Events Leading to the Civil War

Missouri Compromise

• It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain balance. It also created a geographic line where slavery was prohibited above the 36º30’ parallel.

Compromise of 1850/Fugitive slave act

• It ignored the Missouri compromise temporarily allowing popular sovereignty in the new territories gained in the Mexican and American war. Reinforcing the law helping escaped slaves would be illegal.

Publishing of Uncle Tom’s Cabin

• It was an abolitionist novel telling the story of a slave called Uncle Tom. Throughout his life he was constantly treated horribly, but as he was dying he forgives all the white people. 

• It showed northerners the brutality of slavery, causing the south to protect it even more. Causing strong discourse.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

• It created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska allowing them to have popular sovereignty, abolishing the Missouri compromise 

Bleeding Kansas

• Repeated outbreak of guerrilla warfare between anti and pro slavery groups following the creation of Kansas to influence the vote after the Kansas and Nebraska Act.

• Showed that peaceful resolution was not an option and not compromising. Intensifying tensions between north and south.

Caning of Charles Sumner

• He was one of the people involved in creating the republicans party. As a senator he criticized slavery and another beat him to near death. Helped gain the Republican Party support.

Potawatomie Creek

• Everyone was going to Kansas territory to register to vote. Following the anti slavery attack on his town John Brown and his followers killed five residents. Created a lot of fear between sides.

Election of 1856

• Many were being affected by slavery at this time, when James Bucannon won he did nothing except increase slavery minorly and write love letters. Increased tensions between north and south, led to Abraham Lincoln's victory.

Dried Scott v. Sanford decision

• Dred Scott was a slave whose masters moved to a free state. He sued for his freedom but couldn’t since he wasn’t a citizen. Set the precedent that black people were never really free.

John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry

• John Brown went to Harper’s Ferry, Virginia to take over. He made an army of 21 men launching a raid on an armory to get weapons for slaves. Marines came to stop the rebellion executing him.

• John Brown's actions represented the north as a whole to the southerner. Considered the tipping point since the south saw him as a crazy man who would do anything to prevent peace, escalating tensions even more.