Trigger Events of the Civil War

[STARTS AT 3:06]

[NO NARRATION, TEXT ON SCREEN]

- The justices found that, as a slave, Dred Scott had none of the legal rights or recognitions of a United States citizen. 

Classifying slaves and those of African descent as inferior made the federal government’s authority to regulate the institution of slavery much more ambiguous. 

1858, Lincoln-Douglas Debates.

Abraham Lincoln and Senator Stephen Douglas had 7 public debates across Illinois where they discussed the most controversial issue of the antebellum era. Slavery.

Although Douglas won the senate race, these debates propelled Lincoln to the national spotlight and led to his presidential nomination in 1860.

1859, John Brown’s Raid.

In October 1859, abolitionist John Brown and 19 supporters led a raid on the federal armory and arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Their motive was to capture and confiscate the arms and distribute them among local slaves to begin an armed insurrection. 

U.S. Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee put down the uprising. There were casualties on both sides; 7 people were killed and at least 10 injured before Brown and his remaining men were captured. 

Brown was tried for treason, convicted and hanged in Charles Town on December 2, 1859. 

1860, Abraham Lincoln’s Election.

Abraham Lincoln was elected as President by a considerable margin in 1860, despite not being included on many Souther ballots. As a Republican, his party’s anti-slavery outlook struck fear into many Southerners. 

On December 20, 1860, a little over a month after the polls closed, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Six more states followed by the spring of 1861. 

1861, The Battle of Fort Sumter. 

With secession, several federal forts, including Fort Sumter in South Carolina, suddenly became outposts in a foreign land. Abraham Lincoln made the decision to send fresh supplies to the beleaguered garrisons.

On April 12, 1861, Confederates turned back the supply convoy to Fort Sumter and opened a 34-hour artillarty bombardment on the stronghold. The garrison surrendered on April 13th. 

The Civil War was now underway. On April 15th, Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to join the Union army. Unwilling to contribute troops, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee dissolved their ties to the federal government.