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Events Leading to the Civil War
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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise took place in 1820. Henry Clay proposed it in congress and it was later signed by the president. This compromise laid out the territories for the future pro-slavery and anti-slavery states. Henry Clay propose this bill to stop the divide, which it did, but only temporarily. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso, proposed on August 8, 1846 by David Wilmot, was a ban on all slaves in the new Mexican Cession territories. He proposed this bill in congress, and, although, it passed in the House of Representatives, it failed to pass in the Senate. This was another attempt to solve the slavery debate. If this bill was added, slavery would be abolished much earlier. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a series of bills proposed by Henry Clay which would try to balance the slave and free states. The compromise was composed of these bills:
- California would be free
- No slavery in Washington D.C.
- Congress passes new fugitive slave law
- Texas gives up claims in New Mexico for $10 million
- New Mexico & Utah decide slave laws by popular sovereignty
These laws were passed. It impacted history by balancing the divide of the United States briefly, but it did not last. -
Fugitive Slave Act
This act allowed slave catchers to bring back slaves which ran away from plantations. It was passed in 1850. This was one of Henry Clay’s acts of the Compromise of 1850 which attempted to balance the free states and slave states in congress. Due to this law being passed, many slaves were brought back and many free black people were accused and also brought into slavery. This law impacted history in a very negative way because it made almost any area in the United States unsafe. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This book was written in Brunswick, Maine by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1852. She wrote this book in order to change people’s minds about slavery. This book showed the terrible things that the South did to slaves. Many Northerners were extremely horrified by this and changed their minds about slavery. Many Southerners said this was propaganda in order to fight back the claims. -
Dred Scott Case
The Dred Scott case was ruled against Dred Scott 7-2 on March 6, 1857. Scott argued that he should be free because he used to reside in a free state. The supreme court decided that he was not entitled to freedom because slaves are not citizens. This case also decided that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because states can solely decide slave laws. This impacted history because abolitionist parties realized they could not abolish slavery; they could only stop its spread. -
Lincoln Douglas Debate
The Lincoln Douglas Debates of 1858 took place in Illinois. They were a series of seven debates which Lincoln and Douglas had. Douglas believed Lincoln was a radical abolitionist while Lincoln believed Douglas wanted to spread slavery. Douglas won these debates, but Lincoln won the presidency. These debates attracted tens of thousands of viewers. It impacted history by changing people’s minds about slavery. -
John Brown’s Raid
John Brown’s raid took place in the October of 1859. His army attacked Harpers Ferry in West Virginia to get weapons. His army consisted of he, his five sons, and 21 other men. When they attacked it, they killed multiple men and then waited for slaves to help the revolt. Unfortunately, none came. John Brown was sentenced to death due to charges for treason and murder. This influenced many people. Most people were disgusted, but some Northerners honored his actions. -
Lincoln’s Election of 1860
This election took place in 1860. The winner, Abraham Lincoln, was a Republican and had 180 electoral votes which was 39.8%. John C. Breckenridge had 72 electoral votes. Stephen A. Douglas had 12 electoral votes. John Bell had 39 electoral votes. The states which voted for Lincoln were Northern. The way this impacted history is that slavery was abolished due to Lincoln’s actions in the civil war. Otherwise, slavery may have been prolonged if a pro-slavery candidate was elected. -
Southern Secession
South Carolina were the first to secede (December 20, 1860). After that, there were a few troops stuck in South Carolina and they took Fort Sumter. South Carolina asked them to leave and James Buchanan said he needed more time. He sent food and troops instead of telling them to surrender the fort. Because of this, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama seceded as well. They met at a convention and formed the Confederacy. Later, VA, KS, NC, and TN seceded as well. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act / Bleeding Kansas
The Kansas-Nebraska act decided that slavery laws would be decided by popular sovereignty in those regions. Nebraska was unaffected and peaceful, but, on the other hand, Kansas was violent. Many northerners moved to Kansas shift the vote, but the southerners responded likewise. Many of them fought violently. The southerners likely committed voter fraud. Congress was shown evidence, but they did nothing. This impacts history by leading to many deaths. Kansas would become a slave state and secede. -
End of Civil War
