-
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe which followed the life of a slave and the horrors that slaves experienced. This novel was very popular during its time due to its very controversial topic. The book caused many Northerners to join abolitionist movement, while on the other hand it greatly offended the South because they thought the novel ill illustrated slavery as a practice. It further deepened the divide between the North and South. -
Republican Party
The Republican Party was created to stop the expansion of slavery in the new territories of the Union and eventually the abolishment of slavery itself. This contributed to the divide and the eventual Civil war by creating an actual opposing political party to the democrats for the abolishment of slavery, -
Dred Scott Court Case
This was an extremely critical court case where the Supreme Court decided that any of African descent had no chance of becoming an American citizen, Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional, Congress didn't have the right to abolish slavery, and a slave, Dred Scott, was not a free man just by entering free territory. This contributed to the split and civil war due to the decision of the court that Congress had no power on whether a territory will be pro-slavery or not. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This was an act proposed by Senator Stephen Douglas, the act allowed for the creation of two new territories, allowed for popular sovereignty to decide the territories stance on slavery, and repealed the Missouri Compromise. The act led many settlers flooding into the Kansas and Nebraska territories which led to a massacre between anti-slavery and pro-slavery settlers. It led to the Civil War because with the act it proposed the idea that slavery could move further than the 36-30. -
Bloody Kansas
This was a period where pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces were fighting over whether the new territory of Kansas would be with or against slavery. This contributed to the split and Civil War by causing the establishment of the Republican Party. -
Brooks-Sumner Incident
This was an incident that occurred in the United States Senate Chamber when Preston Brooks, a pro slavery Democratic representative from South Carolina, used a cane to attack Senator Charles Sumner, Republican abolitionist from Massachusetts, after Brooks accused Sumner of verbally assaulting a cousin of his. This incident contributed by showing that legal and verbal discourse was useless in front of the abolition of slavery, and that only force would be effective in abolishment of slavery. -
Election 1856
A three way presidential election which result in Democrat James Buchanan taking office. This contributed to the split and the eventually war due to the fact that Buchanan was an avid supporter of the Southerner cause to spread slavery. Buchanan wanted to make use of the Kansas-Nebraska act to implement slavery in the western territories. Buchanan's election gave the South an edge over the North until the election of 1860. This caused the split between the North and South to widen. -
John Brown
John Brown rode into Missouri and attack two proslavery settler's home, ransacked their property, and liberated eleven slaves. he then proceeded to travel to Canada to deliver the slaves to freedom. This contributed to the split and Civil War by causing many peaceful abolitionists to lean towards more aggressive methods. -
House Divided Speech
This was an address given by Abraham Lincoln, where Lincoln generally stated that if America wanted to truly be free it had to act no against slavery. This contributed to the split and the civil war by sating their could be no compromise, it's either you're with slavery or against it, and with this only one side will be victorious with the rest of the Union falling suite. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
A series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas over the seat of Illinois Senate. The debates contributed to the Civil War because it caused a split in the Democratic Party. As well as furthering the divide between the opposing North and South over the issue of slavery. -
Lecompton Constitution
This was the second out of four constitution proposed for the territory of Kansas in support of slavery. Which protected the right of slaveholder and denied peoples of color from any rights given by the state. This contributed by causing the pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers to fight over whether the territory of Kansas would adopt slavery or not. This was one of the contributing factors that led to the further fighting and disputes in the territory of Kansas. -
Harper's Ferry
John Brown led a small group to raid an armory in Harper's Ferry for weapons. This was to arm slaves to lead an armed slave rebellion. Brown's raid was unsuccesful after a two day battle, Brown and a number of his men were captured and tried. This was one of the first violent abolitionist movement against slavery. This event led to many northerners to join the abolitionist seeing Brown as a martyr. On the other hand it extremely angered the South due to its extreme abolitionist intent. -
John Brown's Execution
John Brown, on December 02,1859, was executed for treason, murder, and insurrection. This contributed to the split of the Union and Civil War by inspiring many to believe that only with blood will slavery be stopped. This further raised radical ideas for abolitionist and caused the South to be on guard. -
Election 1860
This was the presidential election which led to Abraham Lincoln's presidency. This led to help contribute to the split in the North and South and the eventual war by election of Lincoln, a known abolitionist, which led to Southerners to believe they had lost the balance of power. This caused many Southerners to fear Lincoln because of his abolitionist cause and this led to the secession of the southern states. -
Secession
This was done in response to the growing movement to abolish slavery. Through the secession of the Union the Southern states hoped to preserve the institution of slavery. There are seven states that seceded, before the Sumter Fort, are in the following order; South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Then there were four states that seceded after Ft. Sumter in this order; Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. -
Lincoln's 1st Inaugural Address
This was a speech given by Lincoln which stated his stance on the institution of slavery and what acts he would/would not take on slavery. This contributed to the split and the Civil War due to the fact that it was the first head of government stance that was directly opposed to slavery. The election of Lincoln itself was enough to cause Southerners to secede this was just the cherry on top.