-
Period: to
Events Leading up to the Civil War
From 1800 until around 1870 many events occured which started seperation between the North and South reguarding slavery. The Civil War was heart breaking occurence in our history because we were fighting people of our same nation. -
Missouri Comprimise
When Congress returned to Washington a compirmise was made to enter Missouri as a state. This was contreversial because letting Missouri enter as a slave state. This was made possible because around the same time Maine was also asking to join the union, but as a free state. This made made everything balanced like it once was. This held off war between the slave and free states for a little while longer. -
Comprimise of 1850
The Comprimise of 1850 was a plan that came from a Kentucky senator, Henry Clay. The plan was regaurding fugitive slave laws. This would make laws stricter and make it easier for slave owners to reclaim their property. This didn't completly settle things however. The southerns were still quite uneasy with the north and their sketchy plans. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
It was a proposition made by Senator Stephen A. Douglas to make an official document for slave and free states. This document was made to fit what he called popular sovereignty. This is where the people vote and decide what they feel is right. This was in favor of the south and the north was horrified. This could lead to slavery all across the west. This also brought up war, and was one of the last resorts. Kansas and Nebraska were entered into the Union and it was their choice. -
The Dred Scott Case
The Dred Scott case was a very important trial in our countries history because it showed us how our court district worked. This particular case was regaurding a slave and his slave owner. Dred Scott has escaped from his owner and traveled to a free state where he attempted to sue his owner for being treated against the ways of the Constitution. The Fifth Amendment says that property can't be taken away from their owners so Scott lost the trial and returned to slavery. Southeners were happy. -
Election of 1860
The election of 1860 was a very crusial time for both southerners and northerners because they both wanted a president that would be in favor of their side. The election turned out better for the north. A man named Abraham Lincoln was elected and he wasn't for slavery. He actually ended up abolishing it. The election of Lincoln was very debatable not everyone liked him, especially the southeners. This particular event made the south even more fed up and really brought war to their minds again. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
On April 12, 1861, General Beauregard, in command of the Confederate forces around Charleston Harbor, opened fire on the Union garrison holding Fort Sumter. At 2:30pm on April 13 Major Robert Anderson, garrison commander, surrendered the fort and was evacuated the next day. This was a bloodless war. This made it obvious that the only way that the seemingly forever lasting arguement would be settled by war.
