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Missouri Compromise
Missouri entered as a slave state, Maine entered as a free state. The 36°30' line was made to determine if new states would be free or slave. If a state was above the line, it would be free. If a state was below the line, it would be a slave state. -
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion
Nat Turner, a slave, led a slave rebellion in Virginia that killed 51 white people.(Ended August 23, 1831). -
Mexican-American War
James K. Polk decided to go to war with Mexico for their land because of the Manifest Destiny. America gained California, New Mexico territory, Utah territory, and Texas. (Ended February 2, 1848). -
Wilmot Proviso
Proposed to Congress, this proposal wanted slavery to be abolished in all new territories gained in the Mexican war. This bill was not passed and caused conflict that led to the civil war. -
Compromise of 1850
California entered as a free state, Utah and New Mexico could choose whether they would be free or slave by popular sovereignty, it defined a new Texas-New Mexico boundary, and the fugitive slave act was put in place. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Part of the compromise of 1850, this act required that escaped slaves would be returned to their owners in the south. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin was an anti-slavery novel that opened the eyes of the north to the horrors of slavery. -
Bleeding Kansas
Pro and anti-slavery forces engage in violent battles in Kansas after the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed.(Ended 1861) -
Kansas-Nebraska Music
Passed by Congress, the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed Kansas ans Nebraska to choose whether they wanted slavery or not. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom after his owner moved into free territory. The supreme court ruled that Scott was not a citizen and could not sue. The court ruling also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. -
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown, an abolitionist, and his sons attempted to start a slave revolt by raiding a federal arsenal in Virginia. It ended horribly for Brown and he was sentenced to death. (Ended October 18, 1859). -
Abraham Lincoln is Elected President
Abe Lincoln, a free soil republican, is elected president. The southern democrats despise him and his election leads to the south seceding from the Union. -
South Carolina Secedes
After Lincoln was named president-elect, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Buchanan, the president, stated that the ordinance was illegal but did not attempt to stop it. -
Formation of the Confederacy
After the south seceded from the Union, they formed their own country called the Confederate States of America. -
Fort Sumter
The first battle of the civil war, the Confederacy bombards the Union fort in South Carolina and takes over the fort. The battle lasted 2 days -
Antietam
A deadly civil war battle that ended in a Union victory and shortly after, the emancipation proclamation was announced. -
Vicksburg
A Union victory, the confederate army was split in two at the Mississippi river as the Union took control of the river. Union soldiers could now transport supplies much easier using the river. (Ended July 4, 1863). -
Gettysburg
A major battle in the civil war, the confederacy lost 23,000 soldiers in a devastating defeat. This was the bloodiest battle in American history. (3 day battle). -
Appomattox Courthouse
The last battle in the civil war, Robert E. Lee had no choice but to surrender at the courthouse in Virginia.