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Introduction: A Timeline of Major Events during the 1850's

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Introduction: A Timeline of Major Events during the 1850's

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In this Padlet, Kima Radoncic, Aurora Domaszowec, Jeanna Raphael, Jacky Chan and Silvano Spagnuolo explore how a series of defining conflicts in the 1850's set the stage for the American Civil War.

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Senator Steven A. Douglas wanted desperately to build a cross country railroad to his hometown, Chicago. However, in order to appease the southerners, who would not vote on a train running only through free states, Douglas proposed that Kansas and Nebraska (the land the train would run through) should be able to choose whether they would allow slavery or not through popular sovereignty. This completely destroyed the Missouri Compromise, which was basically the last barrier separating the U.S from total war, as now the North and the South battled over every territory.

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After the Kansas Nebraska Bill became a law, there was a boom in people traveling to Kansas to vote for or against slavery. This is because in the law, it never stated when the state would make their decision about slavery so people rushed in hopes of being the majority that decided the states fate. People became extremely violent because they desperately believed in their side and this violence sparked discussion all across the country. This caused more people to take sides and more opposition between the North and South.

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The events in Kansas reached all the way to Charles Sumner,  a senator from Massachusetts. He wrote and delivered a speech, 'The Crime Against Kansas' that insulted a large amount of Southern senators. Preston Brooks, a representative from South Carolina, took this into his own hands and on May 22nd, 1856, he snuck into the Senator Chamber with a metal cane and profusely beat Sumner. After this Sumner and Brooks were seen as heroes in their own worlds, but the tensions were high in the North and South as they were no longer on friendly terms with one another.

https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Caning_of_Senator_Charles_Sumner.htm

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Dred Scott, an enslaved man, was taken by his master across the United States to the states of Illinois and Minnesota where slavery had become outlawed by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the Missouri Compromise, respectively. Upon returning from this continental trip to Missouri, Scott sued for his freedom, resulting in his case being examined by the Supreme Court of the United States. Before deciding whether Scott was free or enslaved, the court wavered on whether he had a right "to bring suit". By the court's logic, because Scott was enslaved, he was property. Because he was property, he could not be a citizen, and because he could not be a citizen, he could not "bring suit". By an overwhelming margin of 7:2, the court ruled that Scott could neither bring suit, nor be emancipated. Following suit, both the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the Missouri Compromise were deemed unconstitutional, because the Constitution never empowered Congress with the ability to "...deprive a citizen... of his slaves in the territories...". Abolitionists were outraged by the decision and were determined to overturn it, while Southerners rejoiced at Congress' endorsement of the slavery, and eagerly anticipated the spread of slavery to Northern territories.

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A religious zealot, John Brown believed fiercely that all people should be free. With a band of 18 followers, Brown seized the federal arsenal at Harper's ferry and forcibly freed around 30 enslaved people by raiding nearby plantations. All but 5 of Brown's followers were killed and Brown himself was publicly executed. Though Brown was not supported in his endeavor by many, his impact was colossal. Southerners feared he was part of a great conspiracy, meanwhile his death turned him into a martyr and led thousands to fight for freedom.

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In a four way race, Lincoln won in the electoral college (with 180 votes to 123 for all others), but received only 39 percent of the popular vote. With Lincoln's election, South Carolina declared its secession from USA and then by February 1861, six more other states adopted similar secession. The seceded state formed a new constitution and called themselves the Confederate States of America. This reaction was due to the fact that the South wanted to continue slavery and did not believe that Lincoln would support their endeavors.

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Ft. Sumter was one of the vital locations that was sought to be occupied by both the Union and the Confederates. Since Ft. Sumter was highly prioritized, the Union stood their ground but would soon secede the land as the Confederates had sent out a bombardment order on the location. With regard to the tactical positions Ft. Sumter provided, it would also be represented as the "first, quickest, and the most bloodless battle of the war" or the start of the Civil War.