- Slavery had been a contentious issue in the United States since the nation's founding. Southern states relied heavily on enslaved labor to sustain their plantation economy, while Northern states largely transitioned to free labor.
- The abolitionist movement, which sought to end slavery, gained traction in the North during the 1800s, fueling tensions between Northern and Southern states.
2. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
- This Supreme Court decision ruled that enslaved people were not U.S. citizens, could not sue in federal court, and could be legally held as property in any U.S. territory.
- The ruling heightened sectional tensions and galvanized the abolitionist movement, as it demonstrated the extent to which the federal government was willing to uphold the institution of slavery.
3. The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
- This act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and allowed the residents of Kansas and Nebraska to vote on whether slavery should be permitted in these territories.
- The ensuing struggle between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces on the Kansas-Nebraska border, known as "Bleeding Kansas," further intensified regional rivalries and contributed to the rising animosity between the North and South.
4. John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry (1859)
- Abolitionist John Brown led an armed raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), hoping to incite a slave rebellion and spark a widespread resistance against slavery.
- The raid failed and Brown was captured and executed, but the event amplified tensions and underscored the increasing radicalization of the anti-slavery movement.
5. The Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860)
- The election of Abraham Lincoln, a staunch opponent of slavery, as President in 1860 proved to be the tipping point.
- Lincoln's victory solidified Southern fears that their way of life and institution of slavery were under threat, spurring them to consider secession from the Union.
6. Secession and the Formation of the Confederacy (1861)
- In response to Lincoln's election, several Southern states seceded from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America.
- The secession triggered the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861, as the Union, led by President Lincoln, sought to maintain the integrity of the nation and preserve the federal authority over the seceded states.