American Civil War Timeline
Events leading to the Civil War
Brief Summary
These are just a few of the many events that led up to the American Civil War.
Missouri Compromise (1820)
When Missouri wanted to join the union, there was something that needed to happen. One of the main things that happened, was the Missouri Compromise Line. Within that compromise, it basically said that all states above the 36'30 line was a free state and all the states below the line were a Slave State, this compromise lasted 30 years, and also Missouri was admitted in to the union.
Compromise of (1850)
The Compromise of 1850 was a compromise that settled the argument between the North and South, as well as the Free States and Slave States. It had 5 acts including the Fugitive Slave act, Popular Sovereignty for the new territories New Mexico, and Utah. The act also had the abolition of the Slave Trade in D.C.
Fugitive Slave Act (1850)
This was part of the Compromise of 1850. With this law, Police officers were fined up to $1000 dollars for not arresting an alleged slave. No matter what, even if you were a free African American living in the North, Police could arrest you and take you down to the South, this is why many African Americans fled to Canada for a better and free life.
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published (1852)
This book was published in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book was about Slavery and it told Northerners about slavery. In the first year of the book being published, it sold over 300,000 copies of the book including a deluxe edition in 1853 with 117 illustrations. Uncles tom's cabin wasn't allowed down in the South because Slave Owners didn't want slaves to see it and get the idea to rebel against the Slave Owners.
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed in 1854 and it allowed the people in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to vote on if Slavery was allowed in their territories. The act seemed to repeal the Missouri Compromise of 1820 which prohibited slavery above the 36'30 line. It was one of those significant events leading to the civil war. People of Missouri (Slave State) were going in to these territories and voting for slavery, even when they lived in Missouri or other places.
Dred Scott Decision (1857)
The Dred Scott case was one of those most significant court cases regarding slavery in history! Dred Scott was a slave in a slave state. His Master took him to a free territory and then in which case Dred had a right to be a free man. His owner took him back to the slave state and then Dred sued his Owner for his freedom. In the first trial, Dred one but his masters repealed it and it went to a higher court, and it kept going on like that for a long time, unfortunately, in the long run, Dred ended up losing but his Wife and Daughters became free.
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry (1859)
John Brown was an abolitionist who was against slavery. John had an idea, that he would get a bunch of men (including slaves) to rebel and try to end Slavery. John and his men were supposed to meet the slaves, but they didn't come, John and his men ended up being captured and hung for their crimes.
Election of (1860)
The election of 1860 was the year that Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Abraham had 180 Electoral Votes and then the 2nd person behind him only had 72. Abraham Lincoln was apart of the Republican party. The republican party is made up of more upper class individuals.
South Secedes (December 1860-June 1861)
When Abraham Lincoln became president, he started to try and get rid of Slavery for good. The southern states weren't trying to have that, and they all started to try and secede one by one. The first state to secede was South Carolina. Within the first 2 years of Abraham Lincolns run at President, almost all of the Southern Slave States had seceded.