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What Caused the Civil War
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Missouri Compromise
While Missouri was applying for statehood Congress made it a slave state. Maine was also applying so Congress made it a free state to keep the slave and free states balanced. -
Wilmot Proviso
While the United States and Mexico were in tension Congresss passed a law that said that slavery would be prohibited in any lands that might have been acquired from Mexico(California and New Mexico). -
Compromise of 1850
California became a free state while New Mexico could choose to become free state. Since Washington D.C. was in a slave state, it woild not allow the trading or buying of slaves. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Law that said, all citizens are recquired to catch all runaway slaves and anyone who aided fugitives could be fined or imprisoned. -
"Uncle Tom's Cabin"
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a fictional book about the evils of slavery, which stunned people with her description of slavery. Which encouraged the people in the North to join the fight against slavery. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
A bill passed by Congress that stated, states could choose to be a free or slave state by popular sovereignty. -
Bleeding Kansas
Proslavery and antislavery forces moved to Kansas to vote on what type of state it was going to be. There was a lot of conflict between the two forces. Kansas was where the first blood was shed. -
Dred Scott Decision
A slave named Dred Scott sued for his freedom and his case enventually went to the Supreme Court. He didn't win because Congress can't take away property and slaves aren't citizens and only citizens can sue. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
Debates between Abraham LIncoln and Stephen Douglas for a seat on the Senate. The main topic was slavery. Lincoln was against slavery but believed that Congress couln't eliminate. Douglas was also against slavery but said that the staes should be up to having slavery or not. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown and his group of men decided to attack Harper's Ferry in hope that slaves would rise up and attack. The main goal was to attack the government arsenal. He was then tried and hanged. -
Election of 1860 or Lincoln Elected
Abraham Lincoln was elected for president event though his name wasn't on the ballot in some Southern states. It pushed South towards secession because they were afraid of his power. -
Secession of South Carolina
South Carolina opposed LIncon's election and voted to break away. They were the first state to secede
