compromise. The final version of the Act was developed by Senator Stephen Douglas. The Kansas-Nebraska Act shocked the north like a bee sting. It led to outrage because the Act had significant effect to the bloodshed in Kansas. -
The Dred Scott Decision
The Supreme Court justices in 1857 had two questions to answer. First, was Dred Scott, as a slave, a citizen who had the right to bring a case in front of a federal court. Second, did his time in Wisconsin make him a free man. On March 6, the justices made a final decision. There decision was to rule Dred Scott as not a citizen and he couldn't sue for his freedom. This event partly led to the Civil War because the decision made the north upset since they wanted Dred Scott to be a citizen. -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 was one of the most critical elections in US history. The four candidates were Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, John Bell, and John Breckenridge. During election day, many southern states didn't even put republican candidate Lincoln on the voter papers. Lincoln won the election. Southerners feared that the election would ruin the country. After the election, South Carolina and six other southern states secede from the Union. A war is about to break out. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
The Attack on Fort Sumter was the start of one of the bloodiest wars in US history. on April 12,1861, the attack started. it was a 33 hour bombardment. Fortunately, no one was killed but this day marked the start of the civil war.
