The Events and Ideas that Led Up to the Secession of the Southern States and Eventually the Civil War
By kd&savannah
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The Invention of the Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney in 1794. The invention changed the amount of cotton production. The machine ended up taking the seeds out of the cotton fiber which made the process speed up immensely. http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/cotton-gin-and-eli-whitney -
Missouri Compromise
Things were getting steamy as the pro-slavery and the anti-slavery factions began to have problems. The Missouri Compromise added spice to the mix. The compromise drew a line that divided the free-state and the salve-state unions. www.history.com/topics/missouri-compromise -
Tariff of 1828 & the Nullification Crisis
It was a high tax that angered the Southern people. The tax was put on imports. The tax decreased English demand but ended up increasing the cost for American buyers. It gained the name "Tariff of Abomination" The Nullification Crisis was a doctrine founded by Calhoun that stated that the state could ignore the law if the state found it unconstitutional. https://www.britannica.com/topic/nullification-crisis -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nathaniel "Nat" Turner was the only black American to lead an effective and sustained slave rebellion. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/nat-turner -
The Liberator is Published
William Lloyd Garrison, an abolitionist, published The Liberator. 75% of his readers were free African Americans. He used moral persuasion. http://www.ushistory.org/us/28a.asp -
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Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a refuge for escaped slaves. It operated between the late 1800's until around the Civil War. Araminta Ross (aka Harriet Tubman) escaped a plantation with her brothers to Pennsylvania. Fredrick Douglass helped out 400+ slaves escape to Canada by keeping them in his home. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/underground-railroad -
The Wilmot Proviso
Designed to eradicate slavery. David Wilmot proposed his amendment to president Polk to negotiate the terms of the treaty. http://www.history.com/topics/wilmot-proviso -
Compromise of 1850
The Mexican-American war was resolved in the Compromise of 1850. Declared California a free state and made New Mexico and Utah slave states. Ended a slave trade in Washington D.C. It was decided upon between Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John Calhoun. http://www.history.com/topics/compromise-of-1850 -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
Harriet Beecher wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin; an anti-slavery novel. It sold around 300,000 copied within the first three months. www.history.com/this-day-in-history/uncle-toms-cabin-is-published -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
A bill that allowed settlers to decide whether or not slavery should be permitted within a state. It was proposed by Stephen A. Douglass. Went against the Missouri Compromise. It led to Bleeding Kansas. http://www.history.com/topics/kansas-nebraska-act -
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Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a period of violence caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers rushed to Kansas, the newly settled state, to try to influence the decision. http://www.history.com/topics/bleeding-kansas -
Brooks-Sumner Event
Inspired by Senator Charles Sumner, this even tore apart The House Of Representatives. Sumner addressed whether or not Kansas was going to become a free or slave state in his "Crime Against Kansas" speech. Preston Brooks bashed his metal-topped can on Sumner's head relentlessly. Sumner lived and Brooks resigned. http://www.ushistory.org/us/31e.asp -
Dred Scott Decision
This decision, made by the US Supreme Court, negated the doctrine of popular sovereignty. Dred Scott, a slave from a free state, was deemed inhuman by the Supreme Court and instead property. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dred-scott-decision -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
There were seven debates, one in each of the state's Congressional districts, during the presidential campaign regarding Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. http://www.history.com/topics/lincoln-douglas-debates -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
He wanted to start an armed slave revolt. On this date, Brown and his men held handfuls of people hostage. The soldiers on Robert E. Lee ended up surrounding and ending the raid. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-browns-raid-on-harpers-ferry -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln defeated John Breckinridge, Stephen Douglas, and John Bell. After Lincoln's election, 7 U.S states seceded, which led to the Civil War. britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1860 -
Secession of the Southern States
At this point, 11 U.S states broke away from America. Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Caroline, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/secession -
Fort Sumter Was Fired Upon
Fort Sumter was a source of tension to both the Union and the Confederacy. At around 4:00am the confederates began to fire. 4,000 shells were shot for 33 hours. Nearly bloodless fight. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fort-sumter-fired-upon
