Road To Civil War Time - By: Nadia Musyimi & Helina Kassa

Missouri Compromise

1819

1. establish a balance between the number of free and slave states.

2.Henry Clay came up with the idea of the Missouri Compromise, which stated Missouri would be a slave state, but Maine would become free.

1. States in Louisiana purchase north of Missouri would not allow slavery, and any state in the south would allow slavery.
2. It createda balance bewteen the north and south because one of each sides views had equal particpation in the union

Compromise of 1850

Jan 29, 1850

Henry Clay introduced resolutions on January 29, 1850, in an attempt to seek a compromise and avoid a crisis between North and South.Slave trade in Washington DC was abolished. California was accepted in the Union as a free state. Fugitive slave act was passed.This increased tension because northern states still refused to enforce the fugitive slave act which angered Southerners. It also upset southerners because there was more free states which created a unbalance in the Senate.

Fugitive Slave Act

Sep 8, 1850

1.A law making it a crime to help runaway slaves. If slaves were caught they could be in prison and a $1000 dollar fine. 2.If caught could face up to 6 months in prison and a $1000 dollar fine.
3.Commissioners who get 10 dollars right slave and $5 dollars wrong slave.

1. The South feared having another slave rebellion could happen again so they tried to make the North not change anything so there wouldn't be another rebellion

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

1852

Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly, is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U.S. and is said to have "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War". The novel sold 300,000 copies within three months.This increased tension because Northerners recognized how bad slavery was for the first time and Southerner had to work harder to defend themselves.

“Bleeding Kansas”

1854

1.The name given to the time period between 1854-1856 marked by civil unrest regarding the Free or Slave state question, resulting in many lives lost
2.Abolitionist John Brown led anti-slavery fighters in Kansas before his famed raid on Harper Ferry
.
3.Slavery elements that took place in Kansas Territory where new pro slavery and antislavery constitutions competed. 4.It pushed the North and South apart and had a great deal to do with causing the Civil War.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

May 30, 1854

The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed by the Congress on May 30,1854.The settlers would decide (popular sovereignty) whether or not to have slavery. This Act served to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery north of latitude 36°30´.Southern settlers flooded the Kansas territory to acquire lands and voted for the expansion of slavery.This created tension because Northerners hated that the Southerners would gain another slave state. Which would expand slavery.

Brooks Attacks Sumner

1856

1. Charles Sumner delivered a two-day speech entitled The Crime Against Kansas.

2.Several days later Congressman Preston Brooks, attacked Sumner with a cane while he was seated at his desk in the Senate chamber.

1. The speech was in delivered a speech on Capital Hill. Preston Brooks, nephew of Sen.

4.The attack was supported by the South and created problems with the North.

Dred Scott v. Sanford

1857

In Dred Scott v. Sandford (argued 1856 -- decided 1857), the Supreme Court ruled that Americans of African descent, whether free or slave, were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court.The Court also ruled that Congress lacked power to ban slavery in the U.S. territories.This increased tension because it gave Southerners laws/facts that they could use to justify slavery.
This decision also overturned the Missouri Compromise and allowed slaves to be moved anywhere by there owners.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

1858

1. Two candidates wanted slavery determined by popular sovereignty and Lincoln accepted slavery where it currently was but did not want it to expand into the new territories 2.Topcis were slavery, how to deal with slavery, and where slavery should be allowed.
2. Lincoln lost the election to Douglas, he was known throughout the country because of the debates
3. event that cause the south to secede from the union because they feared republican control of congress would end all slavery

Raid on Harpers Ferry

1859

The raid on Harpers Ferry was an effort by abolitionist John Brown to initiate an armed slave revolt in October 16, 1859 by taking over a United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown's party of 22 was defeated by a company of U.S. Marines, led by First Lieutenant Israel Greene. This increased tension because Southerners were angered that the North celebrated the man that destroyed the South's property.

Election of 1860

1860

This presidential election which was held on Nov. 6, 1860, where Republican Abraham Lincoln defeated Democrat and Constitutional Union candidates.The Republican Party which Abraham Lincoln was in was opposed to the expansion of slavery.This increased tension because Lincoln did not receive any southern vote yet he was still elected into office, therefor the South did not get a say in who was President. Which angered the South greatly especially since Abraham Lincoln was opposed to slavery.

The Battle of Fort Sumter

1861

The Battle of Fort Sumter (April 12–13,1861) was the bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charleston,South Carolina by the Confederate States Army,and the return gunfire by the Union,that started the American Civil War.This started because of the uncompromising differences between the free and slave states over the power of the national government to prohibit slavery in the territories that had not yet become states.Southerners wanted slaves while Northerners didn't want slaves which created tension.