Steps To Civil War Timeline by Christian Cardenas

The Missouri Compromise(1820)

ccardena7473 — 2025-03-11 19:08:51 UTC

Admitting Missouri as a slave state, Maine as a free state; banned slavery north of 36, 30;

Benefited: South

Significance: Temporary solution that postponed conflict

Manifest Destiny (James K. Polk, 1845)

ccardena7473 — 2025-03-11 19:16:42 UTC

Belief that the U.S. was defeated to expand westward.

Benefited: South, with hopes of expanding slavery.

Significance: Fueled tension over slavery in new territories.

Mexican War (1846-1848)

ccardena7473 — 2025-03-11 19:22:41 UTC

U.S. gained territories like California and New Mexico.

Benefited: South, with potential new slave states.

Significance: Increase sectional tensions.

Growth of Sectionalism (1800s)

khughes8630 — 2025-03-12 18:59:37 UTC

Economic and political differences between North and South.

Benefited: Neither; deepened divisions.

Significance: Made compromise increasingly difficult.

The Compromise of 1850

ccardena7473 — 2025-03-12 19:01:43 UTC

California admitted as a free state; stronger Fugitive Slave Act.

Benefited: Both; North got California, South got stricter slave laws.

Significance: Temporary peace but increased abolitionist anger.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

ccardena7473 — 2025-03-12 19:10:14 UTC

Repealed Missouri Compromise, Allowing popular sovereignty.

Benefited: South, opened territories to slavery.

Significance: Increased tensions, led to Bleeding Kansas

Popular Sovereignty (1850s)

khughes8630 — 2025-03-12 19:12:36 UTC

Allowed territories to vote on slavery.

Benefited: South, potential expansion of slavery.

Significance: Led to violent conflicts like Bleeding Kansas.

John Brown's Raid (1859)

ccardena7473 — 2025-03-12 19:20:00 UTC

Failed attempt to start a slave rebellion at Harpers ferry.

Benefited: Neither; increased Southern fears.

Significance: Heightened tensions over abolitionism.

Attack on Fort Sumter (1861)

ccardena7473 — 2025-03-12 19:26:54 UTC

Confederate attack on Union fort, starting the Civil War.

Benefited: South, showing that they are ready for war

Significance: Officially began the Civil War.

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

khughes8630 — 2025-03-12 19:29:45 UTC

Declared African American not citizens; Congress couldn’t ban slavery.

Benefited: South, protected slaveholders’ rights.

Significance: Angered the North, worsening sectional conflict.

Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860)

khughes8630 — 2025-03-12 19:32:56 UTC

Lincoln's anti-slavery expansion stance led Southern states to secede.

Benefited: North, but pushed the South toward secession.

Significance: Marked the end of compromise.