Civil War Timeline by Noah Chobot

Missouri Compromise, 1820

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-06 15:42:16 UTC

Bill Passed by Congress which admitted Missouri as a slave state and maine as a free state; also prohibited slavery north of the 36 30' parallel. this angered southerners who believed slaves were needed to work in the newly acquired territory.

Denmark Vesey Plot, 1822

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-06 15:48:05 UTC

Denmark Vesey, a former slave living in Charleston, was accused in 1822 of planning a large scale slave revolt in charleston. He was tried quickly and secretly along with 5 slaves and was hanged. this increased southern plantation owners' fears of their slaves rising against them and led to a push for tougher restrictions on enslaved and free blacks in america.

Nullification Crisis, 1832

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-07 00:32:03 UTC

South Carolina nullified a federal tarrif on imported goods, which led to a months long showdown between the federal and state government with SC threatening succesion. It showed that southern succesion was a real possibility that they were willing to go through with.

Nat Turner's Rebellion, 1831

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-07 01:03:16 UTC

Nat Turner's rebellion was when enslaved man Nat Turner got a group of slaves together and went around killing plantation owners until they were killed by the local militia. they killed an estimated total of 55 people during the riot, mostly women and children. the rebellion only heightened existing fears about slave revolts and increased tensions with the north.

Texas War for Independence, 1835

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-07 01:23:04 UTC

The Texas War for Independence was a war fought mostly by volunteer soldiers in order to free themselves from the overbearing Mexican Government. one of the reasons texans fought for their independence was due to the Mexican govt's plan to eventually ban slavery, and their success was an example to the american south that they could do it too.

Mexican American War, 1846

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-07 01:29:03 UTC

The Mexican American war was a brief conflict between Mexico and America caused by Americans encroaching on Mexican lands due to their idea of manifest destiny. America gained a lot of land from the war, and It caused anger on both sides because democrats wanted slavery in the new territory but the whigs wanted to contain it entirely in the south.

Wilmot Proviso, 1846

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-07 01:33:25 UTC

Proposal made by David Wilmot in 1846 to ban slavery in the new territory gained from mexico in the mexican american war. It was not successful but showed southern democrats that the many in the whig party intended to do away with slavery entirely.

Compromise of 1850, 1850

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-07 01:37:59 UTC

in 1850 a series of bills were passed in what was known as the compromise of 1850. some of these were very inflammatory, like the admission of california as a strictly free state and the fugitive slave act, which required white northerners to assist in the capture and return of formerly enslaved people living in the north. this bill stirred up anger amongst abolitionists.

Abolitionist Movement

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-07 01:44:15 UTC

The Abolitionist Movement was a growing sentiment during these times which called for the total abolishment of slavery. this movement showed that people in the north were no longer looking to make compromises, they wanted their way.

Dredd Scott Ruling, 1857

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-07 01:47:39 UTC

Tensions over slavery were now at a breaking point when a formerly enslaved man's attempt to free himself failed and the supreme court made the declaration that african americans could not be US citizens. this enfuriated abolitionists, who worked harder at their goal of fully outlawing slavery.

Raid on Harper's ferry, 1859

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-07 01:55:27 UTC

John Brown's raid on harper's ferry was when abolitionist John brown and his followers took over the US arsenal in Harpers Ferry, virginia. the riot failed but illustrated the rising tensions in america perfectly.

Election of 1860, 1860

chonoa2182 — 2023-12-07 02:02:33 UTC

The Election of 1860 was when it became very clear that america as a union was doomed due to the issue of slavery. the democratic party, previously united, split over popular soveirgenty and the right over the public to decide over whether to allow slavery. due to this disunity, republican candidate Abraham Lincoln won, and later made the promise to abolish slavery forever.