Between 1850 and 1860 several events occurred in the U.S. that highlighted the struggle over slavery. Describe these events and state what finally led to secession of the South beginning in December of 1860.

http://faculty.washington.edu/qtaylor/a_us_history/1800_1900_timeline.htm

To describe the events that occurred in the U.S. between 1850 and 1860 that highlighted the struggle over slavery, and to understand what led to the secession of the South, we need to examine several key events in chronological order:

1. Compromise of 1850: This was a package of legislative measures passed by the U.S. Congress to address the balance of power between free and slave states. It included admitting California as a free state, allowing the territories of Utah and New Mexico to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, and strengthening the Fugitive Slave Act.

2. Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854): This act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to determine whether their states would permit slavery or not. This led to violent conflicts between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups, known as "Bleeding Kansas."

3. Dred Scott Decision (1857): The Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott case that enslaved people were property and could not be granted freedom, even if they lived in free states or territories. This decision further emboldened pro-slavery forces.

4. John Brown's Raid (1859): Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, hoping to ignite a slave uprising. The raid was quickly suppressed, but it heightened tensions between the North and the South.

These events, among others, contributed to the growing divide between the North and the South over the issue of slavery. However, the final event that led to the secession of the South was the presidential election of 1860.

In the 1860 election, Abraham Lincoln, a Republican who opposed the expansion of slavery, won the presidency. His election signaled the possibility of further restrictions on the institution of slavery. Many Southern states saw this as a threat to their economic and social foundation, and in December 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. Subsequently, several other Southern states followed suit, forming the Confederate States of America and leading to the American Civil War.

In summary, the events between 1850 and 1860, such as the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott Decision, and John Brown's Raid, intensified tensions between the North and the South over slavery. However, it was ultimately the election of Abraham Lincoln and his stance against the expansion of slavery that led to the secession of the Southern states.