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The Compromise of 1850
Were laws that were passed to keep the peace between the northern and southern states. They made California a free state and created the Fugitive Slave Law, where all the Northern states were to return escaped slaves from the South. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote about the harsh realities of slavery. This book lead to a lot of Northerners becoming abolitionists (people against slavery). -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Was an act that allowed Kansas and Nebraska to vote on if they wanted to have slavery. Unfortunately, it lead to the battle of "bleeding Kansas," where pro and anti slavery settlers fought violently. -
Violence in Kansas
Continued fighting in Kansas made it obvious that the North and South were not making peace anytime soon. Violence would include breaking and entering anti-slavery settler's homes and beating or killing abolitionists or pro-slavery settlers. -
Dred Scott v. Stanford
Was a Supreme Court case that involved a runaway slave named Dred Scott. The decision lead abolitionists in outrage because it declared that enslaved people were not considered citizens of the United States. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Were a series of debates lead by Abraham Lincoln and Stephan Douglas. They focused on slavery while running for Senate in Illinois, this lead to Lincoln's popularity. -
John Brown's Raid
Was a raid lead by John Brown into Harper's Ferry, Virginia. His attempt to start a rebellion with enslaved people was fruitless, but he was executed and viewed as a hero for the abolitionists. -
Abraham Lincoln's start in presidency
Lincoln was elected as president with no votes from the South. His support came from the North with his promise to stop the spread of slavery. This also came with the hope of complete abolishment of slavery. -
The Seceding of South Carolina.
Because South Carolina was afraid of losing their right to own slaves, they decided to seceded from the United States. They were the first state to leave, and began the trend of other states seceding. -
Formation of the Confederate States
Several Southern states joined together to make the Confederate States of America. They elected Jefferson Davis as their president. -
The Beginning of the American Civil War
The first battle of the U.S. Civil War took place in Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Confederates attacked the North, marking the start of the war.