Civil War Timeline

  • Missouri Compromise

    The Missouri Compromise's kept the balance of pro and anti-slavery states. By allowing Maine as a free state, Missouri was able to become pro-slavery state. This created tension between the north and south because the north did not like that congress could aid in the expansion of slavery. This becomes an argument over power.
  • Fugitive Slave Law

    Also known as the "compromise of 1850," required that all fugitive slaves go back to where they came from. (Their slave owner) This law took away all rights for the slaves to testify for themselves. Also it stated that all U.S citizens and U.S marshall's had to escort slaves back to the south. If someone was caught trying to free a slave they had to pay a fine or go to jail.
  • Compromise of 1850

    Henry clay (a senator) came up with a list of solutions for the North and South so there wouldn't be any conflict. The compromise was like the new fugitive slave act. Calhoun didn't agree with Clay and was basically trying to stop the North from their effort to limit slavery.
  • Kansas-Nebraska Act

    This act let Kansas and Nebraska choose if they wanted slavery in their borders or not. The act was made to abolish the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was one of the most important events leading to the Civil War.
  • Election of 1860

    The Democrats were split between an anti or pro-slavery candidate. Lincoln gets elected on the Republican ticket. This shows a split in the values of the Union.
  • Battle of Antietam

    The first battle of the Civil war to be fought on a foreign ground. It is know as the "bloodiest day" of the Civil war. There was 23,000 soldiers wounded, killed and kidnapped during the battle.
  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Robert E. Lee was planning on invading the North for the second time and the Battle of Gettysburg stopped him. It was the "bloodiest battle" of the Civil War. The Union won the battle.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Abraham Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation and slaves were declared free. The main reason he wrote the Proclamation is he wanted to bring the country together. Lincoln hoped that the proclamation would make southern slaves join the Northern armies.