Events that caused the Civil War

Compromise of 1850

Sep 9, 1850

This allowed California to enter as a free state.
This also contained the Fugitive slave act.

Fugitive Slave Act

Sep 18, 1850

This act required all citizens to capture runaway slaves.
Judges were paid $10 to send slaves south and only $5 to give them their freedom.

Uncle Tom's Cabin Published

Mar 20, 1852

This book told people about the bad things slave owners did to their slaves.
It was a best seller of its time.

Kansas - Nebraska Act

May 30, 1854

This act proposed to split the territories in half to creat Kansas and Nebraska.
This also said that they would use popular sovereignty to tell if the states were free or slave.

Dred Scott Decision

Mar 6, 1857

Dred Scott sued for his freedom.
He lost his case 7-2 in the Supreme Court.

John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry

Oct 16, 1859

John Brown and his followers attacked the U.S. arsinal at Harpers Ferry.
Their goal was to start a slave uprise, but they failed and were all killed.

Abraham Lincoln Elected President

Nov 6, 1860

He was hated by the south.
He won because the population in the north was far greater than the souths.

South Carolina secedes from Union

Dec 20, 1860

The south was angry about the election.
They were the first to secede from the union.