Directions:
For this portfolio, you will choose 6-8 events that led to the outbreak of the Civil War.
You will present your findings as a timeline.
You may create your timeline in word, powerpoint, or google slides or docs.
For each event you choose, you must provide the following on your timeline:
an image that represents the event/topic
a caption explaining the image
a date (as specific as possible) of the event
a paragraph (3-4 sentences) explaining how the event moved the nation closer to the Civil War.
Begin by conducting research to determine 6 – 8 items (events, bills, social movements, etc.) that led to the Civil War. Your paragraph should include answers to the following questions:
● Who was involved?
● Who was affected?
● When did this happen?
● Where did this happen?
● What happened?
● How did this event/factor contribute to the Civil War?
Internet Search
Alternatively, conduct a safe search on the Internet or at your local library for information about the person you are researching.
You must cite your sources. Add your citations to each image caption, and at the end of each paragraph.
Example Timeline:
1. Missouri Compromise
- Image: A map of the United States highlighting the division of free and slave states.
- Caption: Map showing the division of free and slave states under the Missouri Compromise.
- Date: March 3, 1820
- Explanation: The Missouri Compromise was a legislative agreement between the Northern and Southern states to regulate the expansion of slavery in the territories. It allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance between slave and free states. This event contributed to the Civil War by highlighting the growing tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery.
- Source: "Missouri Compromise." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 20 May 2020.
2. Compromise of 1850
- Image: An illustration depicting the debate between Northern and Southern senators during the Compromise of 1850.
- Caption: Northern and Southern senators debating the Compromise of 1850.
- Date: September 9, 1850
- Explanation: The Compromise of 1850 was a series of measures aimed at resolving disputes over slavery's expansion. It admitted California as a free state, enacted a stricter Fugitive Slave Law, and abolished the slave trade in Washington, D.C. It temporarily eased tensions between the North and South, but it also reignited debates about the extension of slavery, contributing to the eventual outbreak of the Civil War.
- Source: "Compromise of 1850." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 20 May 2020.
3. Dred Scott Decision
- Image: A courtroom scene depicting Chief Justice Roger B. Taney delivering the Dred Scott decision.
- Caption: Chief Justice Roger B. Taney delivering the Dred Scott decision.
- Date: March 6, 1857
- Explanation: The Dred Scott Decision was a Supreme Court ruling that denied the citizenship and constitutional rights of African Americans, emphasizing their status as property. This decision alarmed many in the North who were opposed to slavery and deepened the divide between the North and South, as it seemed to validate the Southern perspective on slavery. It further fueled tensions that ultimately led to the Civil War.
- Source: "Dred Scott Decision." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 20 May 2020.
4. Kansas-Nebraska Act
- Image: A depiction of violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces in the aftermath of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
- Caption: Violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces after the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
- Date: May 30, 1854
- Explanation: The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. This act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, leading to intense rivalry between pro-slavery and anti-slavery individuals. The violent conflicts that erupted in Kansas as a result of this act further polarized the nation, exacerbating the tensions that eventually sparked the Civil War.
- Source: "Kansas-Nebraska Act." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 20 May 2020.
5. Raid on Harpers Ferry
- Image: A painting depicting John Brown and his followers during the Raid on Harpers Ferry.
- Caption: John Brown and his followers during the Raid on Harpers Ferry.
- Date: October 16-18, 1859
- Explanation: The Raid on Harpers Ferry was an unsuccessful attempt by abolitionist John Brown and his followers to initiate a slave rebellion. Although the raid was unsuccessful, it heightened tensions between the North and the South and highlighted the deep divide over the issue of slavery. It was seen by the South as evidence of Northern aggression against their way of life, contributing to the buildup of hostilities that eventually led to the Civil War.
- Source: "John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 20 May 2020.
These are just a few examples of events that led to the outbreak of the Civil War. You may research and choose additional events to include in your timeline based on their significance and relevance to the topic. Remember to thoroughly research each event and provide accurate information, as well as cite your sources properly.