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Protective Tariffs
The Tariff of 1816 was designed to increase American manufacturing and boost the economy by taxing all imports. It was supported by the North because of their industrial based economy and it hurt the South because they had a agriculture based economy and now had to pay more to get clothing and such. This increased sectionalism and began to divide the country’s views.
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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise, written by Henry Clay, was made in an attempt to curb sectionalism by keeping the balance between slave and free states. The compromise was that Missouri was only going to be added as a slave state under the conditions that Maine will be added as a free state. In addition to this, it added the law that slavery was forbidden anywhere North of the 36/30 parallel except for Missouri. This increased sectionalism because it limited slavery from expanding North. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was an anti-slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It showed the harsh realities of slavery and worked to push people towards abolitionism. The book aggravated the South because it portrayed them as all being evil and cruel. It helped to divide the two sides of the country and recruited the people who were neutral in the slavery argument to the abolitionist side. The novel has been said to have “helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War.” -
Bleeding Kansas
It was determined that the state of Kansas has popular sovereignty: the ability to vote and decide whether or not to become a slave state. Due to this, many “border-ruffians” poured into Kansas so they could vote for it to become a slave state. In response, abolitionists did the same. Kansas was the first state to see violence between both sides of the slave debate. This also lead to the creation of the Republican Party. Both of these events continued to increase tension within the states. -
Dred Scott Court Case
Dred Scott v Sandford was a court case that ruled that a slave in a free state was still a slave. It also determined that even freed states are not citizens and that slavery cannot be restricted anywhere (even in the North). This fired abolitionists up and fueled the fire that would lead to the war.
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John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown’s raid on Harper's Ferry was an attempt to start an armed slave revolt. His army of 22 men attacked an armory with the goal to occupy it and supply goods to slaves. The attempt failed and Brown was captured and hanged. He became an icon for anti-slavery and inspired many other abolitionists. This was a turning point because it influenced non-violent abolitionists to accept the idea of violence. -
Election of Lincoln
The election of Lincoln in 1860 greatly contributed to the war by completing the divide between the North and South. The South seceded in response to the election because they thought he favored the North and their views. Lincoln was a republican who opposed slavery. Many democrats actually wanted him to win so they had a reason to leave the union.
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