Conflicts Leading Up to the Civil War

Treaty of Ghent

Dec 4, 1814

This ended the War of 1812. Historians say that this event is the approximate start of the Antebellum Period.

Nat Turner's Rebellion

1831

Nat Turner led a slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia. rebel slaves killed about 55-65 people.

Siege of the Alamo

Feb 23, 1836

This is the first couple of days during the Battle of the Alamo. 5,000 Mexican soldiers under the command of General Santa Anna surround the Alamo Mission.

The Alamo is Siezed

Mar 6, 1836

Battle of San Jacinto

Apr 21, 1836

This was a determining battle for the Texas Revolution. The overconfident General Santa Anna was captured and agreed to Texas' independence in exchange for his freedom.

Dred Scott Case

1846

Dred Scott filed a lawsuit against his owner. He stated that he is wrongfully enslaved, this is because once they crossed into free territory the enslaved automatically become free. Upon returning into a slave state the free cannot be re-enslaved.

Mexican-American War

Period: 1846 to 1848

It was to fulfill the U.S.'s "Manifest destiny" of expanding to the entire North American Continent.

Fugitive Slave Acts

1850

These were a group of bills that ensured extra help to round up runaway slaves. It denied slaves the right to a trial and jury. The penalty for helping runaways also greatly increased.

Bleeding Kansas

Period: 1854 to 1861

This was the period of violence while settling the Kansas Territory. Once the Missouri Compromise was overturned, popular sovereignty how they were to decide whether Kansas was free or not. So there was a large dispute between the two groups.

John Brown's Raid

Oct 16, 1859

Abolitionist John Brown tries to raid the Harper Ferry arsenal to arm slaves to revolt. He was caught and tried for treason and murder. He was later executed on the charges.

Battle of Fort Sumter

Period: Apr 12, 1861 to Apr 13, 1861

This is the battle that triggered the start of the Civil War. After the bombardment on the Union walls, Lincoln issued a call for Union volunteers to squash the rebellion, while more Southern states including Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee cast their lot with the Confederacy.