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The Missouri Compromise || 1820
In the years following the Louisiana Purchase, Congress was determined to establish a policy to expand slavery into the new western territory. Missouri was formed into a slave state and Maine was admitted as a free state. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion || 1831
Nat Turner, a slave, incited an uprising that spread through several plantations in southern Virginia. Turner and seventy cohorts killed around sixty white people. The deployment of militia infantry and artillery suppressed the rebellion. -
The Wilmot Proviso || 1846-1850
The Wilmot Proviso was a piece of legislation at the close of the Mexican-American War. If passed, the Proviso would have outlawed slavery in territory by the United States as a result of the war, which included most of the Southwest and California. The intensity of the debate of the Proviso prompted the first discussions of secession. -
The Compromise of 1850
The compromise prevented further territorial expansion of slavery. While the agreement succeeded in postponing outright hostilities between the North and South, it did little to address, and in some ways even reinforced, the structural disparity that divided the United States. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin || 1852
Harriet Beecher Stowe, a slave, wrote "Uncle Tom's cabin" in order to share her story about slavery in the south. Stowe was an active abolitionist. Lincoln stated "So this is the lady who started this great war." -
Bleeding Kansas || 1854-1861
The Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854 was passed.. Pro and anti slavery agitators went to Kansas, hoping to change the decision by a weight of numbers. Although both territories ratified anti-slavery constitutions, the violence shocked and made trouble to the nation. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford || 1857
Dred Scott, a virginia slave, tried to sue his master in court for his freedom. The case went to the Supreme court, who declared Dred Scott as gulity, and he wasn't allowed the same rights as citizens. -
John Brown's Raid || 1859
John Brown, an anti slavery abolitionist, created a group of white allies and free blacks. His goal was to bring weapons to Southern slaves in order to create slave uprisings. He was captured by the soldiers of Robert E Lee. Southerners prepared with their given weapons for future raids. -
Abraham Lincoln's Election || 1860
Abraham Lincoln, former Republican president, was not included on majority of the Southern ballots. Lincoln argued against the spread of slavery in the nation. South Carolina along with six other states had seceded from the Union. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter || 1861
South Carolina became foreign land. Lincoln sent supplies and food to the soldiers. Confederate warships brought back the supply to Fort Sumter. Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to join the Northern army.
