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Events Leading Up To The Civil War
Events leading up to the Civil War were violent, controversial, and they were breaking up the Union day by day. For years, debates over slavery between the North and South got worse causing these brutal events. unfortunately, they could never come to an agreement. -
The Missouri compromise
This compromise of 1820 said Missouri would be a slave state and Maine as a free state. The compromise wanted to create a balance between free and slave states. Unfortunately it pleased few people. The North and South were both upset over this compromise. This was the beginning of many upcoming problems. -
Compromise of 1850
Clay's compromise had something for everyone. It let California be a free state pleasing the North. It allowed New Mexico and Utah pick whether or not they would be slave or free states pleasing the south. Slave trade would end in Washington D.C. and there would be a stronger fugitive slave law. The compromise was accepted and thought it would work for now. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephen Douglas created a bill called the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Two new territories were formed, Kansas and Nebraska. They could choose whether or not to have slavery in their states. Kansas soon got taken over by mostly peaceful farmers, but in other parts Northerners and Southerners fought a small battle over slavery called Bloodshed in Kansas which made abolitionists and slave holders even more angry. -
The Dred Scott Case
The slavery issue was quickly moved to the supreme court, this case regarded to slave Dred Scott from Missouri. He stayed in Wisconsin which according to the Missouri compromise he was considered a free man. As he arrived back to Missouri he wanted to fight for his freedom. Unfortunately the supreme court denied his freedom because the compromise was apparently was unconstitutional. This enraged abolitionists but slaveholders were peachy keen. Increasing the tension between these two views. -
Election of 1860
This election between Lincoln and Stephen showed the union's true colors. The republicans were behind Lincoln, but the democrats had split into different factions. The North part liked Stephen Douglas and the South side liked John C. Breckenridge. The Constitutional party nominated John Bell. Lincoln won with 40% of the votes. The south was now in the minority and were not happy about it. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Confederates from south Carolina were not happy and decided to take action. They opened fire on Fort Sumter in the Charleston Harbor. It lasted thirty three hours it ended when the fort held up their white flag of surrender. The North was very upset, the pent up anger between the north and the south would now begin the civil war.
