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Missouri Compromise
The Point of the Compromise was that for every slave state, there would be a free state added as well. This was to give a voice to the South and the North. This showed how thin the ice was between them, if any state was added that was not what they wanted they would freak out. The so-called compromise continued to raise tension. -
Nat Turners slave Rebellion
Nat Turners Rebellion was a rebellion of enslaved people in Virginia. They killed between 55 and 65 white people. It is the deadliest slave rebellion in U.S. history. It was mostly Women and children who were killed. The point was to dismantle the system and free the slaves, which was unsuccessful. -
Wilmot Proviso
This was a proposal that became unsuccessful and was not passed. It stated that slavery should not be allowed in Mexican territories even after being added to the Union. Mexico had never had slaves ever and they believed they never should. The South took this as a direct attack on them. This would threaten all of the Southern interests. -
Compromise of 1850
This added California as a free state. Banned slave trade in the district of Columbia. it amended the fugitive slave act. This diffused the tension in the country for a little bit. It passed five bills making huge changes in the country. -
Zachary Taylor's death
Zachary Taylor died 16 months into office. Many historians believe the Civil War would have not gone down the same if he did not die in office. It is believed that he would have been able to hold the Union together. He died from a stomach disease and sadly was not able to accomplish everything he wanted to while in office. His vice president Milliard Filmore became the President after his death. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
The book is an anti-slavery novel that is very popular. it had a large impact on attitudes to African-Americans. The book shows an enslaved man who acts saintly. This brought a new view to slaves as a whole. It tells a story of a white man who purchases the character because he saved his daughter. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act repealed the Missouri Compromise. It added two new territories against the souths wishes. This introduced popular sovereignty. This caused the violent uprising known as Bleeding Kansas. People moved from both sides of the country to sway the votes in these new states. -
Scott v. Sanford
This case was a very big deal In the stepping stone to the Civil War. The case said that Black people were not citizens even if they were free. This meant that they had no rights under the Constitution. This added more power to the Southern voice. That was a double-edged sword because it added more power to the North's voice as well -
John Brown's raid
The raid was done by an abolitionist who was an extremist. The raid was on Harper's Ferry in hopes it would start a slave revolt. John Brown attempted to overtake the arsenal here to arm the slaves. The attempt was unsuccessful, and they all died. Some people referred to this as the "Dress rehearsal for the Civil War" -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 directly leads to the Civil War starting. The South Saw Lincoln as a major threat, because of his opposition to slavery. South Carolina succeded from the Union a month later. It was a very conflicted election, Because of how close the voting was. Lincoln did not win the majority of the votes.