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Section 1: The Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

  • The conflict started due to a border dispute between Texas, a new state, and Mexico.
  • America’s victory resulted in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, gaining new territories including California and New Mexico.
  • This sparked debate over the extension of slavery into these new territories, widening the growing divide between the North and South.

Section 2: Compromise of 1850

  • Attempt by senator Henry Clay to ease tensions over slavery, admitting California as a free state.
  • Included the controversial Fugitive Slave Law, which required all citizens to assist in recovering runaway slaves.
  • This compromise was seen by many in the North as a concession to the slave states.

Section 3: Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

  • Proposed by senator Stephen Douglas, the act allowed for popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska, essentially allowing the people to decide on the issue of slavery.
  • Led to a period of violence known as ‘Bleeding Kansas’ where pro and anti-slavery groups fought for control.
  • This act further highlighted the intensifying discord between the North and South over slavery.

Section 4: Dred Scott Case (1857)

  • Landmark Supreme Court case where enslaved Dred Scott sued for his freedom.
  • The courts ruled that as a slave, Scott was not a citizen and thus could not sue in federal court.
  • Ruling also declared that Congress did not have the power to prohibit slavery in territories, intensifying abolitionist sentiment in the North.

Section 5: Lincoln’s Election and Southern Secession (1860-1861)

  • The election of Abraham Lincoln, who was seen as a threat to the institution of slavery, ignited secessionist sentiment in Southern states.
  • South Carolina was the first to secede, quickly followed by other southern slave states.
  • The formation of the Confederate States of America marked the final step on the road towards the Civil War.

Section 6: Harpers Ferry Raid (1859)

  • Led by abolitionist John Brown, the raid aimed to incite a slave rebellion.
  • While the raid failed and Brown was captured, the event fuelled southern fear of a large-scale slave uprising.
  • Contributed to the accelerating sectional tension and pushed the nation closer to civil war.