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The Compromise of 1850, Including the Fugitive Slave Act
On September 18, 1850, congress passed the fugitive slave law of 1850. The fugitive slave act required that slaves need to be returned to their owners even if they were in a free state. The compromise was a series of bills that were passed related to issues with slavery. This lead the nation to civil war because it pushed the nation more against slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska act repealed the Missouri Compromise that outlawed slavery above the 36°30’ latitude in the Louisiana territory. This lead to civil war by intensifying the debate over slavery in the United States. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was the period of repeated outbreaks of violent guerrilla warfare. This was between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces. After the creation of the new Kansas territory in 1854. In total 55 people were killed between 1855-1859. This lead to the civil war by demonstrating that armed conflict over slavery was unavoidable. -
Preston Brooks vs Charles Sumner
On May 22, 1856, the “world’s greatest deliberative body” turned into a combat zone. This was one of the most dramatic moments in the senates entire history. A member of the house of representatives, Preston Brooks, entered the senate chamber and beat a senator into unconscious. Brooks had slammed his metal topped cane into Sumners head. This lead to civil war by significantly contributing to the countries polarization over slavery. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
This was the ruling by the supreme court that stated that enslaved people were not United States citizens. This meant that they could not expect protect from the federal government or the courts. This also stated that congress had no authority to ban slavery. This leads to the civil war because it convinced many northerners that the south would preserve and extend slavery. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
This was a series of seven debates between the Democratic senator, Stephen A. Douglas, and the Republican challenger, Abraham Lincoln. This happened in 1858 during the Illinois senatorial campaign. These debates were about slavery extension into the territories. This lead to the civil war because Douglas accused Lincoln of being an abolitionist but Lincoln accused Douglas of wanting to nationalize slavery. -
John Browns Raid on Harpers Ferry
On October 17th, 1859, John Brown along with a group of his supporters captured prominent citizens and they seized the federal armory and arsenal. These weapons would be given to slave and freedom fighter throughout the country, but they were unable to because when the U.S marines arrived they killed many of the raiders and captured Brown. This lead to the civil war because the raid symbolized the ruthlessness of the north. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln
In the presidential election of 1860, Northern Republican, Abraham Lincoln, defeated a Southern Democrats Breckenridge, Douglas, and Bell. This election divided the northern and southern democrats, and set the stage for the American civil war.