Prelude to the Civil WarPrelude to the Civil War

Three Events that led Three Events that led

America into ConflictAmerica into Conflict

Come on, then, gentlemen of the slave Come on, then, gentlemen of the slave states. Since there is no escaping your states. Since there is no escaping your challenge, we accept it in the name of challenge, we accept it in the name of freedom. We will engage in competition freedom. We will engage in competition for the virgin soil of Kansas, and God for the virgin soil of Kansas, and God give the victory to the side which is give the victory to the side which is stronger in numbers, as it is in right.stronger in numbers, as it is in right.

-Senator William Seward, on the passage of the -Senator William Seward, on the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, May 1854Kansas-Nebraska Act, May 1854

Bleeding Kansas - 1856Bleeding Kansas - 1856

As a result of Kansas-Nebraska Act, many As a result of Kansas-Nebraska Act, many people from North and South moved to people from North and South moved to this territorythis territory

They both wanted to win the vote over They both wanted to win the vote over issue of slaveryissue of slavery

Violence broke out in which proslavery Violence broke out in which proslavery factions and abolitionists both caused fire, factions and abolitionists both caused fire, destruction and even deathsdestruction and even deaths

Dred Scott Decision - 1857Dred Scott Decision - 1857

Dred Scott, slave living in Dred Scott, slave living in Missouri, filed suit that he Missouri, filed suit that he should be free because should be free because he once lived in a territory he once lived in a territory where slavery was illegalwhere slavery was illegal

Supreme Court said Supreme Court said slaves are not citizens slaves are not citizens and have no right to sue and have no right to sue in courtin court

Showed that Congress Showed that Congress had no power to ban had no power to ban slavery anywhereslavery anywhere

John Brown’s Raid - 1859John Brown’s Raid - 1859Attacked federal Attacked federal arsenalarsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginiaat Harpers Ferry, Virginia– Arsenal:Arsenal: where where

weapons are made or weapons are made or storedstored

21 men were led in hopes 21 men were led in hopes of seizing weapons and of seizing weapons and leading an uprising of leading an uprising of slavesslaves

U.S. troops quickly U.S. troops quickly surrounded arsenal, killed surrounded arsenal, killed half of men and captured half of men and captured rest.rest.