Timeline of 1850-1861

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Mar 20, 1852

Published by Harriet Beecher Stowe, this book would later become very controversial among the people due to its contents. This book tells the story of a slave named Tom who acted dignified and noble while being Eva's father's slave, later Tom is mistreated by Simon Legree, his new owner, due to his refusal to divulge information on an escaped slave. This book was hated by Southerners due to its brutality and the possibility of causing slave rebellion.

Republican Party

Mar 20, 1854

This party was founded by and consisted of Henry Jarvis, Horace Greeley, Preston, and Alvan E. and former Whig party members. Its original purpose was to stop slavery from spreading to new states. This party was heavily supported by the North. The first republican president was Abraham Lincoln.

Kansas Nebraska Act

May 30, 1854

This act was proposed by Senator Stephen Douglas to organize the territory of Kansas and Nebraska. this act could possibly allow slave-free states to become slave states due to it allowing the people of the state to decide whether they wanted slaves or not, this concept is known as popular sovereignty. This act would increase tension between proslavery and antislavery activists which would eventually lead to the event known as bleeding Kansas.

Bloody Kansas

May 21, 1856

Caused by The Sack of Lawrence three main groups, antislavery pro-slavery, and abolitionists, launched violent attacks on each other in order to further their ideals and goals.

Brooks-summer incident

May 22, 1856

This incident involved Preston Brooks Democrat from North Carolina, who attacked Senator Charles Sumners with with cane on the United States Chambers floor. Preston attacked Charles because he criticized slave owners. People supported Preston's actions by sending him a new cane. This even caused the Northerns to become enraged.

Election of 1856

Nov 4, 1856

The candidates of this election were James Buchanan Jr., John Charles Frémont, and Millard Fillmore.
James Buchanan won this election. This election brought up the idea of expanding slavery into new territories.

LeCompton Constitution

Oct 8, 1857

This was the second proposed constitution for Kansas that was proposed to Congress. There were four total proposed constitutions. This constitution had strong pro-slavery ideas, protecting slaveowners and preventing free black people from using rights found in the Bill of Rights. This constitution added tension leading up to the Civil War.

House Divided Speech

Jun 16, 1858

Given by Senator Aberham Linchon, this speech essentially showed his stance on slavery. He was against slavery, he was against the decision of the Dred Scott case since he wanted to America become a free country.

Lincoln Douglas Debates

Aug 21, 1858

A series of seven debates that lasted from August 21 1858 through October 15, 1858. The main issue discussed in these debates was the effects of slavery on politics and society.

Dred Scott

Sep 17, 1858

A slave who is mostly known for the case Dred Scott v. Sandford case of 1857. This case is what solidifies his status as a slave regardless of where he lives due to his African-American ethnicity making him not a U.S. citizen. This case also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

Harper's Ferry

Oct 16, 1859

A rebellion was led in Harper's Ferry by John Brown. The purpose of this rebellion was to gain control over the federal armory and arsenal in order to better prepare for a major slave uprising.

John Brown

Dec 9, 1859

An American abolitionist leader, he is mostly known for leading the raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry. He was one of the few abolitionists who supported violence against slave owners, even participating in the Bleeding Kansas event. He became an abolitionist soon after the murder of Presbyterian minister and anti-slavery activist Elijah P. Lovejoy in 1837.

Election of 1860

Oct 6, 1860

The four candidates for this election were Abraham Lincoln, John C. Breckinridge, Stephen A. Douglas, and John Bell. Abraham Lincoln ended up winning this election, even though he didn't win the popular vote. Lincoln's winning and his views on slavery, caused the South to end up on the road to succeed from the Union.

Lincoln's 1st Inaugural Address

Mar 4, 1861

The purpose of this speech was to prevent civil war from breaking out and to maintain peace within the Union. He believed that if a conflict were to break out it would leave America vulnerable to attacks from France and Britain. In his speech, he attempted to achieve peace with the southern states by claiming that slavery would not be outlawed.

Secession

May 20, 1861

Several slave states succeeded from the union soon after Abraham Lincoln was elected to be president. The states that succeeded from the union formed the Confederate States of America, their beliefs were supporting state rights and slavery. The Confederate States of America launched several raids and fought several battles in an attempt to bring slavery back into the union.