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Introduction
This timeline reviews events leading to the Civil War and the effect they had on the outcome of the war. -
The Missouri Compromise
After a deadlock over Missouri's admittance to the Union, congress agreed to a plan by Henry Clay, a representative from Kentucky. His plan was to admit Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, this would maintain the balance between slave and free states. In addition, Congress drew an imaginary line through the Lousiana Purchase at lattitude 36* 30*. The only state above the line allowing slavery was Missouri. Below the line slavery was allowed. This was the first Compromise. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 created by Henry Clay, admitted California to the Union as a free state to please Northerners.It also made Utah and Mexico territories open to slavery, pleasing Southerners. The slave trade in D.C. was closed. Finally, a strong fugitive slave law was enforced. This pleased almost no one. The Northerners didn't want to chase after runaway slaves and the South thought this wouldn't ensure that their slaves were returned. This created more tension between North and South. -
The Kansas-Nebraska act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was written by Senator Stephen A. Douglas. He wanted a railroad in California. This act created two new territories, Kansas and Nebraska. It abolished the Missouri Compromise, so settlers could decide whether or not to allow slavery. Northerners did not like it because it would open much land to slavery. As a result people poured into Kansas. The North had one headquarters there and the South another. People looted houses and killed people on the other side. -
The Dred Scott decision
Dred Scott was an African American living in Wisconsin, thinking he had the right to be free. Chief Justice Tanley decided that Scott's time in Wisconsin did not make him free. His other reason was that, slaves were property and the government could not take away property from the people. This delighted slave holders and enrages Northerners. -
The Election of 1860
In the Election of 1860, Lincoln was elected president with 40% of the vote and was not even on the ballot in 10 Southern states. Many Southerners talked of session. Senate held a meeting to try to bring the Union back together, but two events dashed these hopes. In Illinois, Lincoln said that he would not interfere with slavery in the South but it could not travel into the territories. In Charleston, delegates decided to leave the Union and form the Confederate States of America. -
The attack on Ft. Sumter
On April 26, 1861, Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter. 33 hours later, defenders of the Fort surrendered. No one was killed, but this was the beginning to the bloodiest war America would ever see. This firing on the American flag started a wave of patriotic fury in the North. A Civil war had begun.
