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The Compromise of 1850 including the Fugitive Slave Act
The compromise helped prevent the succession of the southern states, which would’ve caused the states to withdraw from the union.This would begin the calling for the abolition of slave trade. This amended the Fugitive Slave Act. In the end, all the compromise did was push the North even further against slavery but created a polarization (Separation) with Southern slave supporters. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska act was made to repeal the Missouri Compromise (preventing expansion of slavery) . This act helped in creating two new territories. This act would eventually lead to the civil war as it increased the tensions in debates over slavery. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was warfare between those debating of slavery. It was an extremely violent period involving murders and psychological warfare. This conflict showed that the constant debating over slavery would always end in battle and was really just the start of all the violence that was to come. This battle lead up until 1856. -
Preston Brooks vs. Charles Sumner
Preston Brooks was a representative for South Carolina. During a speech given by the senator of Massachusetts: Charles Sumner, Sumner was brutally attacked by Brooks. The speech that was being given by Sumner was about denouncing slavery. Brooks was simply seen as a hero over this in the south and re-elected. This was just another example of violence leading to the Civil War, occurring over the disagreement of the topic of slavery. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
This was a majority ruled decision in which it was stated that those enslaved were not to be declared citizens of the United States. This ruled out any form of protection for them and completely disregarded the authority to ban slavery from a Federal territory. This heavily increased the separation between the North and South which became a cause of the Civil War. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
These were series of debates over the topic of slavery once again, these debates were between Lincoln-Douglas and Abraham Lincoln. These debates led Lincoln to spotlight as he was primarily seen for being against slavery. He ignited more debate and showed how wrong slavery was. -
John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry
This raid involved John Brown and his sons, in Harper’s Ferry. Along the way he raised money to purchase weapons such as guns and pikes. These weapons were to be used in battles against slavery. This raid was just another event of blood being shed for the arguments against slavery. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was brought to public attention for how much he debated with others, trying to bring to light how slavery needed to come to an end. He was now a member of the republican party, and had the authority to end the expansion of slavery. The southern states saw this as a loss of power and his new authority was not approved of by pro-slavery states. It made a major impact on the slavery debates and was a significant contributor to the causes of the Civil War.