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Period: to
Gathering Storm
Pre-Cival War Events -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri entered the Union as a slave state, while Main entered as a free state. A line was drawn at 36degrees 30' parallel. Below this line slavery was allowed. Above it slavery was banned. -
Wilmot Proviso
Senator David Wilmot added an amendment to the bill known as the Wilmot Proviso. It stated that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist" in any part of territory acquired from Mexico. -
California Statehood
California applied for admission to the Union as a free state in 1849. Northerners welcomed California but Southerners rejected California. Congress thought admitting California would cause an unequal balance between free and non-slave states. Congress was deadlocked over this for a year. But then finally let them in as a free stae as part of The Compromise of 1850. -
Fugitive Slave Law
Under this law, any person arrested as a runaway slave had almost no legal rights. Any preson who helped a save escape, or even refused to aid slave catchers, could be jailed. Many slaves would try to runaway to Canada,they were free there. Many northerens refused this law and southerens enforced this law. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Uncle Tom's Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Harriet Beecher Stowe had a vision of this while she was in church. In the vision the cruel master was furious and whipped Uncle Tom to death. This story was published in an aboliontist newspaper. This story became part of a larger story. In one issue, a slave Eliza chose to risk her life rather than be sold away from her son.They were chased by slave hunters. A year later Harriet's novel was publioshed. And she toured the country speaking. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Senator Steven Douglas wanted to get a railroad built to California. So he proposed a bill to Congress, he thought it would be more likely to happen if Congress organized the Great Plains into Nebraska Territory and opened up the region to settlers. The final bill created 2 new territories, Nebraska and Kansas. -
Onsted Manifesto
The document known as Onsted Manifesto was a message sent to the secretary of state by 3 American diplomats who were meeting in Belgium to try to seize Cuba by force if Spain continued to refused the offer from the U.S. -
Charles Sumner Beaten
Preston Brooks beat Senator Charles Sumner in Congress. He beat him because Sumner had written a passionate speech about slavery and Brooks didn't agree with this. Brooks took a cane and beat him until the ccane broke. It took Sumner a long time to recover. -
Raid on Lawrence, Kansas
Slavery settlers and "border ruffians" from Missouri invaded Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence was the home of anti-slavery government. The invaders burned down houses and hotels. -
John Brown invades Pottawatomie, Kansas
John Brown was a fiery abolitionist that plotted his own revenge on Kansas. Him and some of his followers invaded the pro-slavery town of Pottawatomie. They dragged 5 men they suspected of supporting slavery from their homes and killed them. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred scott was a slave. He wanted to be a free man so he applied for freedom. The Court had decieded that Scott couldn't sue for his freedom in a federal court because he wasn't a citizen. So he couldn't become an american citizen. The court also rejected Scott's agruement that his stay in Wisconson had made him a free man. He was not admitted as a free man and slavery was allowed in all territories. -
Lincoln-Douglas debates
Stephen Douglas was Lincoln's oppent in the race for Senate. When Lincoln challenged Douglas to a debate, Douglas agreed. In Lincoln's eyes slavery was moral and in Douglas' eyes the country could work if half was anti-slaver and the other half was slavery. Lincoln lost the election. -
Harper's Ferry Raid
John Brown planned to seize the federal arensal. He wanted to use the weapons to arm slaves for a rebellion that would destroy slavery forever. -
South Carolina secedes
Delegates in Charleston, South Carolina voted that were attending the state convention voted that same day to leave the Union. South Carolina's people were very happy they were by themselves. Soon after S.C. seceded six more states followed. -
Abraham Lincoln elected President of United States
Lincoln became president of the not-so-United-States on March 4,1861. Licoln stated in his inaugural address, that he believes that seccesion was wrong and unconstitutional. He then appealed to the rebellious states to return in peace. -
Fort Sumter attack
South Carolina opens fire on Fort Sumter. After 33 hours of fire, the fort surrendered. The time for compromise was over. The issues that had divided the nation for so many years would now be decided by war.
