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Missouri Compromise of 1820
MIssouri applied as a slave state which waould cause the system to be unbalanced. The northern free states opposed Missouri entering as a free state. During the debate, Maine applied as a free state. Henry Clay proposed a compromise known as the Missouri Compromise. His plan allowed both of the states to join the union which made the system balanced again. Now they has 12 free states and 12 slave states. -
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Civil War
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The Compromise of 1850
This compromise was proposed by Henry Clay. It allowed California to enter the Union as a free state. It divided the rest of the Mexican Cession into territories of New Mexico and Utah. Whether they become a slave state or free state was decided upon popular sovereignty. The slave trade was banned in Washington D.C. Since there was an unbalance between free states and slave states, the Fugitive Slave Act was enforced to allow peace between the two sides. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
It was an anti-slavery book that was a best-seller. Harriet Beecher Stowe, a northern, wrote about the cruelties of slavery. This book was about an African-American slave, Uncle Tom, who faced many hardships during his enslavement. This book appealed to many Northerners and opened their eyes. This book helped jumpstart the Civil War because Northerns now rebelled against slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas- Nebraska Act divided the Nebraska territory into Kansas and Nebraska. The settlers in each territory would then be able to decide whether they would become a slave or free state. This decision would be made through popular sovereignty. Senator Steven Douglass introduced this bill. -
Scott v. Sandford Supreme Court Case
In this supreme court case, Dred Scott, a slave sold to army surgeon John Emerson, traveled with Emerson to the free state of Illinois before being brought back to Missouri. Scott sued Emerson’s widow for his freedom in the Missouri Supreme Court. In the end, the supreme court sided with Sandford. This case helped set the pavement of the road to the Civil War. Eventually this case was overtuned by the 13th, 14th and 15th amendment which gave African Americans rights. -
John Brown and the Harpers Ferry
John Brown was an abolitionist , and he had a anti-slavery campaign from Kansas to the east. He led African-Americans to the town of Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He wanted a slave uprising, so he raided a federal arsenal. However as soon as he gained control of the arsenal no slaves joined him. Robert E Lee took over and killed the raiders and captured Brown. He was executed. However his will was so strong that he refused to provide a defense. Northerns were moved by this and supported him. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was a Union fort on Confederate soil. After moving his men to Fort Sumter, Anderson wrote the president Lincoln about the shortage of food. On April 11, the Confederate soldiers demanded that the fort should surrender. Then on April 12, the Confederates opened fire. Fort Sumter didn't reply at first as they had a shortage of ammunition not suited for an equal battle. When the defense for the fort opened fire, the firing went all day. Finally, on April 13, General Anderson surrendered -
First Bull Run
President Lincoln had sent Union troops to northern Virginia to attack the Confederate forces there. Lincoln's goal was to defeat the army in northern Virginia. Then they would make way to the Confederate capital, Richmond, where they would then conquer and end the war. General McDowell made a surprising attack on the Confederate forces. At first the Union was at advantage, but then the Confederate forces fought back and forced the Union army to retreat all the way to Washington D.C. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Confederate generals knew where the Union forces were headed to. The Confederate general planned to take the forces near Corinth into the forest near the Shiloh Church in Tennessee. The Confederate forces attacked there on April 6 and captured the Union camp. Although they captured the camp, they were surprised the next morning when the Union forces fought back with more supplies that there were reinforcements that had just came. The Union won this battle.This was one of the bloodiest battle -
Battle of Antietam
General Lee marched into northern Maryland which was Union territory. He hoped that a Confederate victory int he norht could demoralize the Northerners. However a Union officer found a copy of Lee's battle plans and reported it to General McClellan. He then attacked Lee's forces at Antietam. On Septemper 18, General Lee ordered a retreat. Although the winner of the battle wasn't truly decided, the North took victory by default. General McClellan was later replaced by General Ambrose Burnside. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
This battle was during a course of few days. Union Gen. Joseph General Robert E. Lee attacked Hooker’s troops. In Lee's and Jackson's plan Jackson and 30,000 confederate soldiers attacked union troops and this startled hooker but at the end Stonewall jackson was wounded really badly. Jackson’s troops pushed them back and Lee’s troops fought against some other troops at Salem Church, but overall Lee had a great victory at chancellorsville. Jackson later died of Pnuemonia. -
Battle of Gettysburg
After winning the battle of Chancellorsville, Gen. Robert E. Lee and his troops marched into Pennsylvania and near the city of Gettysburg they encountered some union troops under the control of Gen. George G. Meade. As the fighting began Lee ordered 15,000 of his men to attack the central force at cemetery ridge. But that failed and there were many casualties so on July 4 Lee retreated toward Virginia. -
Battle of Vicksburg
On May 18, Union General Ulysses S. Grant surrounds Vicksburg, a confederate stronghold. in this confederate stronghold, General John C. Pemberton has no choice but to hold out there until reinforcements arrive. Vicksburg was bombarded for 47 days and the confederate general and troops had to face great hardships. At the end with no choice left in hand, General Pemberton gave in to union General Grant. Now Union had complete control over the Mississippi. -
Appomatox Court House
After Grant took Pertersburg on April 2, Lee withdrew to the Appomatox Court House, Virginia. Lee was surrounded and eventually surrendered. These were the three things stated in US Grant's terms. First, soldiers would have to turn over their rifles, but leading officers could keep their pistols, Second, the soldiers who owned horses could keep them, Lastly, every officer and soldier could return home safely. From here on, the US would have to travel a long journey towards reunification.
