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The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement that let Maine be a free state and Missouri to become a slave state. Before the Missouri Compromise in 1819, there were 11 free states and 11 slave states. Slavery was not going to be allowed anywhere north of southern Missouri. Part of the problem was that there was massive divide over the western expansion of which future states would be free or pro-slavery. The main reason it led to Civil War, was because it promoted division with its sections. -
The Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso would ban slavery in all of the territory acquired after the Mexican-American War, even though it was below the Missouri Compromise line. This would mean that the Missouri Comprise was completely irrelevant. The Wilmot Proviso wasn’t passed by congress but even the thought of passing it angered the southerners. It’s biggest flaw in preventing the Civil War was that like lots of the other acts, it promoted sectionalism. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a combination of laws that were created by Henry Clay on the topics of slavery and territorial issues of slave and free states. The purpose was to settle these problems but it only seemed to hurt more than help. It was efficient in some things though, such as California becoming a free state. On the other hand, it included some very controversial laws like the Fugitive Slave Act which made more split in the nation. Both sides felt that they would get would they wanted. -
The Passing of the Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act allowed and encouraged the capturing of slaves on the run and returning them to their owners as long as it stayed in the US territory. The act also punished people if they were found helping any slaves escape. The main reason it made Civil War tension, was because it forced tons of citizens to pick and push for a certain side as there were now controversial consequences. It also called for more shady activities that were immoral due to the passing of the law. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom’s cabin is a story about a slave named Uncle Tom who saves a girl named Eva and in return she has her father buy Uncle Tom as a slave. The idea the Harriet Beecher Stowe was trying to throw out was that of the evilness and impurity of slavery. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was met with lots of criticism especially from southerners as it showcased the dark sides of slavery. It became a bestseller and widened views of tension between the North and South before war. -
Bleeding Kansas
After the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, tons of people from north and south came to the territory of Kansas, but when both sides arrived, they couldn’t agree on whether slavery should be allowed. It is called Bleeding Kansas because of the outbreaks of violence that occurred in the Kansas territory because of the disagreement. Both sides fought for their cause and 55 people died. All of this led to the formation of the Republican Party which just separated things even more between both sides. -
Dred Scott vs Sanford
On March 6th 1857, in a US Supreme Court case ruling, a Virginia slave named Dred Scott tried to sue his way for freedom. In the case it was decided that because Scott was considered as property he wasn’t given his freedom. The case ruled that in the Missouri Compromise there was no right to forbid slavery on their territories. Due to the controversy in the sections, it completely mixed up the political focus, increasing tension and controversy into the Civil War that was trying to be prevented. -
John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia
John Brown, an abolitionist, believed in violent nature when it came to people who were in favor of slavery. On October 16th, 1859, John Brown continued out an aggressive plan. He had gained a small group of supporters and that evening went down to the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia with them and raided it in hope of at last destroying the institution of slavery. John Brown was later convicted of treason and hung. It added more tension and purpose for abolitionists to start the war. -
Abraham Lincoln is elected President
The 1860 US Presidential Election was being focused on somewhat new issues such as slavery, abolition and territory relations. Groups, most notably the state of South Carolina said that they would secede if Lincoln was elected president. When Lincoln was elected, South Carolina seceded and six other states did the same some months later. Since he was republican and was anti-slavery it caught lots of negative attention from the southerners and they were angered knowing that slavery was in danger. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
After the controversy of Lincoln’s election victory, Lincoln announced that he would resupply Fort Sumter, and Confederate general Beauregard bombarded Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, starting the Battle of Fort Sumter. There was 34 hours of fighting and on the 14th of April the Union Forces surrendered at least. The surrendering of the US Army was the official beginning of the Civil War.