EVENTS LEADING TO THE CIVIL WAR

MISSOURI COMPROMISE

• March 3rd, 1820
• Established the 36' 30' line
• Primary source-Missouri Compromise

TARIFF OF ABOMINATIONS

• May 5th, 1828
• Tax protecting Northern industry
• South had to pay higher prices for goods
• Drove the two sides even further apart, tensions grew
• Primary source- Tariff of Abominations

NAT TURNER'S REBELLION

• August 21st, 1831
• Ignited fear in slave owners
• Tightened restrictions on slaves in south
• Primary source-political cartoon

END OF MEXICAN WAR

• February 2nd, 1848
• US gained many new territories
• Much dispute on if the would be slave/anti slave states
• Primary source-Treaty of Guadeloupe-Hidalgo

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH

• Gold first discovered-January 1st, 1848
• Population rose; eventually became free state
• South felt threatened by the admission of another free state
• Primary source-Compromise of 1850 that made it a free state

COMPROMISE OF 1850

• September of 1850
• Set balance of Senate on the North
• Primary Source-Compromise of 1850

FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT

• September 18th, 1850
• Sent abolitionists into an uproar
• Pushed undecided to anti-slavery
• Primary source-Fugitive Slave Act

UNCLE TOM'S CABIN IS PUBLISHED

• March 20th, 1852
• Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe; shows horrors of slavery
• Primary source-book itself

HARRIET TUBMAN ESCAPES

• April 20th, 1853
• After her escape she helped many slaves escape
• Primary source-her letter to Lincoln

KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT

• May of 1854
• Popular sovereignty violated Missouri Compromise
• Enraged Northerners
• Primary source-Kansas Nebraska Act

BLEEDING KANSAS

• 1854-1858
• Caused by Kansas Nebraska Act
• Much violence between pro/anti-slavery supporters
• Increased tensions between the two sides
• Primary source-political cartoon

CHARLES SUMNER IS ATTACKED

• May 22nd, 1856
• Sumner was attacked by pro slavery congressman
• Drove both sides further apart
• Primary source-

DRED SCOT DECISION

• March 6th, 1857
• Slaves didn't have rights as citizens of the US
• Primary source- article from the "Evening Journal" 3/9/1857

KANSAS BECOMES FREE STATE

• January 29th, 1858
• The North won over the South on the issue
• Primary source-Lecompton Constitution

LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES

• 1858
• Douglas and Lincoln debate issues such as slavery
• Lincoln was thrown into the spotlight, helping his presidency campaign
• Primary source-transcripts from the debates

JOHN BROWN'S RAID

• October 16th, 1859
• Brown planned to ignite a rebellion;plans failed
• Brown was hanged, but regarded as a hero in the North
• Primary source-address of John Brown

ELECTION OF 1860

• South threatened to secede if Lincoln won
• Lincoln won
• Primary source-Inaugural address

SOUTH CAROLINA SECEDES FROM UNION

• December 20th, 1860
• Many southern states follow SC's lead
• Primary source-Ordinance of Secession

ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER

• April 12-14th, 1861
• Confederates attack the fort with no real cause
• Primary source- "Fort Sumter" song by Dr. Barnstable

CALL TO ACTION AT FORT SUMTER

• After the battle
• Lincoln calls for 75,000 volunteers to crush rebellion
• Primary source-Lincoln's proclamation(name wasn't given)