Identify And Describe Four Events That Led To The CI

Identify and describe FOUR events/moments that led to the Civil War

Now that we've finished the Civil War unit, I want to take a second and be absolutely sure that we understand why we went to war with ourselves. This distinction is incredibly important, and should never be forgotten. So, with that in mind, please answer the following question in a short answer format (not essay): Identify and describe FOUR events/moments that led to the Civil War. Be sure to include names, dates, locations, etc. whenever applicable, and to fully explain how each event/moment directly lead to the conflict. There are many ways you can answer this question, so don't worry, I'm not looking for four specific events.

You could theoretically go all the way back to the 17th century with the very first slave ship that arrived here, if you wanted! Just choose four events/moments that you could argue led us to the Civil War. You should be able to answer this question pretty well based on the lectures-- just be sure to use your own words in your explanations. I recommend answering in the following format, just to keep things concise and nice and neat: Event 1 (year): Explanation Event 2 (year) : Explanation Event 3 (year): Explanation Event 4 (year): Explanation

Paper For Above instruction

The path to the Civil War was shaped by a series of contentious events that highlighted the growing divide between the North and South over issues such as slavery, states' rights, and economic differences. Four pivotal moments stand out in this progression: the Missouri Compromise of 1820, the publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852, the Dred Scott decision in 1857, and John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859. Each of these events contributed significantly to escalating tensions, pushing the nation closer to conflict.

Event 1 (1820): Missouri Compromise

In 1820, the Missouri Compromise was enacted to address the balance of power between free and slave states. Missouri’s application for admission as a slave state threatened this delicate equilibrium. To maintain balance, Congress admitted Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state, and prohibited slavery north of the 36°30′ parallel in the Louisiana Territory. This compromise highlighted the sectional divisions and established a temporary solution, but it also underscored the growing tensions over the expansion of slavery, which would continue to fester in the coming decades.

Event 2 (1852): Uncle Tom’s Cabin Published

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was published in 1852 and became a powerful abolitionist tool. It vividly depicted the brutal realities of slavery, influencing public opinion in the North and increasing hostility towards the institution of slavery in the South. The book intensified the moral divide, making compromises over slavery increasingly impossible and fueling abolitionist movements. Its widespread popularity and emotional impact galvanized anti-slavery sentiment and further deepened sectional animosities.

Event 3 (1857): Dred Scott Decision

The Supreme Court case Dred Scott v. Sanford in 1857 was a landmark ruling that declared African Americans, whether enslaved or free, could not be American citizens and that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the territories. This decision invalidated the Missouri Compromise and inflamed sectional tensions by asserting that slavery could spread unchecked. It emboldened pro-slavery advocates and deepened divides, as it challenged the principles of popular sovereignty and heightened fears of a pro-slavery conspiracy to expand across the nation.

Event 4 (1859): John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry

In 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, intending to incite a slave rebellion. Although the raid was unsuccessful and Brown was captured and executed, it alarmed slaveholders and intensified fears of a violent uprising. The event polarized the nation further, with the North viewing Brown as a martyr fighting against slavery, and the South perceiving the North as supportive of abolitionist violence. This episode exemplified the violent tensions that characterized the sectional conflict and moved the nation closer to civil war.

References

• Foner, Eric. Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Emancipation Proclamation. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2013.
• McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press, 1988.
• Wilentz, Sean. The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln. W.W. Norton & Company, 2005.
• Faust, Drew Gilpin. This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War. Vintage Books, 2008.
• Gross, Ari. The Politics of Slavery: Abolitionism, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World. Harvard University Press, 2021.
• Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Uncle Tom’s Cabin. John P. Jewett & Company, 1852.
• U.S. Supreme Court. Dred Scott v. Sanford, 1857.
• McCullough, David. 1776. Simon & Schuster, 2005.
• Foner, Eric. The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. W.W. Norton & Company, 2010.
• Brown, John. Various writings and speeches. 1859.