Causes of the Civil War
By: Ross Jackson and Finlay Booth
Compromise of 1850
Kansas Nebraska Act
Rise of the Republican Party
Brooks vs. Sumner
Dred Scott Case
Lincoln Douglas Debates
John Brown and Harpers Ferry
1859- John Brown was an Calvinist abolitionist from Connecticut. Brown was an unsuccessful businessmen and the subject of many lawsuits before he heard a sermon and announced his dedication to elimination of slavery in the United States. In the early 1850's, Brown and his family moved to Kansas to fight against slave supporters in the state. Following the raid of a local abolitionist town, Brown led a violent attack against the slave supporters. This was 1856. Brown moved the survivors of his family to Maryland and began plotting his next move against pro-slave Southerners. On October 16th of 1859, Brown and his men, including some of his sons, raided Harper's Ferry taking hostages including 5 slaves. Two days later, the United States Marines arrived, led by Robert E. Lee, and chased down Brown's men, killing 10 including some of Brown's sons. John Brown was captured and hanged in December of 1859 at the age of 59 years old. The North had some support for Brown and proclaimed him a hero. He was even supported by big names like Henry David Thoreau, an abolitionist known for his work, Walden. However, most Northerners viewed him as insane, yet admirable for his courage and bravery. The South was obviously against Browns actions, as they hanged him. Brown, in his unending support for abolitionism, made tensions between the North and the South stronger and is now referred to as an impetus of the Civil War.
Election of 1860 and Succession from the Union
In the election of 1860, the Democratic party of the US divided and the Northern Democrats supported Stephen Douglas and the Southern Democrats supported John C. Breckenridge as their candidate, as they considered Douglas a back-stabber for his beliefs in popular sovereignty, which allowed territories to make the decision of to have slavery or not. Lincoln won the presidential election with only 40% support and 180 electoral votes. Within months of Lincoln's election and before the situation at Fort Sumpter, the states of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida. The election finally ignited the separation of the North and South, that was impending for years.
Lincoln for President
Secession from the Union
Stephen Douglas
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