-
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This was a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It mentioned what slavery was like for the slaves. It showed their hardships and mistreatment. This increased the tensions between the North and the South as the Northerns were outraged about the treatment of slaves and the Southerners believed this book misconceived slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, written by Stephen Douglas, allowed for popular sovereignty to decide if slavery was to be allowed in these territories. The Missouri Compromise was also repealed. This led to the start of Bloody Kansas. -
Republican Party
After the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed and the Missouri Compromise was repealed, many were worried about the continued spread of slavery. To do this, they created the Republican Party to widen the spread of their ideas. -
Period: to
Bloody Kansas
Pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces moved into Kansas to win over the popular sovereignty. The differences in opinions caused people to fight brutally. John Brown was a very famous anti-slavery force who was involved in these killings. -
John Brown
John Brown was a religious abolitionist who believed God led him down the path to free/help slaves. He played a part in Bloody Kansas, specifically the Pottawatomie Massacre in which he, his sons, and others murdered pro-slavery men in their cabins. -
Brooks-Sumner Incident
This incident happened in the Senate chamber when Massachusetts Senator Sumner talked badly about South Carolina's Representative Brooks' cousin during a speech on the Senate floor. Brooks defended his cousin by beating Sumner with his cane, almost killing him. -
Election of 1856
This was the first election featuring the new Republican Party. The candidates were James Buchanan, a Democrat, John C. Fremont, a Republican, and President Millard Fillmore, a Whig. Democrat James Buchanan won the election. -
Lecompton Constitution
Proslavery forces met in Lecompton, Kansas to create a constitution that would make Kansas a slave state in the Union. This constitution guaranteed property rights in slaves. President Buchanan accepted the constitution, making Kansas the 16th slave state. -
Dred Scott
After his slave owner died, Scott moved around to a lot of different states, but he spent most of his time in a free state. He sued for his freedom yet lost. The Supreme Court said this was because he was of African descent, in their eyes, that meant he was still a slave and considered property. During this case, the Missouri Compromise was considered unconstitutional. -
Period: to
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
This was a series of 7 debates all over the state between Illinois Senate candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephan Douglas. This brought up the big issue of slavery. Douglas was a supporter of Slavery while Lincoln was against it. Although Douglas won, Lincoln gained a lot of support. -
House Divided Speech
This was a speech by Lincoln about slavery after the conclusion of the Dred Scott case. He said that sooner or later, slaves wouldn't be needed. The House (United States) was divided over this issue and they had to resolve this division quickly or else the Union would fall. -
Harper's Ferry
This was a raid started by John Brown to have a slave rebellion. Brown takes an armory and tries to get the slaves to get weapons and rebel. This fails and results in his death. -
Election of 1860
This was an election between Lincoln (Republican), Bell (Constitutional Union), Breckenridge (Southern Democrat), and Douglas (Northern Democrat). Lincoln lost the popular vote, but won in the Electoral College because his opponent, Douglas, supported the Freeport Doctrine, making him lose his Southern support. -
Secession
The South decided to secede due to everything happening in the Union, such as the anti-slavery campaigning. 11 states tried to secede, the first state being South Carolina. -
Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address
This was given at the start of Lincoln's presidency. He gave this address to try to keep the Union together and avoid war. In this address, he tries to appease both the North and the South by saying he will try to keep the Union together without force, and by saying he will not abolish slavery.