KEY EVENTS LEADING TO THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

Manifest Destiny The acquisition of new territory sparked a rush of people claiming land. 1.As new territory grew it would apply for statehood 2.Will it be free or slave?

Remember the Alamo! Large amounts of American settlers moved in to the Texas territory, causing America to annex it Fighting with Mexican hosts leads to Texas declaring Independence Texas is an independent nation for 9 years until America agrees to annex it.

Mexican American War The Annexation of Texas upsets Mexico 1.They dispute over which river should be the border 2.President James K Polk claims Mexico invades 3.America wages war on Mexico 4.Treaty with Mexico cedes lands (California)

The Mexican Cession

COMPROMISE OF 1850 The United States had recently acquired a vast territory -- the result of its war with Mexico. Should the territory allow slavery, or should it be declared free? Or maybe the inhabitants should be allowed to choose for themselves? STATES / TERRITORIESSLAVERYFREE New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah Organized without mention of slavery. Washington D.C.Slave Trade would be abolished in the District of Columbia, although slavery would still be permitted. CaliforniaTo pacify slave-state politicians, who would have objected to the imbalance created by adding another free state, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed.

FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW OF 1850 Pro-slavery Americans were angered by the shift in balance towards free states with California becoming a free state. Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened to prevent further turmoil (1793) Mandated that all escaped slaves must be returned to their masters, and - more crucially for the impending war - that ordinary citizens were required to aid slave catchers. FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT “WARNING POSTER” April 24, 1851

ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT Frederick Douglass – a runaway slave was a leading abolitionist in America. Abolitionism – movement to end the slave trade and emancipate slaves. William Lloyd Garrison founded the American Anti-Slavery Society Harriet Tubman– a runaway slave that led others to freedom on underground RR

Dred Scott Decision of 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford case of 1857 made its way to the Supreme Court Dred his wife Harriet were slaves. He followed his master Dr. John Emerson and into Illinois. Illinois and Wisconsin Terr. was a free state and Dred Scott was able to make a claim for his freedom - but he didn’t. Then he moved to Missouri and later to Louisiana with Dr. Emerson – both states in which slavery was legal. Dr. Emerson died in 1843 and his wife sold Dred Scott to an Army captain. Dred Scott tried to buy his freedom from Emerson’s wife but was denied. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 against Scott.

Why did the Dred Scott decision discourage future compromises in Congress? The Supreme Court ruled that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories, so members of Congress could no longer set aside land as free territory as part of a compromise. Effects of Scott v. Sanford Slaves, because they were not citizens, were denied the right to sue in court. Enslaved people could not win freedom simply be living in a free territory or state. The Missouri Compromise was ruled unconstitutional and all territories were opened to slavery. Dred Scott Decision of 1857

Kansas – Nebraska Act Senator Stephen Douglas (Illinois) drafted a bill to organize territorial government for the Nebraska Territory Proposed that it be divided into two territories – Nebraska and Kansas The new Republican Party, which was created in opposition to the act, aimed to stop the expansion of slavery, and soon emerged as the dominant force throughout the North. To get support for bill, he suggested that the decision about whether to allow slavery in each of these territories be settled by popular sovereignty – a system where residents vote to decide an issue Bill passed and got rid of Missouri Compromise of 1820 and angered opponents of slavery.

Kansas – Nebraska Act

Bleeding Kansas A series of violent events, involving anti-slavery Free- Staters and pro-slavery "Border Ruffian" elements, Pro and anti slavery settlers disputed the vote and began killing one another over the course of two years First real bloodshed over slavery in America

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry Militant-abolitionist and folk-hero. Advocated armed insurrection to end all slavery. “The Raid” was an attempt by white abolitionist John Brown to start an armed slave revolt by seizing a United States Arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia in Brown's raid was defeated by a detachment of U.S. Marines (88) led by Col. Robert E. Lee. Strength 88 U.S. Marines Virginia Militia Maryland Militia 16 white men 3 free blacks 1 freed slave 1 fugitive slave Casualties and losses 1 killed 1 wounded 10 killed 7 captured 4 escaped Brown was executed – at his execution was John Wilkes Booth

Election of 1860 NORTHSOUTH Abraham Lincoln opposed expansion of slavery into territories. Breckenridge insisted that federal government be required to protect slavery in any new territory. Douglas and Bell Didn’t want new laws on slavery Lincoln defeated Breckenridge in the north. Douglas and Bell won only the states between Deep South and the North Because North had more people than South, Lincoln won the election Turned out to be two different races for presidency.

Election of 1860 | electoral results Lincoln:180 | Breckenridge:72 | Bell: 39 | Douglas: 12