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Events Leading up to the Civil War
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Gag Ruling
The Pinckney Resolutions of 1836 passes in the House. As a gag rule, it stops anyone from discussing, bringing up, or trying to pass anything that has to do with slavery. Many people were completely against the gag rule, as it would obviously come up as an issue again. -
Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglas
Frederick Douglas, a former slave, writes about his time as a slave in a book that gets published all over the Union. This book gives many people a better sense of the kind of atrocities slaves go through, and also gives them an emotional connection to eventually fight for the Union. -
Wilmont Proviso
The Wilmont Proviso was passed by Northern Representatives in the House of Congress. It prevented any territory gained from Mexico from allowing slavery. Southern Senators blocked further passage of the bill in the Senate. This led to further tension between the North and the South -
California Gold Rush
A large influx of settlers in California due to the gold rush make California eligable for statehood. Californian lawmakers unanimously agreed for California to be a free state, but Congress did not let them become a state to try and keep the balance of free and slave states. -
The Compromise of 1850
The compromise of 1850 prevented further territorial expansion of slave territories, but also forced northerners to better uphold fugitive slave laws. By forcing northerners to uphold laws they hated, it increased separation between the North and the South. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Long considered a major cause of the civil war, the novel tells a personal story of the harsh life of slaves. Simlilar to the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglas, it gave Northerners an emotional reason to join the fight against the south. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Congress passes the Kansas-Nebraska act. This act said that the issue of slavery would be decided by vote of the people of the states. This caused many pro-slavery and anti-slavery people to travel to these states so they could vote for their side. -
Bleeding Kansas
Groups known as Border Ruffians and Jayhawkers escalate into violence in parts of Kansas. Over 200 people are killed and 2 million dollars in property damage is caused. This is one of the first examples of large scale violence between the North and the South that eventually cumulates into the civil war. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
Preston Brooks of South Carolina beats Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with a cane. Charles Sumner was speaking on the horrors of slavery when he was beaten. Preston Brooks was considered a hero in the South; Charles Sumner a martyr in the North. This is violence between the North and the South literally in the Government. -
Dredd Scott Decision
Dred Scott Decision - The Supreme Court rules in Scott v. Sandford that blacks are not U.S. citizens, and slaveholders have the right to take existing slaves into free areas of the county. This ruling angered many abolitionists because it made slavery legal even where it was supposed to be banned. It also led to the Freeport Doctrine. -
Freeport Doctrine
The Freeport Doctrine was articulated by Stephen Douglas at the second Douglas-Lincoln debate. It basically went against the supreme court Dred Scott decision by saying that states could ignore slavery and not help slave owners or enforce harsh slave laws. This angered southerners and led to a rift between Southern and Northern Democrats. -
John Brown Revolt
John Brown seizes a federal armory to try and start a slave rebellion. No slaves actually come to join him, so the revolt fails within two days. This scares the South, as it shows tha Northerners are ready to resolt to violence to stop slavery. Tensions are high between the North and the South. -
South Carolina Seceeds
South Carolina convention passes ordinance of secession thus seceding from the Union.
