Keeping in mind how the expansion of U.S. territory westward threatened the delicate balance of power in congress between free and slave states and Lincoln's stance on slavery, describe how key events (such as land acquisitions, agreements about how new territories should enter the union as states, etc.) led the country into the civil war.

I'll be glad to critique your answer.

Understanding how key events led to the Civil War requires examining factors such as the expansion of U.S. territory, the balance of power between free and slave states, and Abraham Lincoln's stance on slavery. Here's a breakdown of the key events that contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War:

1. Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion:
- The notion of Manifest Destiny, popular in the 1800s, pushed for the expansion of the United States across the continent.
- Land acquisitions such as the Louisiana Purchase (1803), the acquisition of Florida (1819), the Oregon Treaty (1846), and the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) resulted in significant territorial growth.

2. Balance of Power between Free and Slave States:
- As territory expanded, the question arose regarding whether new states would enter the Union as free or slave states.
- The Missouri Compromise of 1820 attempted to maintain a balance by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state.
- The Compromise of 1850 was introduced to resolve conflicts arising from the Mexican-American War. It included provisions like the Fugitive Slave Act and allowed popular sovereignty in some territories.

3. Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854):
- This act proposed organizing the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and letting popular sovereignty determine their slave or free status.
- It led to violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions, known as "Bleeding Kansas," heightening tensions between North and South.

4. Dred Scott Decision (1857):
- In the Dred Scott case, the Supreme Court ruled that enslaved Africans and their descendants could not be U.S. citizens and that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional.
- This decision potentially opened up all territories to slavery, infuriating abolitionists and further straining the relationship between North and South.

5. Presidential Election of 1860:
- Abraham Lincoln, a staunch opponent of slavery, was elected as the 16th President of the United States.
- His victory, with limited support from Southern states, underscored the growing sectional divide among the states.

6. Secession of Southern States and the Attack on Fort Sumter:
- Following Lincoln's election, several Southern states, beginning with South Carolina, seceded from the Union.
- In April 1861, the firing upon Fort Sumter initiated the American Civil War.

In summary, the expansion of U.S. territory westward, disagreements over the admission of new states as either free or slave, key legislative acts, and Abraham Lincoln's election as President - all contributed to the growing tensions that ultimately led to the Civil War. Understanding these events helps shed light on the complex factors that brought about this significant conflict in American history.