Causes of the American Civil War

Missouri was allowed to join the Union as a slave state, only if in return Maine would join as a free state. The balance of slave states and free states was a conflict for many years leading up to the Civil War

• Kansas Nebraska Act

• Missouri Compromise

• Compromise of 1850

In this deal, the North agreed to the Fugitive Slave Law (any escaped slaves must be returned to their owners). The South agreed to allow California to be admitted to the Union as a free state

• Compromise of 1850

• Kansas Nebraska Act

• Underground Railroad

Nebraska and Kansas could each could decide if they would allow slavery. The pro-slavery side won in Kansas but it led to “Bleeding Kansas,” a series of violent clashes between anti-slavery and pro-slavery supporters. 

• Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Underground Railroad

• Missouri Compromise

An organized secret system of safe houses, set up to help enslaved people escape slavery in the South. This filled slave owners with fear and caused deeper division between the North and South.

• Supreme Court case of Dred Scott

• Underground Railroad

• Harper’s Ferry Attack

An enslaved man claimed he was free when his owner died. It was ruled he had no rights because African Americans were not citizens. This case motivated many abolitionists to fight for equality

• Underground Railroad

• Harper’s Ferry Attack

• Supreme Court case of Dred Scott

Abolitionist John Brown, attacked slavery supporters in Virginia. He stole weapons from the army and attempted a raid. He was stopped but the fight over slavery was growing more intense

• Underground Railroad

• Harper’s Ferry Attack

• Supreme Court case of Dred Scott

Lincoln became president. Many Southerners feared he would end slavery. Northerners supported him

• Election of 1860

• Creation of Confederate States of America

• Attack on Fort Sumter

11 States left (seceded from) the Union. They created their own constitution and elected their own president, Jefferson Davis. They would fight against the Union in the Civil War.

• Election of 1860

• Creation of Confederate States of America

• Attack on Fort Sumter

Confederate forces opened fire and the Union was forced to surrender. Noone was killed but the event marked the start of the Civil War

• Election of 1860

• Creation of Confederate States of America

• Attack on Fort Sumter