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The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was presented to Congress by Henry Clay. It was made to please both the North and the South. For the North, California would be admitted a free state. For the South, the compromise proposed a new and more effective fugitive slave law. The stricter fugitive slave laws made punishment for escaped slaves even more harsh. This made Northerners angry which caused the Civil War. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe was the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The book focused on the brutality and horrors of slavery. It also caused abolitionists in the North to have protests against the Fugitive Slave Act. People in the South also wrote novels to prove that the book was lies. Uncle Tom's Cabin led to the Civil War. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was proposed by Stephen Douglas in 1854. The idea was to split the Nebraska Territory into two seperate territories, Nebraska and Kansas. Since the Nebraska Territory was north of the Missouri Compromise line the North felt that the new territories should be free states. This caused problems which led to the Civil War. When the law was passed it was decided that the states would choose free or slave state. -
"Bleeding Kansas"
Both proslavery and antislavery people raced to Kansas to get enough people to vote on slavery. Five proslavery people were killed by John Brown in a raid. This increased violence throughout the territory. The debate on slavery also increased and caused the Civil War. -
Violence in the Senate
Charles Summer was beaten by Preston Brooks after Summer's "Crime Against Kansas" speech. This speech attacked slave supporters in the Union. Brooks beat Summer using his cane. -
1858 Illinois race for US Senate
The race for United States Senate was between Democratic Stephen A. Douglas and Republican Abraham Lincoln. Neither wanted slavery in territories but disagreed on how to keep it out. Lincoln believed that slavery was based on greed. Douglas believed in popular sovereignty and that slavery was unsuitable for prairie agriculture of Kansas and Nebraska. Disagreements over slavery caused the Civil War. -
Freeport Doctrine
The Freeport Doctrine allowed people to get around the Dred Scott Decision. Dred Scott was a slave who sued his owner for freedom. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ruled that slaves were property. This case permitted and guaranteed the extension of slavery. Northerners did not agree with this. -
Harpers Ferry
Robert E. Lee and local troops killed 10 men white and black and hanged John Brown for an attempt to start a slave uprising. Harpers ferry was the federal arsenal. This caused the Civil War because it increased hostilitly between proslavery and antislavery people. -
Abraham Lincoln elected president
Abraham Lincoln was elected president. He did not get any electoral votes from the South and did not have national support. Lincoln's victory also caused southern states to leave the Union. -
Confederate States of America
After Southern states left the Union, the Confederate States of America were formed. South Carolina was the first to leave on December 20, 1860. Six other states followed by February of 1861. Jefferson Davis was elected as the president.
