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Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney's cotton gin was an invention in the early 19th century which increased slavery drastically. The cotton gin was a machine which took the seeds out of the cotton making cotton development much faster. The product saw a 50% increase in production, and made cotton a profitable product. The cotton gin ultimately set the economic stage for the war since the south saw the profitability of huge cotton plantations. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri compromise was a compromise to balance the desires of north and the south on their opinions of expanding slavery westward. The compromise create slave states in Missouri and Maine a free state that prohibited slavery as well as created the 36' 30 line which prohibited slavery north of the line. This event laid down the foundation of the dispute between the north and the south. This is where sectionalism began on the vastly different opinions on slavery. -
Nat Turner Rebellion
The Nat Turner rebellion was the most successful revolt to date. Nat Turner along with other slaves killed 57 white men, women, and children in one night to gain freedom before being caught and hanged 2 months later. The revolt opened the question to emancipate slaves or to keep it. They decided to keep it with a change in attitude. Slavery became more harsh and criticism became illegal. The harshness of slavery angered the north and showed the sinful nature of the matter. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 from Henry Clay was an attempt to end the slavery dispute. With the Mexican cession recently in action this compromise made California a free state and gave Utah and New Mexico the option. It also passed the new Fugitive slave act which arguably made the dispute worse. An accusation was enough to send a black man or women to court to be tried for a "fugitive slave". The south was angered by this Compromised because it didn't ensure slavery expansion. -
Kansas- Nebraska Act
This act is what created Kansas and Nebraska boarders. With the question of free states or not govt. granted them popular sovereignty. This ultimately nullifies the Missouri compromise by giving northern states the option to slavery. This led to "Bleeding Kansas" where pro and anti slavery activist flooded the boarders to sway to vote. This created a divide in America because the north saw this as a betrayal of the country and disregarding to previous Compromises. -
Panic of 1857
This event was a financial Panic in the United States caused by over investments in companies that couldn't produce enough profit. The north were mostly impacted by this event with businesses failing, banks closing, and factories shutting down. This also posed the argument from the south that slavery was the safest way to go as it saw no possible failure unless abolished by legislature. This event increased the tension on the slavery dispute over southern states proving slavery to be necessary. -
Election of 1860
The Presidential Election of 1860, Abe Lincoln won as a republican. With the republican party advocating for the abolishment of slavery south states feared their economy, run by slavery, would soon crash. Seeing the downfall of slavery states from the strong south secession began with South Carolina. MS, AL, Fl, TX, VA, LA, GA, AR, NC, and TN all succeeded from the Union following the election. After Fort Sumner was attacked President Lincoln called forth Militia officially starting War.