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The Compromise of 1850
It organized New Mexico and Utah territories with slavery to be decided by popular sovereignty.
Also admitted California to the Union as a free state and slave-free state. -
Fugitive Slave Act
A highly controversial law that made it a federal crime to aid runaway slaves and allowed the arrest of escaped slaves. Many northerners openly broke the law, angering slaveholders. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act organized the Kansas and Nebraska territories. It changed the balance of free and slave states by allowing popular sovereignty to decide upon the issue of slavery. -
The Election of 1856
Northern Democrats refused to support either candidate for the presidential elections. It resulted in the nomination of James Buchanan. Democrats won the election of 1856 by characterizing the Republicans as extremists on the slavery issue. -
The Lincoln-Douglas debates
The Lincoln-Douglas debate took place in towns across Illinois from late August to mid-October. These were 7 debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A.Douglas over the issue of whether to end slavery or not. -
John Brown's Raid
A raid on the U.S arsenal at Harpers Ferry Virginia, to get guns for a slave revolt. Brown and his followers easily captured the arsenal and captured Brown but failed to start a revolt. -
Attempts of Compromise Fail
These attempts to decide how to deal with slavery failed to solve the issue but thought that slavery could be a sustainable solution with a civil war. -
The Election of 1860
The election of of 1860 was really two sectional elections. In the North, it was Lincoln versus Douglas. In the South, the contest was between Breckinridge and Bell. Lincoln carried the most populous North and won the presidency. -
Forming the Confederacy
Representatives of the seven seceded states met in Alabama to form a new nation. Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stephens created an association of states called the Confederate States of America. -
The Civil War Begins
The Civil War began when shots were fired at Fort Sumter. Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers for the army for 90 days. Northerners rushed to sign up but Southerners were not too fond. -
The Battle of Bull Run
The first major battle of the civil war. Battle soon became chaos. The Confederate troops were inexperienced and the Union turned into a panicky stampede. War ended on both sides in hopes of a short war. -
War in the West
splitting the confederacy into two the union gained control of the Mississippi River valley. A union moved north along the Mississippi and captured new Orleans and other river cities. -
Women and the War
In the North and in the south women were not allowed to join the war but many still took part in wars.women would distinguish themselves and dress like men and were enlisted into war. Many others worked on farms, did factory labor, worked at stores, factories and approximately 3,000 women offered to help as nurses during the war. -
War in the East
Union general George B. McClellan had a plan to attack the Confederate capital at Richmond, but he delayed, asking for more troops. In May 1862 Confederate general Robert E. Lee took command of the Confederacy's Army of Northern Virginia. -
Emancipation Proclamation
During the Civil War President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This document freed enslaved people in all areas that were in rebellion against the United States. -
Three Major Battles
The Battles were Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Vicksburg.
Chancellorsville: Richmond Lee won
Gettysburg: 23,000 casualties out of some 85,000 soldiers.
Vicksburg: Confederates surrendered. -
The War Ends
In November of 1864 after the election, Sherman and 60,000 troops set out on a march. He and his troops burned down the city, destroyed crops, slaughter livestock and looted homes as well as businesses. After all their actions Lee tried to escape with what was left of his army but was founded surrendered. Lee and his troops had to turn their weapons and leave causing the end of the war. -
Lincoln's plan upsets Congress
The period of time when the United States made policies to rebuild the South is known as Reconstruction. in 1864 Congress responded with its own Reconstruction plan, the Wade-Davis Bill. -
The Election of 1864
The Democratic party chose George McClellan and adopted a platform calling for an immediate end to the war. The Republicans chose Andrew Johnson to be Vice President with Lincoln. Lincoln easily defeated McClellan in the election which enabled Congress to finally pass the thirteenth amendment, which ended slavery in the United States. -
Lincolns assassination
Abraham Lincoln did not get to see the war end or carry out his Reconstruction plans. John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln while he sat watching a play. Lincoln died the following morning. -
Radical Reconstruction
A fourteenth amendment was created. It stated that ¨all persons born or naturalized in the United States" and promied¨equal protection of the laws¨. Johnson tried to control reconstruction but race riots in Memphis and New Orleans weakened his arguments. During 1867-68 they passed Johnson's veto, four reconstruction acts. These acts divided the south into 5 military districts. -
Republicans in Charge
Ulysses S. Grant, as their presidential candidate. The popular vote was close, but about a half-million African American voters in the South gave Grant the victory. Fifteenth Amendment to protect African American males and went into effect in 1870. -
Reconstruction Ends
The North won the war, but when Lincoln was killed and Jackson took over, the South won reconstruction. The Compromise of 1876 ended the War.
