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Missouri Compromise
This event divided the North and the South https://www.history.com/topics/abolitionist-movement/missouri-compromise -
The Compromise of 1850
https://guides.loc.gov/compromise-1850 This compromise admitted California as a free state and did not allow slavery in the rest of the Mexican cession. This would strengthen the Fugitive Slave Act. This prevented further conflict between the North and the South, but further divided the two. -
Bleeding Kansas
https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/bleeding-kansas The Kansas-Nebraska Act became established territories under popular sovereignty. This allowed for the residents of the territory to decide if the state would become free or enslaved. To support their side of the debate the North and the South poured into the territory. Eventually, they would resort to violence resulting in over 50 settlers being killed. -
John Brown's Raid
http://www.ushistory.org/us/32c.asp Abolitionist John Brown supported violent action against the South to end slavery and played a major role in starting the Civil War. He led a raid on a federal arsenal and armory at Harpers Ferry in an effort to capture and confiscate the arms located there. -
Abraham Lincoln's Election
Abraham Lincoln was elected by a majority of popular and electoral vote despite having almost no support from the South. His party's anti-slavery outlook led to the South feeling like they had no power and resulted in the secession of many states which would later spark the Civil War
