Road to the Civil War

Missouri Compromise

Mar 3, 1820

Missouri Compromise-Stated that Missouri would be the 24th state and allow slavery
-Allows Maine stateship as a free state
-Marked the beginning of the conflict over slavery expansion

"54-40 or fight!"

Jan 1, 1844

Fifty-four forty or Fight!-Phrase used by James K. Polk, stating the latitudal line where he was going to set the northern boundry of the United States
-Fed on Americans' thirst for land and won him the election of presidency
-A promise never kept, for he compromised and only obtained the Oregon territory up to the 49th parallel

Annexation of Texas

Jan 5, 1845

Texas Annexation-President Tyler signed for annexation three days before leaving office
-One more slave state
-Caused a war between the U.S and Mexico

Wilmot Proviso

Jul 21, 1846

-Suggested outlawing slavery in any new territories gained
-Northern obsession with preventing spread of slavery

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

Feb 2, 1848

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo-Signed the end of the Mexican-American War
-Allowed the U.S to buy half of Mexico for $15 million

Compromise of 1850

Sep 18, 1850

Compromise of 1850
-California becomes a free state
-Utah and New Mexico are not restricted federally regarding slavery
-Fugitive Slave Law required northerners to return runaway slaves to the owners

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Apr 1, 1852

Uncle Tom's Cabin-Book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe
-Anti-slavery
-Helped place the groundwork for the Civil War

Republican Party

Mar 20, 1854

-Whigs formed a new party because they didnt agree with current whig issues

Gasden Purchase

Jun 8, 1854

-Purchased to complete a railroad
-Completed the continental U.S

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Oct 10, 1854

Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854
-Negated the events of the Missouri Compromise
-Allowed a vote to decide whether slavery will exist in the Kansas and Nebraska territories

Sherman's March

Nov 15, 1854

-Sherman marches from Atlanta to Charleston
-Burned farms

Brooks-Sumner Incident

May 23, 1856

-Senator Sumner insults Brooks' uncle
-Brooks beats him near death

Harpers Ferry Affair

Oct 16, 1859

John Brown's Raid-John Brown and several others raided the armory and kidnapped prominent citizens
-After being trapped in the the engine room, many were killed
-Brown was sentenced to death and was hanged on December 2, 1859

Election of 1860

Nov 4, 1860

-Election between Lincoln and Douglas
-Lincoln wins

Firing on Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

Fort Sumter
-General P.G.T. Beauregard, opened fire on the Union garrison holding Fort Sumter. -Official start to the Civil War

First Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

Battle of Bull Run-Battle between 60,680 forces
-Confederate victory
-Convinced Lincoln of the cost and effort this affair will take

Monitor vs Merrimac

Mar 9, 1862

-First use of ironclad vessels
-New age of naval warfare

The Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

-Bloodiest battle
-Union victory
-Promotes Emancipation Proclaimation

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Battlefied Information-Three day battle
-Lee charged on Grant's army
-Union victorious
-Provoked the Gettysburg address

Appomattax Court House

Apr 9, 1865

-Final Battle
-Decisive union victory