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Missouri compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an effort by Congress to defuse political rivalries after the request of Missouri for statehood as a slave state. Missouri was admitted a slave state and Maine was admitted a free state to keep balance. This was known as the missouri compromise. Some people felt that the Missouri compromise made the North seem more aggressive in its anti-slavery views and contributed to southern resentment, which could've helped lead to the civil war. -
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Events that led to the civil war
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Nat turners rebellion 1831
Nat Turners rebellion was a murderous rampage led out by slaves in 1831. The rebellion was led by Nat Turner, he was followed by seven other slaves. They killed their master Joseph Travis and his family in their sleep. Turner and his followers were on the run after that and more slaves joined in. This rebellion only lasted for three days (August 21-23, 1831) and left somewhere between 55 and 65 people dead. This event has become a reference to thge justification of the civil war. -
Mexican-American war
On May 13, 1846, a war was declared by America against Mexico at the request of President James K Polk. Polk wanted Texas and saw acquiring Texas, California, Oregon, and other territories as part of the nations manifest destiny. America tried to buy Texas but instead, war broke out. This was could've contributed to the civil war because of the controversy of whether or not slavery would be prohibited westward. T -
The Wilmot Provisio
In 1846, Pennsylvania representative David Wilmot proposed the Wilmot proviso. This Wilmot proviso was a proposal to prohibit slavery in the new territory acquired in the mexican-american war. Wilmot and others did not want slavery to go any more westward. David Wilmot was a Democrat and was very against slavery and involuntary servitude but unfortunately, his proposal efforts were unsuccessful because of how controversial they were. -
The compromise of 1850
In January of 1850, Senator Henry Clay introduced a series of compromises in an effort to relieve tension and avert a crisis between the North and the South. There were 5 provisions: The outlaw of the slave trade in Washington DC, Californias admission as a free state, a boundary between Texas and New Mexico, stopping slavery in its tracks, and the implementation of popular sovereignty in western territories. -
Fugitive Slave act
The fugitive slave act was a part of the compromise of 1850 and was a law making it illegal to help a run away slave. If someone was caught helping a slave, they could face 6 months in prison and up to $1,000 fine. This only increased efforts against slavery. -
Uncle toms cabin
Uncle toms cabin is an anti-slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1852. This work changed societal attitudes about slavery. Harriets work was so controversial that when Abraham Lincoln met her he said, "Is this the little woman who made this great war?" -
Bleeding kansas
Bleeding kansas was a series of violent civil confrontations in the kansas-nebraska territory. The fighting further strained the relationship between the north and the south. -
Charles sumner is attacked
Charles Sumner was the leader of the anti-slavery in Massachusetts and the leader of the radical Republicans in the U.S. Senate during the civil war. On may 19, 1856, Sumner delivered a fiery speech and condemned those who wanted to extent slavery in the kansas territory. He aimed his speech mostly at Andrew Butler of South Carolina. A distant relative of Butler did not like his speech so he bashed him over the head with a cane. It took 4 years for Sumner to recover. -
Dred scott vs Sanford
Dred Scott Vs Sanford was a court case in which a slave tries to sue for his freedom. Scott argued that he was free because he resided in free territory. The court said Scott couldn't sue because he wasn't properly a citizen. This caused tensions because there were people who thought that Dred Scott was free and he is a citizen. -
John Browns raid
In 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a raid at the U.S. arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He had plans to massacre slave owners and free the slaves so he could take down the institution of slavery. His raid failed and he was captured and executed. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860 and that struck fear into many southerners because Lincoln was very much against slavery. Southerners knew he would put an end to the expansion of slavery. He also declared war to stop the south from permanently leaving the United States. Not long after he was elected, South carolina seceeded frok the union, six more states following soon after. -
Confederacy formed
By february of 1861, seven states had seceeded. Confederates largely fought to keep southern society, in which slavery was still an integral part of. -
Battle of fort Sumter
The battle of Fort Sumter was the first battle of the American civil war. It consisted of the bombardment of the sea fort by Confederate forces, which forced the Union garrison to surrender. The result was a four year war because thousands of Northerners supporting the union.
