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Invention of the Cotton Gin
Invented by Eli Whitney, the Cotton Gin made the process of cleaning cotton easier and much more efficient. Because of the great benefits this piece of machinery provided, in order to keep up with the cotton demands, the need of slaves increased. With the constant need of slaves in the South, tension continued to rise in the North. The invention of the Cotton Gin eventually led to the Civil War. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise stated that after Missouri's admission as a slave state and Maine's admission as a free state, anything above the 36°30' parallel line would be admitted as a free state while anything below it would be admitted as a slave state. Henry Clay's compromise led to the Civil War since it made people question whether a state should be admitted as a slave or free state. This questioning showed the different views on slavery throughout the nation. -
Texas' Statehood
Before Texas was admitted, there was balance between the amount of slave and free states in the nation. The state admitted before Texas was Florida and it was annexed as a slave state. Texas obviously wanted to come in as a slave state also causing Northerners to see this as the South trying to obtain more power over the North in Congress. The controversies brought by the annexation of Texas eventually led to the Civil War. -
Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War led the Civil War due to several oppositions and critics it brought. The Whigs criticized that the conflicts that occurred at the border between the US and Mexico were staged. Others claimed the war was just taking away from the importance of the acquisition of the Oregon Territory. -
The Fugitive Slave Law
As part of the Compromise of 1850, this law led to the Civil War since there was much Northern opposition. While the South wanted the runaway slaves to be returned to their owners, the Northern states formed mobs in order to prevent the enforcement of the law. The different views of the law caused major controversies that eventually led to the Civil War. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's book sold more than 30,000 copies in just the first year. The book spread the message that slavery should be abolished and in the eyes of the Northerners, Stowe became a hero. This contributed to the Civil War since it caused sectional tensions and allowed insight on the terrors of slavery. -
Formation of Republican Party
The Republican party was established by former members of the Whigs party. They believed in anti-slavery and wanted a candidate that would spread their ideology. Many southerners had threaten to succeed if a republican candidate won the presidency. This allowed division between the Northern states and the Southern states which eventually lead to the Civil War. -
Dred Scott vs Sanford
This court case led to the Civil War due to its controversial decision. Dred Scott, a Missouri slave, was denied his freedom and the right to sue since people claimed he was property and not a citizen. This decision filled the North with fury! -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown's Raid at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, caused fear to the several slavery supporters. This event allowed Southerners to believe they were not and would not be safe in the Union. They began thinking that the Republican party supported the raid leading to greater tension between pro-slavery settlers and abolitionist. This tension and the questioning whether slavery should be abolished led to the Civil War. -
The Presidential Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States in 1860. The election's results showed that Lincoln had won less than 40% of the popular vote but still had a huge advantage in winning the majority of the electoral votes. The white southerners lost their hopes based on the fact that they were having an anti-slavery president. Withing a couple of weeks of Lincoln's victory, states began seceding. The disunion due to the results of the election contributed to the start of the Civil War.
