The Road to the Civil War

Missouri Compromise

Mar 3, 1820

Missouri CompromiseMissouri was accepted into the Union as a slave state.
Slavery was prohibited in the rest of the Louisiana Purchase north of 36 degrees 30'.

54-40 or Fight

Nov 1, 1844

James K. Polk's campaign slogan in the election of 1844.
He promised to get the Oregon territory.
Caused a treaty between the United States and Britain at the 49th parallel.

Texas Annexation

Dec 29, 1845

Texas AnnexationTexas was admitted into the United States.
Led to the Mexican War where the Americans won and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed.
Rounded out the border for the United States.
Brought up slavery issue.

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

Feb 2, 1848

Ended the Mexican War and set the boundary line between the United States and Mexico at the Rio Grande River.

Compromise of 1850

Sep 20, 1850

California entered Union as a free state.
Slavery in Utah and New Mexico territories would be decided by popular sovereignty.
Texas border was settled and debt paid.
Outlawed slave trade in D.C.
Stricter Fugitive Slave Law.
The nation avoided war.
Northern states grew in population and industrial power as compared to South.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Mar 20, 1852

A book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
It brought out the evils of slavery.
Heightened tensions between the North and South.

Wilmot Proviso

Dec 30, 1853

David Wilmot wanted to outlaw slavery from the new territories that were part of the Mexican Cession. The Senate defeated it.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

May 30, 1854

Organized two new territories : Kansas and Nebraska
The Missouri Compromise was repealed.
Slavery in KS and NE was the be determined by popular sovereignty.
This act infuriated opponents of slavery and led to the death of the Whig and Second American Party System.

Founding of the Republican Party

Sep 20, 1854

Republican PartyThe Republican Party was formed in response to Kansas and Nebraska allowing slavery in the states. This went against what the Missouri Compromise said. The Republicans went against the Democrats and did not believe in slavery but in equality of everyone.

Brooks-Sumner Incident

May 22, 1856

Sumner, who was antislavery, gave a speech banishing slavery. Preston Brooks was proslavery and was outraged by the sppech and began beating Sumner.

Harper's Ferry Raid

Dec 2, 1859

John Brown's goal was to capture federal arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia and lead a slave uprising.
Brown successfully captured the arsenal but no slave rebellion.

Gadsden Purchase

Nov 6, 1860

Land bought from Mexico for 10 million dollars to build a railroad system. It completed the lower 48 states.

Election of 1860

Nov 6, 1860

Candidates:
Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat) supported popular sovereignty.
John Breckenridge (Southern Democrat) supported expansion of slavery into territories.
Abraham Lincoln (Republican) allows slavery to remain where it exists; no new expansion.
John Bell (Constitutional Union) stood for Constitution, Union, and enforcement of laws.
Lincoln won the election and following it, seven states seceded: SC, MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, and TX.

Firing on Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

Commentary on Bombardment of Fort Sumter, South CarolinaLed up to the Civil War.
The Confederate seized the fort from Federal forces.
No casualties.

First Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

Bull Run, First Battle of (First ManassasFirst major battle of the Civil War and part of a series of Union military maneuvers known as the Bull Run Campaign, which was designed to repel Confederate troops threatening the U.S. capital.
Was a crushing defeat for the Union.

Monitor v. Merrimac

Mar 9, 1862

Hampton RoadsWas the Confederate's attempt to break a Union blockade of six wooden warships. The South and Union sat down to make an agreement that the South would rejoin the Union and slavery would end. The South didn't accept either demand, and they walked away without a treaty.

Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

Battle of AntietamWas the bloodiest battle of the Civil War near Sharpsburg, Maryland. There is argument about who the winner was because of all of the casualties. Allowed Lincoln to release his preliminary Emancipation Proclamtion.

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Gettysburg, Battle ofWas the climax of the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania.
The losses signified an end to the offensive capabilites of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northen Virginia.
The battle forcasted Southen defeat in the war.

Sherman's March

Nov 15, 1864

Sherman's March to SeaUnion General William Tecumseh Sherman changed tactics to make the Confederate surrender. He lead 62,000 soldiers from Atlanta, Georgia to Savannah. On December 21 the Union troops moved into Savannah forcing the Confederates out.

Appomattox Court House

Apr 9, 1865

U.S. Civil WarRobert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate forces.
Signaled an end to the war.