This timeline includes just some of the major events from the 1700s to the 1800s that contributed to sectional tensions. These events drew political limelight, encouraged violence, and overall are the reasons the Civil War occurred.
Delegated the free parts of the Atlantic
basin and the unfree parts
1791-1804
Second Great Awakening
Caused slavery to begin the process of
becoming a main-stream political issue.
1795-1835
Ely Whitney's Cotton Gin
Caused cotton to gain popularity and profit
value. This would lead to slave owners gaining
more land, and therefore needing more slaves
to work the field.
1794
End of International Slave Trade
Aided in the North's cause. Informal showed the South who the
government had begun to agree with.
1808
Missouri Crisis
Allowed slavery to expand into land
previously protected in the Louisiana
Purchase
1819
Cotton Revolution
Cotton once again increased value, and slave
owners got more slave to get more profit.
1820-1860
Vesey Revolt
Opened eyes to the horrors of slavery
1822
Nat Turner Rebellion
Caused tensions to increase as people approve
or didnt approve of the rebellion
1831
Mexican American War
Discussion of the land won were had to
determine if this land should be a free or
unfree are
1846-1848
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
Required runaway slaves, even in free states, to be
returned home if found.
1850
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Caused many to view the idea of slavery
from a moral standpoint.
1851-1852
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Allowed for a states that were once free to become slave
states. Caused slavery to be brought into the political
limelight and furthered the divide.
1854
Dred Scott Case
Showed the government's plans of
allowing slavery to spread
1857
Harper's Ferry Raid
Increased difficulty to make peace between
both sides. Encouraged violence.
1859
Election of Abraham Lincoln
His stance on slavery made itself known in his
presidency. His later attempts to stop rebellions would
take partial credit to the cause of the Civil War.
1860
Attack on Fort Summer
This attack and the response men that Abraham Lincoln sent to try and stop the
rebellion would lead to the continuation of fighting and deaths. This huge fight
involving thousands of men would begin to noramlize fighting and waging war.