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Free Soil Party Candidates- Martin Van Buren on the left. C.T. Adams on the right. 

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In 1848, a new party formed that was based on the idea of prohibiting slavery in New U.S. territories acquired from the Mexican Session. It was joined mainly by Northerners. Free-Soil helped convince Northerners that slave power and southern wants were prioritized by the federal government. Although this party did win some seats in Congress, they were unable to be strongly unified, eventually dissolving to join the new Republican party.

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Map of U.S., around 1850, of free vs slave territory

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This compromise, proposed by Henry Clay and Stephen Douglas, was passed in the Senate to admit California as a free state and leave the slavery decision to popular sovereignty- letting the people who live in the new territories decide. The compromise also enforced the Fugitive Slave Act that angered Northerners who did want anything to do with 'capturing and returning runaway slaves.' This would only postpone the growing hostilities between the North and South.

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In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published the novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" that depicted slave life and it's horrors. It brought slavery to the mainstage for Northerners who had previously remained unmoved on both sides of the matter. Southerners viewed this as an outrageous book, however, consistently claiming that slavery was a 'good thing' and that slaves were treated 'like family.' The novel was the 2nd best-selling book in 19th century America, behind the Bible. It widened Northern and Southern divisions.

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In March of 1854, a new political party was formed: Republican. They were formed from the slavery debate, emerging as those opposed to its spread. Abraham Lincoln is credited as a founder, with Jacob M. Howard giving the party it's name. Northerners supported this party while Southerners most clearly would not.

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May 30th, 1854: The U.S. passed an act formed the Nebraska and Kansas territories, signed by President Franklin Pierce. This was proposed by Senator Steven Douglas. The North did not want slavery to spread to these new areas and were critical of popular sovereignty.

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As a result of the Kansas Nebraska Act, settlers from both South and North states rushed into Kansas in attempts to sway the vote on slavery. Most notably John Brown, who was a violent opponent of slavery. Violence soon broke out and this bloodshed scene would last about 5 years, killing over 50 people.

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In 1857, the U.S. Supreme court ruled that slaves were "pieces of property" and not human beings. Thus they had no legal rights as a human to testify for their freedom. This decision erupted political balances that managed to prevent a civil war. The North was outraged while of course the South was happy the government was on their side.

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In 1858, for a Illinois senate seat in congress, an 'unknown' Abraham Lincoln runs against Stephen Douglas, who is trying to get reelected. In their debates the jarring topic of slavery came up. This would haunt Douglas in his presidential campaign in 1860, unlike Lincoln whom it propelled to the national spotlight. These were the debates where Lincoln delivered his famous "A house divided against himself cannot stand" speech.

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October of 1859, John Brown led a raid on the federal armory and arsenal to capture arms for further anti-slavery uprisings. He and his men were stopped however by Robert E. Lee and a small marine force. Brown and his men were captured. It ended with causalities on both sides. Brown was convicted of treason in the state of Virginia and hung. This event caused fear in the South that abolitionists would advocate against slavery with violence.

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Abraham Lincoln / The in-progress white house

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In 1860, Lincoln was elected president despite him not winning the majority of votes. His electoral win was viewed as the beginning of a "chain of events" that would erupt into civil war next April. He is the first republican to be elected president. In his campaign, he carried all of the free states but none of the slave states. After the election results were announced, southern leaders began meeting and talking of seceding from the U.S. On December 20th, South Carolina Seceded. The rest of the southern states would soon follow.