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Several significant events precipitated the onset of the American Civil War. The following are key events listed in chronological order:

In 1819, settlers in the Missouri Territory petitioned to join the Union as a slave state.
If Missouri was admitted as a slave state, it would shift the balance of power, leading to slave states outnumbering free states.
A compromise was reached:
- Missouri was admitted as a slave state.
- Maine was admitted as a free state, preserving the balance in Congress.
- Any new territory added to the U.S. would be divided along the Missouri Compromise line, with states north being designated as free states and those to the south as slave states.

In August 1831, Nat Turner, an enslaved man, led a rebellion that escalated across several plantations in Virginia.
Turner and approximately 70 enslaved participants killed around 60 white individuals during the uprising.
The rebellion lasted for 2 days, culminating in the execution of 55 slaves who were involved.
In response to the uprising, Virginia and other slave states enacted new laws to restrict the rights of enslaved people:
- These laws made it illegal for enslaved individuals to assemble or gain an education.

David Wilmot attempted to pass legislation to ban slavery in any new territory acquired from Mexico following the Mexican-American War.
The Wilmot Proviso was presented multiple times over a span of 2 years but ultimately failed to pass.

The Compromise of 1850 resulted in a series of legislative decisions:
- California joined the Union as a free state.
- The territories of New Mexico and Utah were established, allowing them to decide on the legality of slavery through popular sovereignty.
- The Fugitive Slave Law was enacted, mandating severe penalties for those who assisted enslaved individuals in escaping.

Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, depicted the brutal realities of slavery, gaining immense popularity.
The book became the second-best selling book in America during the 19th century.
It served as a catalyst for nationwide discussions regarding slavery, deepening the divide between Northern and Southern states over the issue.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 stipulated that settlers in Kansas and Nebraska could determine whether slavery would be allowed in their territories through a popular vote.
This led to violent conflict known as Bleeding Kansas, where pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions fought for control of the territory.
Over the course of 5 years, more than 50 individuals were killed in the violence surrounding this conflict.

Dred Scott, an enslaved person from Virginia, initiated a lawsuit seeking his freedom based on his residence in free territories.
The case escalated to the Supreme Court, which ruled that Scott was considered property and thus had no legal rights under the law.
The Dred Scott Decision reinforced the rights of Southern slaveholders and legally justified the institution of slavery.

John Brown, an abolitionist, led a raid on a federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, aiming to initiate an armed slave rebellion.
Brown and his group included both white abolitionists and free blacks, intending to distribute weapons to enslaved individuals to fight against their oppressors.
The raid was unsuccessful; Brown was captured by federal troops and subsequently executed for treason against the state.

Abraham Lincoln was elected as the President of the United States in November 1860.
His anti-slavery stance incited fear among Southern states, leading to a seismic political shift.
In the ensuing months, 7 Southern states chose to secede from the Union, marking a significant fracture within the nation.

The first official military engagement of the Civil War occurred when President Lincoln attempted to resupply Union forces at Fort Sumter, located in South Carolina.
Confederate forces blockaded the supply ships, leading to an assault on the fort.
The bombardment lasted for 34 hours, resulting in the Union troops' surrender when they exhausted their ammunition, marking the commencement of the Civil War.