Road To The Civil War

Missouri Compromise

Mar 5, 1820

TEXTBOOK:
Missouri wanted to enter the union as a slave state, thus unbalancing the govt. The compromise stated that Missouri would enter as a slave state, Maine would be free and a 36/30 parallel seperated the slave from free. The compromise expanded the division between the North and South over slavery expansion.

54 - 40 or Fight

Apr 8, 1844

Oregon lured settlers with their Williamette Valley. Polk was more political. He figured out how to get people to vote for him, Polk promised expansion, including the entire Oregon Territory. "Fifty - Four Forty or Fight ". The Northern boundary was 54 degrees, 40 minutes. Polk ended up compromising with the British, spliting Oregon at the 49th parallel of latitude.

Texas Annexation

Jul 4, 1845

The South wanted Texas. North opposed because slave power would increase. Calhoun signed a treaty on behalf of Texas. Treaty was rejected by Senate. A joint resolution was adopted and approved, making Texas a part of the Union. A war with Mexico was the result.

Wilmot Proviso

Aug 8, 1846

TEXTBOOK:
Gaining land from Mexico stirred up a fierce debate in the US. Wilmot is a law to ban slavery in new territories. Congress becomes divided. Most northerers joined the Northern Whigs in support of Wilmot. Most southerners joined the Southern Whigs and opposed the Wilmot. Land won from Mexico tensed the North and South.

Treaty of Guadalupe - Hidalgo

Feb 2, 1848

This treaty ended the Mexican War. It forced Mexico to give up the Northern Third of their country.

Compromise of 1850

Jan 29, 1850

New laws. Buying and Selling slaves was outlawed in Washington D.C. Land from Mexico in the South was divided into two states, New Mexico and Utah. Popular sovereignty was granted in both states.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Mar 20, 1852

TEXTBOOK:
Book published by Harriet Beecher Stowe explaining the horrors of slavery. Book inspired Northerners to oppose slavery and made the Southerners mad. White southerners wrote their own books showing the good of Southern Slavery.

Gadsden Purchase

Dec 30, 1853

TEXTBOOK:
US buys Southern Arizona and New Mexico to build a new railroad across the continent. The purchase helped increase the US by one-third and also completed the lower 48 States.

Kansas - Nebraska Act

Jan 4, 1854

TEXTBOOK:
Douglas wanted popular sovereignty in Nebraska. South feared Nebraska would become a free state, so Douglas divided the state into two separate regions, Kansas and Nebraska. Each under popular sovereignty. Act nullified the Missouri Compromise by allowing slavery to spread to free states. Republican party was created. Violence between regions known as "Bleeding Kansas".

Republican Party Founded

Feb 28, 1854

Kansas-Nebraska Act shattered peace between the North and South. A new party was needed. After meeting in Ripon, Wisconsin, thousands of people met for republican meeting. Party was made a unified political force. Goal is to oppose slavery in the US.

Brooks - Sumner Incident

May 22, 1856

TEXTBOOK:
Brooks is from South Carolina. Sumner is from Massachusetts. Sumner gave a speech that insulted Brooks' uncle. Brooks attacked Sumner. Sumner didnt return to Senate for three years. Congress tried to remove Brooks from office, but he was re-elected into senate again. Separation in North and South continued to grow.

Harper's Ferry Raid

Oct 16, 1859

TEXTBOOK:
Brown and his army set out to seize Federal arsenal. He wanted slaves to join a revolution, to destroy slavery in the South. Brown took refuge in the arsenals engine house. US marines killed many raiders, also capturing Brown. Brown was later executed.

Election of 1860

Nov 6, 1860

TEXTBOOK:
US is in a turmoil. Southern Democrats want slavery protected and the Northern Democrats favored popular sovereignty. The North and South split into two Democratic parties. Republicans gained strength as Democrats fell apart and they nominated Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln wins Election and there is no longer anymore national political parties.

Firing on Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

TEXTBOOK:
Fort Sumter was ordered to surrender, they refused. Confederates fired on Fort Sumter. Lincoln ordered volunteers to fight against Confederates. Americans faced years of suffering until the fighting had ended.

First Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/va005.htm
TEXTBOOK:
Union marched to battle confederates outside of Washington near Manassas, VA. Confederates were forced back, retreated and broke union right flank. Confederates were weak, union army made it back to Washington. Lincoln put another leader in charge and union was reorganized.

Monitor Vs. Merrimac

Mar 8, 1862

TEXTBOOK:
Monitor clashed with Virginia. Neither won the battle. Turning point for naval warfare and ended the era of wooden military vessels.

Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

TEXTBOOK:
Union soldiers found a copy of Lee's battle plan. Union troops attacked Lee's army. More than 23000 soldiers were dead or wounded. Lee retreated to Virginia. Lincoln continued with his emancipation.

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Lee invaded major cities in the North. Meade and his troops marched to meet Lee. Fight began as a skirmish and quickly escaladed. Federals were forced to regroup. Lee attacked union center and loss heavily. Fight lasted three days. Lee is defeated and forced to retreat.

Sherman's March

Nov 15, 1864

Sherman chased confederates through Northern Georgia. Confederates doomed Sherman's plan. Decided to destroy the South by destroying its economic and transportation infrastructure. He set ATL to flames and continued South. Confederates surrendered to Sherman in NC.

Appomattox Court House

Apr 9, 1865

TEXTBOOK:
Confederates attempt to leave Petersburg, they failed. Lee set out to join forces in NC. They were trapped at the Appomattox Court House of Appomattox Court House, VA. Lee surrendered. The union won the war.