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The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was only a temporary solution to the slavery issue in unorganized territories. The Tallmadge amendment only added to the conflict because it stated "further introduction of slavery or involuntary servitude prohibited.. and children born within that said state.. shall be free at the age of 25 years." -
War of Mexico and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1846-1848)
The northerners were upset with the War of Mexico because they accused it of just southerners seeking more land to spread slavery into. The northerners also hated Polk for supporting it with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
Wilmot's Proviso
Wilmot's Proviso showed just how strongly opposition to slavery was in the north. It suggested to ban slavery in all the land aquired from Mexico. It separated the north and the south because the south feared that as soon as northerners gained control of the Senate, slavery would be restricted, then abolished. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Fugitive Slave Act denied accused runaway slaves trial by jury. Sometimes even freed slaves would be taken south because special commisioners were paid five dollars to say they were free and ten dollars to say they were not. Therefore, northerners were very upset because southerners could claim slaves in the north back down to the south. This was when the peak of the underground railroad to Canada occured as well (1850-1860). -
Publishing of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin upset northerners and southerners because it was a story of about slavery in the south. Southerners thought that it was a very exagerated story and depicted a slave's life worse than it really was. Northerners became more aware of the life of a slave and pushed more for abolition. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
Kansas Nebraska Act allowed for slavery in all areas because of popular sovereignty. This split northern democrats and whigs into two parties each because many believed slavery could not be spread at all, even if the people wanted it. -
"Bleeding Kansas"
A compromise on the issue of slavery would not be possible due to the example of senseless killing through "Bleeding Kansas." "Bleeding Kansas" started over northerners and southerners trying to convince the other side of their opinion on slavery for popular sovereinity via attacking and killing. Pro-slavery Missourians, "Border Ruffians", crossed border to intimidate those voting for kansas to be a free state, and abolitionists brought their Breecher Bibles to even it out. -
Formation of Republican Party
Due to northern outrage over "Bleeding Kansas", the Republican party formed firmly on the belief slavery could not be spread. This party developed from the Free-soilers. -
Arise of Republican party vs. Democratic party
The breakdown of the two-party system signaled the end to the North and the South working together. Candidates from the northern Republican party stressed ending slavery more and candidates from the southern Democratic party stressed spreading slavery more. They drifted even further apart. -
Congressman Preston Brooks Beats Senator Charles Sumner
Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina beats Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with a cane. Northerners and southerners become even more hostile towards each other because Congressman are supposed to be the examples for others and keep their country civilized. The northerners were even more upset when the southerners celebrated with Preston Brooks and gave him gifts. Preston Brooks acted out because of a personal insult in Charles Sumner's speech. -
Supreme Court Ruling in Dred Scott Case
When the southern-dominated Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott case that Congress could not restrict slavery in any territory, it nullified both the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas Nebraska Act. This really upset the northerners because their growing fear that southerners would legalize slavery everywhere if they could was confirmed. -
Abraham Lincoln vs. Stephan Douglas
During the 1858 election for Illinois, Abraham Lincoln and Stephan Douglas debated the issue of slavery. Abraham Lincoln believed slavery should exist where it is and not spread, but believed more that "A house divided against itself annot stand." Douglas believed it was the people's choice/decision. The southerners fealt threatned by Lincoln's beliefs because they thought that Lincoln's belief that the country couldn't be split would threaten the institution of slavery. -
John Brown Revolt Uproar
The southerners became increasingly fearful of slaves revolting and northerners supplying them with guns and knives, as shown by the actions of John Brown. The southerners fealt they could not continue in the Union. -
Lincoln wins 1860 Presidential Election
The southerners felt they had to leave the union or face the destruction of their institusions and values after Lincoln, an anti-slavery Republican, won the 1860 presidential election. The decision for the southerners to leave the union occured at the southern convention. -
Supply and Attack of Fort Sumter
After Lincoln was inaugerated, he announced that he will bring supplies into Fort Sumter but not troops. He said that he doesn't want to declare war, but if the south tries to stop the supplying of Fort Sumter or if the south attacks Fort Sumter, it will become war. Southerners decided to not be cowards and attack Fort Sumter. This is the final event leading to the civil war. -
Last Minute Crittenden Compromise
The Crittenden Compromise in 1861 was a last-chance effort by the union to have peace between the North and the South. The Crittenden was like the Missouri Compromise, so it would forbid slavery north of the 36/30 line, and protect slavery south of the line. The southerners were actually ok with it because slavery would be spread; however, the northerners were definately not ok with it because slavery would be spread.
