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Uncle's Tom Cabin (1852)
A novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe that created a bigger division within the North and South. This novel approached the topic of slavery and both North and South had different reactions. The North were disgusted by how the slave was being treated in the story, but the South felt offended because they deemed that the novel misrepresented slavery. -
Republican Party (1854)
Was to hinder the efforts of pro-slavery forces trying to expand the influence of slavery. This party was formed by factory workers, businessmen, and successful farmers. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
A territory was split up to two parts, Nebraska and Kansas territory. The purpose of this was to keep the balance between free states and slave states. It also allowed that slavery be decided by popular sovereignty. -
Bleeding Kansas (1854)
After the forming of the Nebraska and Kansas territory, many settlers swooped in to shift the balance of whether or not Kansas became a Slave or Free state. This caused many people to fight and led to much senseless violence. -
Election 1856
The winner of this election was James Buchanan who became president prior the Civil War. -
Brooks-Sumner Incident
Senator Sumner was delivering his speech about the crimes against Kansas, but he was emphasizing and ridiculing the savagery of his opponents. As the session ended Representative Brooks came in and beat Sumner unconscious which many saw as proving Sumner right. -
Lecompton Constitution (1857)
When the state of Kansas applied to statehood it wrote a constitution that was drafted by pro-slavery forces, that protected slavery and permitted slavery on Kansas. It was rejected due to the fact that it unsettled the balance of slavery and pro-slavery forces in senate. It was only accepted once it applied as a free state. -
Dredd Scott (1857)
Dredd Scott was an African American man that was residing in a free state when his master died, he soon sued the widow of his master for his rights. The supreme court voted against Scott due to the fact that Slaves were property and could not be citizens. This case also deemed the Nebraska-Kansas act unconstitutional. -
House Divided Speech
This speech was to counter the Dred Scott decision, Lincoln made this speech to inspire action from the northerners and abolitionists. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate (1858)
Lincoln when running against Douglas, had many debates among the topics of slavery, racial equality, and preserving the union. -
John Brown
John Brown was an extremist abolitionist, that usually led him to try to end slavery through means of violence. Many people saw him as a madman since he wanted equality and claimed his reason for doing this is because he's doing it in the name of God.
Many people used propaganda based off of him to either support or oppose slavery. -
Harper's Ferry (1859)
A rebellion led by John Brown which is purpose was to free slaves, but ultimately failed. This led to the capture of John Brown who said in one of his final interviews before his execution he said that he did it all in the name of the Lord. He died a Martyr. -
Election of 1860
In the election of 1860 Abraham Lincoln won less than 40% on the popular vote, but easily won the votes in the electoral college. -
Secession
After the Election of Abraham Lincoln many people feared the abolition of Slavery and the southern states decided to secede which led to the Civil war. South Carolina was first to leave. -
Lincoln's First Inaugural Address (1861)
When Lincoln gave his address that outlined prevent civil war and preserve the union.