Road to civil war

By Leticia Olivo

  • Missouri Compromise

    The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a attempt to prevent the expansion of slavery into the new territory of the Louisiana Purchase. As a result, slavery was restricted above the 36/30 line, while everything South consisted of slave states.
  • Period: to

    Road to civil war

  • War with Mexico

    President James K. Polk, overcome by manifest destiny, wanted to take California, New Mexico, and part of Texas. Mexico's unwillingness to sell drove Polk to declare war, and once these new territories were conquered the question of slavery arose once again. The north believed the war was an attempt for the south to acquire mor slave territory and were proven right when Polk signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; which provided new territory south of the 36/30 line to become slave territories.

  • Wilmot's Proviso

    Congressman David Wilmot proposed a law to ban slavery in all of the territory acquired from Mexico. Wilmot's Proviso, however, was blocked by southern senators who feared that as soon as Northerners gained control of the Senate slavery would be abolished, and with it their way of life.

  • The Compromise of 1850

    The Compromise of 1850 was only a temporary compromise as both sides were unwilling to compromise.

  • Fugitive Slave Act

    The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 allowed southern slave owners to recapture their runaway slaves in the North as well as imposed fines for hiding fugitive slaves. The new law denied a trial by jury to any suspected fugitive slave and a bribe of 10 dollars was issued for "confirming" someone was a fugitive slave. Panic struck and many blacks (not just slaves) fled to safety in Canada. Northern abolitionists were outraged due to the lack of legal rights for African Americans.

  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe was the Common Sense of the Civil War. It rose awareness of the horrors of slavery in the North and pushed them to fight against slavery.

  • The Kansas - Nebraska Act

    The Kansas - Nebraska Act was extremely controversial. It repealed the Missouri Compromise, opening the territory to slavery through popular sovereignty.

  • Republican Party

    Furry over "Bleeding Kansas" led to the birth of the Republican party in 1855 in Ripon Wisconsin. The Republican party mainly consisted of northerners, whose main concern was the limit the spread of slavery in all territories. This estranged the north and south even more.

  • Beat Down of Summer

    Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina beat Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts with his cane after Sumner gave a speech against slavery. Rather than showing remorse for the actions of their congressman, the South glorified Brooks' actions. Northerners were both disgusted and outraged. These were their most civilized leaders and this even spread uncertainty throughout the U.S.

  • Bleeding Kansas

    Many murders took place in Kansas (Bleeding Kansas) when Border Ruffians (pro-slavery Missourians) crossed the border in an attempt to discourage northerners for voting for a free state. The idea of white people being killed over slavery brought to light the severity of the issue.

  • Dred Scott

    In 1857 the Supreme Court made a ruling that nullified the Missouri Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This affirmed the North's fear that slave owners would try anything to legalize slavery everywhere.

  • "A house divided against itself cannot stand"

    In 1858 Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas had a famous debate. Lincoln was against the expansion of slavery and intended to keep it were it was, while Douglas believed in popular sovereignty. The south saw this as a threat that slavery would be abolished.

  • Harpors Ferry

    John Brown (a white Northerner) attempted a slave revolt at Harpers Ferry but failed. This confirmed the South's beliefs that the Northerners would gladly help Southern slaves revolt against their masters. This led the South to believe they could no longer live safely in the Union.

  • The Election of 1860

    The Election of 1860 was the final straw that pushed the sought to secession. The South was infuriated that a northern president had been elected and didn't trust his motiles of only limiting the expansion of slavery.

  • Fort Sumter

    President Lincoln sent 4 ships to resupply Fort Sumter, and let it be known that if the South tried to prevent it the North would attack. The South feared being viewed as cowards for freely allowing the Union to run the fort and bombarded Fort Sumter for 2 days. This opened hostilities between North and South, and Lincoln called for volunteers, which made it clear he was prepared to fight to keep the South in the Union.