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When Missouri applied for statehood in 1819, there was much debate about Missouri being admitted as a slave state or free state, as it was north the Ohio River. Ultimately, a new compromise was reached as Missouri would be added to the United States as a slave state, and a new boundary would be established across the remainder of the Louisiana Territory.

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The Missouri Compromise seemed to be working up until the 1830's when The Second Great Awakening encouraged anti-slavery efforts in Congress. In 1836, Congress implemented the "Gag Rule" which indefinitely set aside all anti-slavery petitions.

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Slaves continued to attempt to escape from their owners following Nat Turner's revolt. They were assisted by people in the north who did not support slavery. This angered southern slaveholders who demanded a fugitive slave law be passed in Congress.

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The Compromise of 1850 was created to please both the north and the south. The compromise included the following four acts: California would be admitted as a free state; New Mexico and Utah would be allowed to vote for themselves; slave markets would be banned in Washington, D.C.; and the Fugitive Slave Act would be implemented.

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The Fugitive Slave Act in particular peeved northerners as they were forced to capture and return runaway slaves regardless of their beliefs.

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The Nebraska-Kansas Act was a bill proposed by Stephen A. Douglas with the hope to organize the territories of Nebraska and Kansas into states. Douglas' ultimate vision was to build a national railroad that stretched all the way to California.

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Following the passing of the Nebraska-Kansas Act of 1854, many settlers moved to Kansas to either support or argue against the issue of slavery. The disputes over slavery started to become extremely violent with instances of physical violence occurring.

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Members of Congress were now at odds following the violence experienced in Kansas. In 1856, Preston Brooks attacked and beat Charles Sumner on the Senate floor. This occurred two days after Sumner verbally insulted another Senator, Stephen Douglas.

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In 1858, an African American slave named Dred Scott sued his owner for his freedom. He argued that since his owner brought him to Wisconsin which was a free state, he therefore earned his freedom. However, the courts did not agree with Scott stating that he had no right to sue his owner as he was not a U.S. citizen. It was also decided that he would not receive his freedom as the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.

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A lawyer from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln decided to challenge Stephen A. Douglas for a state Senate seat. Lincoln ran as a part of the newly formed Republican Party. During a series of debates, Lincoln forced Douglas into explaining his view on slavery.

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After losing the Senate seat to Douglas, Lincoln decided to run for president in the 1860 race. Ultimately, Lincoln won the presidential race with only forty percent of the vote, all of which were cast in the north.

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The South was not happy following Lincoln's election. Talk had started to fill the country about the south's possible succession. On December 20, 1860 the south voted to leave the Union and form the Confederate States of America.