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The Compromise of 1850
In the Mexican American War, new territory was claimed leading to disputes about what was slave territory. The Compromise of 1850 included multiple laws. California was to be a free state, and New Mexico and Utah slavery laws would be determined by popular sovereignty. It also ened slave trade in DC and made it easier for southerners to get runaway slaves back. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was an anti-slaverly novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It sold millions of copies in the first year, and became the 2nd best-selling book of the century behind the Bible. Stowe wrote about the gruesome details based off true stories of slavery in the South. Southerners opposed the book, as they thought it was an unfair depiction of slave life. -
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Bleeding Kansas
The name "Bleeding Kansas" refers to a series of events that happened in and around that area leading up to the Civil War. It started when John Brown, an abolishionist, took his 5 sons to kill a pro-slavery group that had just attacked a nearby town. More violence and bloodshed followed. -
Dredd Scott Decision
Dredd Scott was an African American slave who was bought by an army doctor who lived in Missouri, a slave state. The doctor then moved to the free states of Illinois (1803), then Wisconsin and back to Missouri again. He died in Missouri, and in 1846 Scott sued for his freedom, claiming it because he had lived on free soil. After 11 years it reached the Supreme Court and judge Roger B. Taney ruled him still a slave. Taney also ruled that Congress had no right to prohibit slavery in any territory. -
Lincoln Douglas Debate
In the election of 1858 Lincoln and Stephen Douglas ran against each other. They disagreed on slavery issues, challenging each other to many debates. Douglas was questioned on his statement saying the US COULD continue as a divided nation (slave and free). Lincoln disagreed, leading Douglas to claim that Lincoln wanted African Americans to be fully equal to whites. Douglas won the election, but Lincoln gained a national repuation. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
Southerners felt threatened after the Republican Party began to grow. Acts of violence like John Brown's raid increased fear. Brown led 18 men to raid Harper's Ferry, the arsenal storage in Virginia hoping to gain weapons to arm slaves. The men were quickly defeated by troops, as they didn't have the local slave help they'd expected. Brown was hung for treason and murder, causing and uproar in the North who saw him as a hero. The South began to think that the North was conspiring against them. -
Election of 1860
After the Harper´s Ferry raid, the South started pushing more for a cession. Slavery divided the Democratic Party with the Northerners nominating Douglas and supporting popular sovereignty. Southern Democrates nominatied Breckinridge and were pro-slavery, supporting the Dredd-Scott decision. The Republican Party nominated Lincoln arguing slavery laws should stay the same. With 180 out of 303 electoral votes, Lincoln won. He won every Northern state but in the South his name wasn´t on the ballot. -
South Carolina Secedes
In December of 1860, South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. It sets an example for later, when 6 more southern states will break away. -
Mississippi Secedes
The second state to secede from the Union is Mississippi. -
Florida Secedes
The 3rd state to secede from the Union is Florida. -
Alabama Secedes
The 4th state to secede from the Union is Alabama. -
Georgia Secedes
The 5th state to secede from the Union is Georgia. -
Louisiana Secedes
The 6th state to secede is Louisianna. -
Texas Secedes
The 7th state to secede is Texas. -
Confederate States Come Together
In early February of 1861, the Confederate States of America come together. They are made up of the southern states that seceded from the Union. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
On April 12, 1861, General P.G.T. Beauregard, in command of the Confederate forces around Charleston Harbor, opened fire on the Union garrison holding Fort Sumter. At 2:30 pm on April 13 Major Robert Anderson, garrison commander, surrendered the fort and was evacuated the next day. -
First Battle of Bull Run
It was the 1st major land battle of the armies in VA. On July 16, the Union army under Brig. Gen. McDowell marched from Washington against the Confederate army, which was drawn up behind Bull Run. On the 21st, McDowell crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill. Late in the afternoon, Confederate reinforcements extended and broke the Union right flank. The Federal retreat deteriorated. By July 22 the shattered Union army reached the safety of Washington. -
Monitor VS Merrimack
The South had taken an abandoned Northern ship and covered it in iron plates. This was part of an attempt to break the Union blockade. The North countered with their own ironclad. Shells fired by both sides simply bounced of the ships. They fought to a draw, but it is considered a Union victory because they kept the Southern ship (renamed the Virginia) in their harbor. -
Battle of Shiloh
Led by General Grant, the North defeated the South in the bloodiest 2 day battle of the Civil War. Grant earned the reputation as a "butcher" of men. Congress wanted him removed, but Lincoln responded "I can't spare this man, he fights." -
Capture of New Orleans
Union forces, led by Admiral David G. Farragut, surprised the South in the capture of New Orleans. The city was a major trade city of the South. Its capture meant less supplies for Confederate soldiers, because they could no longer pass goods through the city. -
Battle of Antietam
Due to McClellan's hesitation, the North was attacked by Lee's forces. The North was able to hold off the South in the bloodiest single battle. The hesitation by McClellan caused Lincoln to replace him. Also, this battle convinced Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln understood that taking a stand against slavery would make Britain and France less likely to aid the South. The Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves within any state rebellious to the Union. Border states were not considered rebellious, so Lincoln kept their support because they didn't lose their slaves. This eventually allowed African Americans to join the military, and led to the 13th Amendment.
