leading to civil war timeline

Confederacy Formed

1861 BCE

The confederacy forming contributed to the start of the civil war because it meant that the south and the north had such great sectionalism that the south had left. This meant that tensions were high enough to start a war from them.

Election of 1860

1860 BCE

This contributed to the Civil War by electing Abraham Lincoln, who opposed slavery. This outraged the south because it meant that the north would be fully opposed to slavery.
https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1860

Pottawatomie massacre

1856 BCE

This contributed to the start of the Civil War by showing violence over the issue of slavery. This occurred during Bleeding Kansas which also was trying an alternative way to establish slave or free states. This contributed to sectionalism by showing that violence would come from an alternative solution to slavery.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pottawatomie_massacre

Kansas Nebraska Act

1854 BCE

The Kansas Nebraska Act helped to start the Civil War by showing that tensions were high enough that many deaths happened over the issue of slavery. This showed that only war would solve this issue.
http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/kansas.htm

Compromise of 1850

1850 BCE

The Compromise of 1850 contributed to the start of the Civil War by establishing the fugitive slave law and making California a free state. These increased sectionalism by the north opposing the Fugitive Slave Law and the South not wanting California as a free state.
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/compromise1850.html