Events Leading up to the Civil War
The Civil War was a devastating time in our country. Unity amongst the North and the South were split, each becoming loyal to themselves. The unity of the United States was like a stretched out rubber band, tension growing with each time a new event happened between the North and the South. At the time, the North and South had very different views. Up in the industrial based North, people hated the idea of slavery, while people in the agriculture based South, thought it was the only way to keep their businesses and way of life alive. These different views created events that in the end caused the Civil War.
In 1820, Missouri caused a national debate by requesting to be a slave state. If Missouri were admitted as a slave state, the balance in Congress would be disrupted. Therefore, the Missouri Compromise was created. Missouri was admitted as a slave state and Maine was admitted a free state to maintain the balance in Congress. Although the conflict was resolved, it still made people uneasy about the balance in Congress and if it could be disrupted by another state.
The Wilmot Proviso was another cause of the Civil War starting in 1846 and ending in 1850. It was a piece of legislation proposed and encouraged by David Wilmot. This legislation would outlaw slavery in new gained territory by the United States from the Mexican-American War. David spent a couple years fighting for his plan before it was turned down. The intensity of the debate proved to be disastrous for the county, because it was the first talk of secession in the South.
After the Wilmot Proviso, the Compromise of 1850 was put into place. This compromise prevented future territorial expansion, but strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act which required people in the North to return any runaway slaves to the South. This was the center of major debates and reinforced the division of the United States.
Another event leading up to the Civil War was the Kansas Nebraska Act in 1854. It was an act that allowed Kansas and Nebraska to decide if they would allow slavery inside their borders. This event lead to reignite fighting between and pro and anti-slavery organizations. According to Civil War Trust, “Fighting and violent events would become so terrible that it was termed, Bleeding Kansas.” Tempers were starting to boil over, and the South was preparing to something incredibly big.
The final straw for the South occurred on November 6th, 1860. On this day, Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected. He was from the North and did not approve of slavery. The South were petrified that Lincoln was not going to respect their rights. Therefore, South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20th, 1860 and became the first state to secede with many following. By 1861, eleven states had seceded from the Union.
They became the Confederate States of America electing Jefferson Davis as their president.
The first shots of war were made by the Confederacy on April 12th,1861 at Fort Sumter. This was the opening battle of the Civil War. It was bloodless, but it opened the bloodiest war in American history.
All of these events led up to the horror of the Civil War. Slaves were tearing our nation apart, state’s rights, and sectionalism. The South and North were divided, and the Civil War was underway.
The Civil War was a devastating time in our country. Unity amongst the North and the South were split, each becoming loyal to themselves. The unity of the United States was like a stretched out rubber band, tension growing with each time a new event happened between the North and the South. At the time, the North and South had very different views. Up in the industrial based North, people hated the idea of slavery, while people in the agriculture based South, thought it was the only way to keep their businesses and way of life alive. These different views created events that in the end caused the Civil War.
In 1820, Missouri caused a national debate by requesting to be a slave state. If Missouri were admitted as a slave state, the balance in Congress would be disrupted. Therefore, the Missouri Compromise was created. Missouri was admitted as a slave state and Maine was admitted a free state to maintain the balance in Congress. Although the conflict was resolved, it still made people uneasy about the balance in Congress and if it could be disrupted by another state.
The Wilmot Proviso was another cause of the Civil War starting in 1846 and ending in 1850. It was a piece of legislation proposed and encouraged by David Wilmot. This legislation would outlaw slavery in new gained territory by the United States from the Mexican-American War. David spent a couple years fighting for his plan before it was turned down. The intensity of the debate proved to be disastrous for the county, because it was the first talk of secession in the South.
After the Wilmot Proviso, the Compromise of 1850 was put into place. This compromise prevented future territorial expansion, but strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act which required people in the North to return any runaway slaves to the South. This was the center of major debates and reinforced the division of the United States.
Another event leading up to the Civil War was the Kansas Nebraska Act in 1854. It was an act that allowed Kansas and Nebraska to decide if they would allow slavery inside their borders. This event lead to reignite fighting between and pro and anti-slavery organizations. According to Civil War Trust, “Fighting and violent events would become so terrible that it was termed, Bleeding Kansas.” Tempers were starting to boil over, and the South was preparing to something incredibly big.
The final straw for the South occurred on November 6th, 1860. On this day, Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected. He was from the North and did not approve of slavery. The South were petrified that Lincoln was not going to respect their rights. Therefore, South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20th, 1860 and became the first state to secede with many following. By 1861, eleven states had seceded from the Union.
They became the Confederate States of America electing Jefferson Davis as their president.
The first shots of war were made by the Confederacy on April 12th,1861 at Fort Sumter. This was the opening battle of the Civil War. It was bloodless, but it opened the bloodiest war in American history.
All of these events led up to the horror of the Civil War. Slaves were tearing our nation apart, state’s rights, and sectionalism. The South and North were divided, and the Civil War was underway.