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Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book published by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It followed the life of a slave named Uncle Tom. The novel would depict extreme cruelties of slavery, having a great impact on society. Northerners and abolitionists were empathetic bringing more people to be opposed to slavery. While Southerners felt the novel falsely portrayed it. -
Bloody Kansas
Bloody Kansas was a result of the Kansas Nebraska Act. Violence caused by pro-slavery and anti-slavery arguments, voter fraud, and territory disputes. On May 21, 1856 proslavery forces invaded Lawrence, Kansas. They would go onto burn the Free state Hotel, newspaper offices, and raided homes and stores. In Kansas anti-slavery forces would secure it as a free state in the Union on January 29, 1861. -
Republican Party
In 1854 the Republican party was created. Its purpose and goal was to outlaw and prevent slavery in new territories. The demographic of this party were northerners and abolitionists. They wanted to prevent slaveholder ideals from overtaking the nation and controlling the government. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, proposed by Senator Stephen Douglass, created two new territories and repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Territories would now decide through popular sovereignty whether they would be considered a slave or free state. It heightened the debate over slavery with it being opened to new territories where it had once been outlawed. -
Election 1856
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Brooks-Sumner Incident
Sumner had given a speech against slaveholders, criticizing them. During the speech he had mentioned Senator Andrew Butler who was Brooks uncle. After hearing of what Sumner said Brooks was angered and took action. Brooks entered the Senate chamber after sessions had ended, approached Summers desk and hit him in the head with his Metal cane. This furthered the violent narrative of the South and anti-slavery supporters. -
Dred Scott
Dred Scott was a slave living in the Missouri when his master died. This would lead to the case Dred Scott v Sanford. This case asked the questions of if Scott was considered a citizen, had the right to sue for his rights, and was the Missouri Compromise Constitutional. It was found that Scott was not a free man because he was born African American and the Missouri Compromise was Unconstitutional. The rationale was that the Constitution gave no power to limit the slavery expansion in territories -
LeCompton Constitution
The Lecompton Constitution was the second of four constitutions presented in Kansas. Its main point was that it would allow slavery in the state. It would also prevent free blacks from living there and only white males were allowed to vote. -
House Divided Speech
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Lincoln Douglass Debates
Aug 21, 1858 – Oct 15, 1858 -
Harpers Ferry
On October 16–18, 1859 John Brown attempted to start a slave revolt in Harpers Ferry Virginia. He was stopped and surrounded by Colonel Robert E. Lee and Lieutenant J. E. B. Stuart and US Marines. By October 19, 1859 Brown and his supporters were overtaken by Lee and Stuart. This attack greatly scared the South. Terrified of slave revolts and rebellions caused by abolitionists, this furthered the divided between the North and South. -
John Brown
Brown is known for his raid on Harpers Ferry on October 16-18, 1859. As a result of the raid he was caught and tried for murder, slave insurrection, and treason. He was found guilty and hanged. Browns fight against slavery gave Southerners support in their fears to secede pushing the civil war to occur. -
Election 1860
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Secession
On December 20, 1860 southern states held a convention in South Carolina. Here they passed an ordinance of secession. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana and Texas had all voted to secede by February 1, 1861. Current president James Buchanan denied the states right to secede and the right of the government to go against the seceded states. -
Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
Lincolns first inaugural address aimed to stop secession and war from breaking out. Before he was sworn in there were already whispers of secession from the Southern states. To combat this he stated that he wanted to maintain and adhere to the laws already set in place. But his efforts would fail with only a month later war breaking out.