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Tobacco
John Rolfe brought the first cash crop, tobacco, to the Jamestown colony in 1609. This led to the Civil War because slaves were used to farm the crops. -
Cotton Gin
The Cotton Gin was created by Eli Whitney on March 14, 1794. This made picking cotton easier making southerners want more slaves. This led to Civil War because southerners wanted to get more slaves but could not because of the slave trade act of 1807, stopping all importation of slaves. The only other way to get more slaves was to trade with other states, or have your current slaves mate. This did not solve the issue of slavery only that you cannot get slaves from Africa. -
Missouri Compromise
Henry Clay made this compromise on March 3, 1820, which states that in the Louisiana territory, territories applying for statehood above the 36 30' line must be a free state, while below that must enter as a slave state. Also stated Missouri would join as a free state while Maine joins as a free state. This event led to the Civil War because the North and South wanted the number of free and slave states to be balanced. -
Solomon Northrup
Solomon Northup was a free black man living in the North when he was recruited to play the violin for a circus. He was drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery on July of 1841 because they thought he was a runaway slave. This led to the Civil War because he was kidnapped and sold into slavery when he was a free man and after he is freed from slavery he was unable to do anything to the people who kidnapped him because they were white and he was black. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise was made by Henry Clay, and had multiple parts and was presented to the Senate on January 29, 1850. First California would be admitted as a free state, and territories of Utah and New Mexico would decide on slavery through popular sovereignty. This led to the Civil War because the number of free and slave states are unbalanced. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was a part of the Compromise of 1850, passed on September 18, 1850, and states that slave that runaway must be returned to their owner. This led to the Civil War because there was quite a few abolitionists and citizens who opposed this act. As a way to get around the Fugitive Slave Act some states passed the Personal Liberty Laws. Also stated in the Fugitive Slave Act if citizens do not return the slave they would be fined as a penalty. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This was book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published on March 20, 1852. The book tells a story of how slaves were treated harshly and also as property. This led to the Civil War because the people in the North view's of slavery were changed because the was a bestseller at the time. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act passed by the Senate on May 30, 1854, allowed the citizens in their respective territories to choose through popular sovereignty on whether they are a free or slave state. This Act also repeals the Compromise of 1820. This led to the Civil War because in order to swing the votes in favor for slavery or against it, people like John Brown and the Ruffians killed others that they believed were against their views. -
Pottawatomie Massacre
The Pottawatomie Massacre was a 2 day ordeal, starting in May 24, 1856, and ending on the morning of May 25, 1856, and was a part of bleeding Kansas. This led to the Civil War because John Brown and his followers attacked 5 pro-slavery settlers because he wanted Kansas to be a free state. This occured after the Kansas-Nebraska Act which states that the Kansas and Nebraska territories would decide on slavery through popular sovereignty. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
This was an attack led by white abolitionist John Brown and assisted by 18 followers. His plan was to attack the US arsenal and arm slaves to bring a slave uprising. He had brief success in seizing control of the arsenal, but was arrested by Robert E. Lee after holding out for two days. This led to the Civil War because the South was afraid the slaves would rebel because of this attack.
