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The Compromise of 1850 was a package of five separate bills passed by the United States Congress in September 1850 that defused a political confrontation between slave and free states on the status of territories acquired during the Mexican–American War. It also set Texas's borders and included a more stringent Fugitive Slave Act.

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1852: Publication of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'

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1852: Publication of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'

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Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' was published, becoming a bestseller and influencing public opinion on slavery. The book depicted the harsh conditions for enslaved African Americans and helped to intensify the sectional conflict leading to the Civil War.

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The Kansas-Nebraska Act, proposed by Senator Stephen Douglas, established the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed the settlers to determine whether slavery would be allowed through 'popular sovereignty'. This act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and led to violent confrontations in Kansas.

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Following the Kansas-Nebraska Act, pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers rushed into Kansas to influence the vote on slavery. This resulted in a series of violent confrontations and political conflicts known as 'Bleeding Kansas', serving as a prelude to the Civil War.

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The United States Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not American citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court. This decision also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, allowing slavery in all U.S. territories.

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A series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas during the Illinois state election campaign. These debates primarily focused on the issue of slavery expansion into the territories and brought Lincoln to national prominence.

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1859: John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry

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1859: John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry

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Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), in an attempt to start a slave uprising. The raid failed, and Brown was captured, tried for treason, and executed. This event further polarized the North and South over the issue of slavery.

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The Democratic Party split into Northern and Southern factions over the issue of slavery in the territories. This division weakened the party and contributed to the election of Republican Abraham Lincoln as president.

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November 6, 1860: Abraham Lincoln Elected President

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November 6, 1860: Abraham Lincoln Elected President

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Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate, was elected as the 16th President of the United States. His election was seen as a threat to the institution of slavery by many Southerners, despite Lincoln's assurances that he wouldn't interfere with slavery where it already existed.

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December 20, 1860: South Carolina Secedes

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December 20, 1860: South Carolina Secedes

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South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union in response to Lincoln's election. This action set the stage for the formation of the Confederate States of America and the outbreak of the Civil War.

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February 8, 1861: Confederate States of America Formed

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February 8, 1861: Confederate States of America Formed

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Seven Southern states that had seceded from the Union formed the Confederate States of America, electing Jefferson Davis as their president. This marked the formal establishment of a rival government to the United States.