1800 to 1860 events that led to the outbreak of the civil war - Essay Example

American Civil War The American Civil War was devastating for the country in terms of loss of human life, but it also led to the union of the American states. Several events led to the outbreak of the war, including the enactment of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, the attack of Charles Sumner by Preston brooks in the Senate, the rejection of Lecompton Constitution, the raid of Harper’s Ferry by John Brown, the events at Fort Sumter, and the election of Abraham Lincoln as the President (Olsen 237).

Following the enactment of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Kansas had the power to determine whether to join the Union as a free or slave state. Various constitutions on the decision arose from the territory, including Lecompton constitution making Kansas a slave state. Despite the efforts of James Buchanan, the constitution received rejection (Ransom 126). Another significant event was the raid on Harper’s Ferry by John brown and his group of blacks. The primary objective of Brown was to capture weapons and initiate a slave uprising.

Unfortunately, the troop led by Robert Lee captured the group and executed them for treason. This led to the open warfare from the growing abolitionist movement. Upon election of Abraham Lincoln, South Carolina and other states withdrew from the Union. South Carolina had issued a warning that it would withdraw from the Union if Lincoln won, despite his moderate views on slavery. However, Lincoln agreed with the dominant Republican Party concerning the growing power of the South, thus barring the introduction of slavery on new states and territories (Selcer 267).

Another major root of the war was the events at Fort Sumter. On April 10, 1861, South Carolina demanded for the surrender of Fort Sumter, but the garrison commander refused. A fire battle ensued. This event opened the engagement of the Civil War, despite no casualties in the bombardments (Parrington 114). Works CitedOlsen, Christopher. The American Civil War: A Hands-On History. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. Print. Parrington, Louis. The Romantic revolution in America, 1800-1860.

Main Currents in American Thought, Volume 2. Ransom, Roger. Conflict and Compromise: The Political Economy of Slavery, Emancipation, and the American Civil Wal: Boston: Cambridge University Press. Print. Selcer, Richard. Civil War America, 1850 to 1875. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2006. Print.