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The Missouri Compromise
In an attempt to calm both abolitionists and pro-slavery citizens, the Missouri Compromise was passed. The decision made Missouri a slave state, Maine a free state, and created a line that divided America into slave states and free states. Its goal was to maintain a balance between the North and South, but only caused more trouble, especially in the case of Dred Scott. -
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Conflicts Leading to the Civil War
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Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner was a slave who read the Bible and saw it as inspiration for freedom. The inspired Turner and six other men devised a plan for violent rebellion. They first attacked a wealthy family with hatchets. Turner’s rebellion had gained a lot of support and now had over 50 men involved in the violence. The marched into a nearby town and had a bloody battle with the military that killed many innocent citizens. The Rebellion was so violent that it caused tougher slave restrictions. -
The End of the Mexican-American War
The end of the Mexican-American War gave America a significant amount of new territory, but caused the question of slavery to arise. Would the new states be free or slave states? Congress decided to implicate the Compromise of 1850 which declared that California would be a free state and some of the other territories would have a choice. Abolitionists were not happy because this new land could potentially continue the spread of slavery. -
The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act, which was an important part of the Compromise of 1850, declared that all escaped slaves be caught by authorities and returned to their masters. Law enforcement could face a fine if they let a runaway slave go free. This act stated that even if a slave had crossed the border into a free state, they could still be brought back into slavery if they were captured. The act made it nearly impossible for slaves to escape their “prison” and caused a lot of outrage from the North. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
In 1852 “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe was published and became a bestseller. This book depicted in great detail the horrors of slavery and helped unite anti-slavery advocates in the North. It sparked a ton of controversy all over America, inspiring both opposing parties to go out and get what they wanted, whether that be slavery or freedom. -
The Kansas- Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed both Kansas and Nebraska to use popular sovereignty to decide whether they would be slave states or free states. This freedom to decide the states’ position on slavery caused settlers to flood into the states to voice their opinions. Things were very heated between the pro-slavery citizens and the abolitionists. Violence ensued and gave the region and period the title of “Bleeding Kansas” because so many lives were lost. -
An Attack on Charles Sumner
Charles Sumner was a politician who strongly opposed slavery. He had written some colorfully worded speeches describing some authors of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. On May 22, as sat in the Senate Chamber, he was approached by a man named Preston Brooks who was angry about the speeches and how they described South Carolina and the authors. When Sumner stood up to argue, he was smacked on the head with Brooks’s cane. Brooks continued to beat him until he broke his cane. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott was a slave who had lived in a free state with his master and then moved to the slave state of Missouri. After his owner died, Scott stated in court that he was a free man because he had lived in a state that had outlawed slavery. The Supreme Court ruled against Scott saying that slaves were property and not citizens so they had no right to a trial. This infuriated the North and caused even more conflict between abolitionists and pro-slavery activists across America. -
John Brown's Raid
Abolitionist John Brown seized a federal armory in Harper’s Ferry, Virginia in an attempt to start a slave rebellion down south. He wanted to seize firearms and ammunition and then distribute them to slaves. His goal was to spark a trend of armed rebellions, but after capturing the weapons, he was forced to surrender by southern troops. John Brown was eventually executed for this action, but inspired many. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Tensions were extremely high in America, especially after South Carolina made the decision to secede from the Union. In April of 1861, the “Confederate Army” began an attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The “United States Army” retaliated with more gunfire. Since shots had now been fired, the Civil War had began.
