-
Kansas- Nebraska Act
The Kansas- Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott v. Sanford Description The Supreme Court decided that African Americans, whether free or ensalved, were not citizens of the United States, and therefore could not sue in federal court. Also, this ruling made the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, prohobiting Congress from declaring which states were allowed slavery. -
John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown, an active abolitionist, planned a slave rebellion on Harper's Ferry, Virginia on October 16, 1859. His hopes were that he would capture the arsenal and provide weapons for the local slaves to ensure their freedom from slavery. This did not work, however. Brown was captured and sentenced to death for his actions. -
Period: to
Leading Up to Secession
-
Lincoln's election
Abraham Lincoln is elected 16th President of the United States of America. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina is the first state to secede from the Union. -
Mississippi Secedes
Mississippi is the next to secede following South Carolina. -
Florida Secedes
Florida secedes from the Union, making it three states to rebel. -
Alabama Secesssion
Alabama is the fourth state to secede from the Union, just one day after Florida's secession. -
Georgia Secedes
Georgia is the fifth state to secede from the Union. -
Louisiana Secedes from the Union.
Louisiana delcares freedom and rebels against the Union, along with five other states. -
Texas Secedes
Texas secedes from the Union to be the seventh state to leave. -
Confederate Constitution Made
The Confederate States created a new constitution. -
Jefferson Davis Elected Confederate President
Jefferson Davis is elected President of the Confederate States of America. -
Lincoln's Inauguration
Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated. He is officailly the 16th President of the United States of America. At his inaugration he gave a speech in which he declared that he will not touch the already existing slavery, but he does not plan on adding anymore. -
CornerStone Speech
Alexander Stephens, Confederate Vice President, gave the "CornerStone Speech" in Georgia. This speech explained the South's reasoning for leaving the Union, defended slavery, and reinforced that they were right in leaving. -
Fort Sumter
The Confederates attack the Union at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, starting the Civil War.
