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1854
Two new territories, Kansas and Nebraska, were created in 1854. Senator Douglas wanted to build a transcontinental railroad across the country, so he proposed giving both of these states popular sovereignty, or choice when it came to whether or not to have slavery in their state in hopes his bill would pass with Southern senators. However, these states were above the Missouri Compromise line, breaking the Compromise of 1850. This created many conflicts, from angry settlers in Kansas burning buildings, looting homes, and killing those for or against slavery, to the beating of South Carolina Senator Charles Sumner on the Congress floor. This conflict bitterly divided the country into rivals and created the two political parties we still have today, 170 years later: the Democrats and the Republicans. All of this began to build tension around slavery toward war and bring the country a bit closer to emancipation.

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March 6, 1857
A former slave, Dred Scott, sued for his freedom after moving to the Wisconsin territory, arguing that as he was living in free territory, he should be a free man. The Supreme Court ruled on this case, deciding in a close vote of 5 to 4 that Dred Scott was not a citizen, and therefore could not sue for his freedom. This made it clear that no African American, whether they were free or a slave, was or could ever be an American citizen. The court secondly ruled that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional, as it equated to taking away the property of slaveholders. This decision caused outrage throughout the North and celebration in the South, deepening the divide between the two groups and hurtling them towards a war in which slavery would either prevail or be demolished.

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1860
The presidential election of 1860 ended in the election of Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln. The Republican party was united behind Lincoln, while on the other hand, the Democratic party was split between Northerners and Southerners. Northern Democrats supported Stephen Douglas while Southern Democrats endorsed Kentuckian John C. Breckinridge. Another party was formed from Southern Whigs, the Constitutional Union Party, which nominated their own candidate and added more complexity to the election. Abraham Lincoln famously won the election with 40% of the vote, entirely from Northern states. This led Southerners to fear that they no longer had any voice, and the North would soon abolish slavery. This election began talks of secession between Southern states, one of the larger steps to emancipation and the end of slavery in the United States.

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September 1862
This Battle took place along Antietam Creek in Maryland between the Union and the Confederates. It began when Confederate General Robert E. Lee sent troops into Maryland, a state within the Union, hoping this would convince Maryland to join the Confederacy through a show of power. However, when the two armies met, the Confederates were badly outnumbered by Union General George McClellan, who attacked vigorously. The next day, the Confederates retreated into Virginia. This battle was seen as "a defeat for both armies" in the eyes of many, as thousands of soldiers on both sides were killed. More Americans were killed on this day than in the entirety of the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. This made the Battle of Antietam the bloodiest day in the Civil War. This victory was used by President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, as the Union had now secured a victory. This was the next step toward ending slavery in the Union once and for all.

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January 1, 1863
President Abraham Lincoln decided that in order to keep the Confederacy from receiving European help from those against slavery, he had to take a stand opposing it. However, it was not the full liberation that many slaves and abolitionists hoped for. Instead, it was more of an ultimatum, stating that all Confederate slaves would be free if the seceded states did not rejoin the Union before January 1st, 1863. This was promptly ignored by the Confederates. However, for those in the Union, this proclamation gave a new meaning to the Civil War: a fight for freedom and justice. Although the document allowed states in the Union to keep their slaves, it gave hope that one day, not far in the future, slavery might truly be ended, forever.

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May-July 1863
Vicksburg, Mississippi was a city that sat along the Mississippi River. By obtaining it, Union General Ulysses S. Grant hoped that he might also obtain control of the Mississippi. For six weeks, Grants forces hammered the city with bombshells from boats, all while troops attacked on land. The people of Vicksburg had almost no food, forced to eat whatever they could find. They built small shelters as homes and buildings were destroyed, and their town was ravaged. Finally, with meager supplies and sparse sustenance, the town of Vicksburg surrendered on July 4, 1863. By surrendering on the 4th of July, the Confederates hoped to secure a better deal from the Union on their Independence Day. This day was not celebrated in Vicksburg for another 81 years. The Union now controlled the Mississippi River, which weakened the Confederacy and divided it in two. Vicksburg was another battle that turned the war in the favor of the Union, bringing the country closer back to unity and therefore propelling the Union in the direction of the end of slavery.

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January 31, 1865
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution ended slavery throughout the United States of America. Abraham Lincoln fought hard during the last year of his life and presidency for the amendment to be passed by Congress, however, he was then assassinated in April 1865. Lincoln's vice president and successor, Andrew Johnson, then made the ratification of the 13th Amendment a requirement for Confederate states to be readmitted into the Union. Three-fourths of the states in the U.S. then ratified the amendment on December 6, 1865, making it an official addition to the Constitution. The 14th Amendment, with shortly followed the 13th, made every person born in the United States automatically a citizen. These amendments were the final step at the end of slavery based on race, although there was still a long fight for equality to be had. This battle is still being fought to this day, and it will take every person and politician in the United States to finally put an end to racism.