I.

Introduction
A. Popular explanation is slavery
B. K-N, D.S., and J.B. also major contributors
C. Divergence lack of unity  ultimately caused Civil War

II. Kansas-Nebraska Act

A. Passed by Congress on May 30th, 1854
B. Stated that populations in territories could decide whether to
outlaw or allow slavery
C. Pro- and anti-slavery supporters rushed in to win the territory for
their cause
D. Election held, but anti-slavery supporters cried ‘fraud’
E. Another election held, but the pro-slavery side refused to vote
F. Violence broke out
G. Nicknamed “bleeding Kansas”
H. Anti-slavery supporters eventually won
I. In 1861, Kansas admitted as free state
J. Arguments over future of territories helped spark the ignition of
Civil War

III. The Dred-Scott Decision

A. Scott was from a slave state, Missouri
B. His master took him to Illinois, a free state
C. Later moved to Wisconsin, a free state
D. When his master died, he sued for his freedom
E. Supreme Court ruled that not only was he not free, blacks weren’t
even citizens and had no rights, so he couldn’t even rightfully sue
F. Also ruled that Congress could not outlaw slavery in the new
territories and that the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which
outlawed slavery above the 36 30’ parallel, was unconstitutional
(even though it had already been repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska
Act)
G. Dred-Scott Decision widened the political gap between the North
and the South and further encouraged a civil war

IV. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry

A. John Brown was an abolitionist who believed himself to be a God-
sent liberator
B. Led 23 men into an attack on the United States Arsenal at Harper’s
Ferry
C. Was unsuccessful, captured, tried for slave insurrection, treason,
and murder and hanged
D. Raid ignited Southerners’ feelings toward Northern anti-slavery
supporters and brought the country closer to civil war
 The popular explanation for the Civil War is of course slavery, but several
other factors contributed as well. The growing divergence between states led to a
lack of unity in the nation, which ultimately caused the American Civil War.
However, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott Decision, and John Brown’s raid
on Harper’s Ferry were also contributors.

Passed by the U.S. Congress on May 30th, 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act
allowed the people in the territories of Nebraska and Kansas to decide amongst
them whether to allow or outlaw slavery. Many of the Northerners protested the
Kansas-Nebraska Act because it automatically repealed the Missouri Compromise of
1820, which stated that slavery would be outlawed above the 36°30' parallel. After
the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, anti- and pro-slavery supporters rushed in to
try to win the territory for their cause. The pro-slavery side won the election, but the
anti-slavery supporters charged them with fraud. The anti-slavery supporters held
another election, but the pro-slavery side refused to vote. Violence broke out and
the nickname “bleeding Kansas” stuck as the death toll rose. Eventually, the anti-
slavery supporters won, and in 1861, Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free
state. The controversy over the Kansas-Nebraska Act divided the nation and pointed
towards a civil war.

The Dred Scott case involved the slave by that name and his pursuit of
freedom. As the slave of an officer in the U.S. Army, Scott had moved with his
master from the slave state of Missouri to the free state of Illinois, and later to
Wisconsin, a free territory. After his master died, Scott sued for his freedom by
claiming that since he had lived on free soil for a long period of time, he was free.
Seven out of nine Supreme Court Justices ruled that not only was Scott still a slave,
but that no slave or descendent of a slave could be a U.S. citizen, and since he had
no rights as an American, he couldn’t even rightfully sue. The Supreme Court also
ruled that Congress had no right to outlaw slavery in the new territories and that
the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional (even though it had already been
repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act.) Anti-slavery supporters in the North saw the
Dred Scott decision as the Southerner’s way to expand slavery in the west.
Southerners agreed with the ruling. The Dred Scott Decision widened the political
gap between the North and South and brought the country closer to a civil war.

On October 16th, 1859, an abolitionist named John Brown and a handful of his
followers attempted to seize the United States Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry. Brown
believed that he had been sent by God to liberate the slaves. His raid was
unsuccessful and he was captured, tried and convicted of murder, slave
insurrection, and treason and subsequently hanged. John Brown’s raid at Harper’s
Ferry further divided the North and South and contributed to the cause of the
American Civil War.