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The Missouri Compromise was an agreement that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It also banned slavery north of the 36°30' latitude in the Louisiana Territory. The goal was to keep the balance between free and slave states.

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Who Benefitted? The North benefitted because it limited the spread of slavery, but the South also got Missouri as a slave state. However, it was only a temporary fix to a growing problem.

Significance: This event was important because it showed how divided the country was over slavery. It tried to keep things peaceful but only delayed the real conflict.

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Manifest Destiny was the belief that the U.S. was meant to expand across the continent. President James K. Polk pushed for this idea, leading to the annexation of Texas and more land being added to the U.S.

Who Benefitted? The South benefited more because new lands meant more opportunities to expand slavery. The North worried that this would give the South too much power.

Significance: This idea fueled tension because the North and South both wanted to control new territories. It made the slavery debate even worse.

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As the North became more industrial and the South relied on slavery, both regions developed different economies and lifestyles. This made them see each other as separate rather than united.

Who Benefitted? Neither side really benefitted because it only increased tension and made war more likely.

Significance: Sectionalism divided the country, making it harder to compromise. This division led directly to the Civil War.

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The U.S. fought Mexico over land disputes and won, gaining a huge amount of territory through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This included present-day California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Who Benefitted? The South saw this as a chance to expand slavery, while the North wanted the land to be free. This made sectionalism even stronger.

Significance: The war added land but also made the North and South argue more about slavery, pushing them closer to war.

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This compromise let California enter as a free state, ended the slave trade in Washington, D.C., and allowed new territories to decide on slavery by popular vote. It also included the Fugitive Slave Act, which made Northerners return escaped slaves.

Who Benefitted? The North got California as a free state, but the South gained the Fugitive Slave Act. However, it only made tensions worse.

Significance: Instead of solving problems, it angered both sides. The North hated returning slaves, and the South felt like slavery was still under attack.

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This law let the people in Kansas and Nebraska vote on whether to allow slavery. It overturned the Missouri Compromise, which had banned slavery in these areas.

Who Benefitted? The South benefited because it opened up more land for slavery, but it also led to violence.

Significance: "Bleeding Kansas" happened because of this act, with pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups fighting. It showed how bad the divide was.

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The Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott, a slave who lived in free territory, was still a slave and had no rights. The court also said Congress couldn't ban slavery in any territory.

Who Benefitted? The South benefited because slavery could expand anywhere, but the North was furious.

Significance: This decision made Northerners even more determined to stop slavery and made war seem unavoidable.

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Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on a federal armory in Harpers Ferry to start a slave rebellion. He was caught and executed.

Who Benefitted? The North saw him as a hero, but the South saw him as a terrorist. It made Southerners feel like the North wanted to destroy their way of life.

Significance: This event made war feel even closer because it deepened mistrust between the North and South.

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Abraham Lincoln won the presidency, even though he wasn’t on the ballot in many Southern states. He was against the spread of slavery, which made the South afraid he would end it completely.

Who Benefitted? The North benefited because they got a president who opposed slavery's expansion. The South saw it as a threat.

Significance: Lincoln’s election was the final straw for the South, leading to secession and war.

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Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, marking the first battle of the Civil War. Lincoln responded by calling for troops.

Who Benefitted? Neither side benefited because it officially started the war.

Significance: The Civil War had begun, and there was no turning back.