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Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner was a slave that started an uprising that spread throughout several plantations in Virginia. Turner and about 70 others killed around 60 white people. Turner and 55 others were tried and exicuted. -
Mexican War Ended
After the war, the United States gained several new territories. A lot of people were arguing whether these would be made into slave states or free states. -
Fugitive Slave Act
This was a result of the Compromise of 1850. It brought a lot of controversy because it said that any federal officer who did not arrest a runaway slave would have to pay a fine. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote this book to depict the evils of slavery. It really affected the way the Northerners viewed slavery and it really helped the cause of abolition. -
Bleeding Kansas
After the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Kansas and Nebraska were allowed to vote for whether or not they wanted slavery in the new territory. Pro and anti slavery parties fought over the state's future so much that the time was caused "Bleeding Kansas." -
Charles Sumner is Attacked
One of the most publisized events of Bleeding Kansas. After Kansas was declared free state, pro-slavery congressman attacked Sumner with a cane. Before the event, Sumner had just given a speech attacking pro-slavery forces. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott lost his case claiming that he should be free after he was still being kept a slave inside a free state (Illinios). The court wouldn't see his petittion because he did not hold any property, they also said that slaves were considered property of their owners. This angered abolitionists as they continued to fight to end slavery. -
Lecompton Constitution Rejected
Once Kansas was allowed to decide whether it would become a free state or not, the Lecompton Constitution was created to allow Kansas to become a slave state. Pro-slavery forces tried to push the constitution through, but enough oppisition sent it back to Kansas for a vote. Kansas voters rejected the constitution. -
Harper's Ferry Raided
John Brown was an abolitionist that led a raid of seventeen people to Harper's Ferry Virginia (present day West Virginia). They wanted to start a slave uprising by stealing weapons. But soon, Brown and his men were surrounded, tried, and hanged of treason. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
After Lincoln won the election, South Carolina, followed by six other states seceded from the union. Lincoln, along with the majority of the Republican party, agreed that the south was becoming too powerful. They said no other sates were to become slave states.
