Road to Civil War

Death of Elijah P. Lovejay (1837)
  • November 7, 1857
  • considered first casualty of Civil War
  • abolitionist, newspaper The Observer
  • killed by mob while dfending his printing press in its warehouse
Wilmont Priviso (1846)
  • proposed by David Wilmont to House of Reps during Mexican War
  • Was an attempt to ban slavery in the Mexican Seccession
  • Failed to pass the Senate
Compromise of 1850
  • proposed by Stephen Douglas
  • Califpornia enter Union as free state
  • ppl in New Mexico and Utah territory vote whether free or slave (popular soverigty)
  • Rio Grande new broder of Texas
  • Slave trade abolished in D.C.
Fugitive Slave Act
  • if slaves escape into free territory, still considered property and must be returned
  • North nullified this act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
  • popular soverignty in Kansas and Nebraska
  • nullified Missouri Compromise
Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher (1852)
  • dramatized slave condition
  • instant bestseller
  • intensified racial tensions
  • was a response to the Fugitive Slave Act
  • South said it was all lies and an insult
Bleeding Kansas (1854)
  • provoked by Kansas-Nebraska Act
  • violent and bloody political meetings in Kansas between anti-slavery "Free Soilers" and pro-slavery :Border Ruffians"
  • flocked to Kanasas to influence popular sovereignty vote in Kansas
  • Kansas admitted as free state
Brooks/Sumner (1856)
  • Sumner and Brooks butted heads about Sumner's speeck "The Crime Against Kansas"
  • Brooks hit Sumner on the head several times with his cane
  • Sumner tried to get away and failed
  • Brooks continued to beat Sumner until his cane broke
  • After which, Brooks left
Pottawattamie Massacre (1856)
  • response to Brooks/Sumner and the sacking of Lawrence bypro-slavery southerners
  • led by John Brown
  • Brown and opthers entered Pottawatomie Creek (a pro-slavery) town
  • Armed with rifles, knives, and broadswords
  • killed 5 people
Dred Scott Decision (1858)
  • Dread Scott sued for his freedom
  • decision by "majority opinnion" said that since Scott was black, he was not considered a citizen and had no right to sue
  • also stated that the Missouri Compromise of 1820 was unconstitutional
  • many northerners outraged at verydict, southerners satisfied
Lincoln/Douglas Debates (858)
  • Douglas for popular sovereignty
  • Lincoln says we're either all slave or all free
  • 7 debates
  • Lincoln lost
John Brown Raid at Harpers Ferry (1859)
  • October 16. 1859
  • brown and several others attempted to seize the U.S. Armory and Arsenal at Harper's Ferry
  • Robert E Lee and Army sent in
  • 10 of Brown's men killed, 7 captured, 5 escaped
  • Brown and others tried and executed
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