Created by SP7b04 on Apr 1, 2011
Last updated: 04/13/11 at 07:19 AM
The Troubled Path: 11 Events that Led to the Civil War...(1800-1859) has no followers yet. Be the first one to follow.
www.google.com/images United States History- Beginnings to 1877 ( textbook) Copyright 2007 http://americanhistory.about.com http://www.youtube.com www.national center.org/FugitiveSlaveAct.html http://americancivilwar.com/colored/dred_scott.html http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-civilwartimeline.html
John Brown, along with 17 other men, raids the arsenal in Virginia hoping to start a slave uprising using the weapons he captured. His attack failed because slaves were too scared to take part in a rebellion. Eight of his men and three local men were killed. John and some others retreated to a firehouse. The next day Colonel Robert E. Lee ordered a squad of marines to break into the firehouse . In a few seconds, the marines killed two men and captured the rest. Brown was convicted of murder, conspiracy, and treason. There were some death sentences sent to some of his captured men. The judge ordered John Brown to be hung. This was carried out one month later. On December 2nd, 1859, many northerners mourned at Brown's death. Abraham Lincoln said John " agreed with us for thinking slavery wrong." Lincoln continued however, " That cannot excuse violence, bloodshead, and treason."
Dred Scott, a slave, went to court and stated that he was a free man because he lived on free soil when his master took him with him on buisness trips. He lived in free states for almost nine years. After his master died, he sued saying that he should then be a free man. The Court ruled that his petition could not be seen because he was not a citizen. This case went further and lasted 10 years where ultimately he was ruled a slave at the end. :(
Along Pottawatomie Creek on the night of May 24th, John Brown led his men in a rebellion. Brown ended up killing five pro-slavery men in Kansas. Brown pulled the men out of their cabins and killed them with swords.
U.S Senator Charls Sumner of Massachusetts was attacked by Representive Preston Brooks with a walking cane. This happened on the floor of the Senate. Sumner was attacked because he was critisizing pro-slavery people in Kansas and personally insulted Brooks's cousin.
A political party is created to try to stop the spread of slavery. Called he Republican party , it consists of Whigs, Free-Soilers, and abolitionists. The Whig Party fell apart because the northern and southern Whigs would not work together. The Democrats were in trouble because those who supported the Kansas- Nebraska Act were NOT re-elected.
This plan, proposed by Congressman Stephen Douglas in January of 1854, stated that the remainder of land from the Louisana Purchase would be divided into two territories: Nebraska and Kansas. The question of slavery in these states would be decided by the people in the states. This was called, "popular sovereignty". Gory conflicts resulted between anti-slavery and pro-slavery groups.
Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel called Uncle Tom's Cabin is published and 300,000 copies are bought in just three months. The North now knows what is happening with slavery in the South.
The Fugitive Slave Act was part of the Compromise of 1850. This act stated that any federal officer who did not arrest a run away slave would be liable to pay a fine. The passing of this act helped to encourage the Underground Railroad to continue to operate.
The Compromise of 1850 stated that California was able to enter the union as a free state, but the rest of the Mexican Cession would be divided into two new territories: Utah and New Mexico. Here the question of whether it would be slave or free would be decided through popular sovereignty.
The end of the war between the U.S. and Mexico posed a question. Since Mexico had to turn over most of its northern territory, would these new states be considered free states or slave states? Alot of Americans moved to the southwest after the war ended. How would Congress handle the question?
A slave and named Gabriel Prosser decided to bargain for his freedom by planning to capture Governor James Monore in Richmond, Virgina and hold him hostage. He and other slaves were captured and killed. :( Gabrial Prosser was a blacksmith on his plantation.

