After conducting research, here are 8 items, events, or factors that led to the outbreak of the Civil War:
1. Missouri Compromise (1820)
- Visual: Image of the Missouri Compromise map.
- Caption: This map shows the division of free and slave states following the Missouri Compromise.
- Summary: The Missouri Compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while also prohibiting slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Purchase territory north of 36°30' latitude. This compromise temporarily maintained the balance between free and slave states, but it highlighted the growing tensions between the North and South over the expansion of slavery.
2. Nat Turner's Rebellion (1831)
- Visual: Painting depicting Nat Turner's Rebellion.
- Caption: This painting depicts the aftermath of Nat Turner's Rebellion, a slave revolt led by Nat Turner.
- Summary: Nat Turner's Rebellion was a violent slave rebellion in Virginia, where enslaved African Americans revolted against their owners, resulting in the deaths of around 60 white people. This event heightened tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery and increased fears in the South of slave uprisings.
3. Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
- Visual: Map showing the territorial gains of the United States after the Mexican-American War.
- Caption: This map illustrates the territorial gains the US obtained after the Mexican-American War, including land that would reignite debates over slavery.
- Summary: The Mexican-American War resulted in the U.S. acquiring vast territories in the Southwest, including present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The question of whether these territories would allow or prohibit slavery intensified the divide between the North and South, leading to further tensions and conflict.
4. Compromise of 1850
- Visual: Political cartoon illustrating the Compromise of 1850.
- Caption: This political cartoon portrays the Compromise of 1850 negotiations between Northern and Southern politicians.
- Summary: The Compromise of 1850 was a series of legislative measures aimed at defusing tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery. The compromise included the admission of California as a free state, the strengthening of the Fugitive Slave Act, and the organization of the Utah and New Mexico Territories without mention of slavery. While it briefly eased tensions, it ultimately failed to address the underlying issues, leading to continued conflict.
5. Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
- Visual: Image of "Bleeding Kansas" depicting violence between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces.
- Caption: This image represents the violence and bloodshed that erupted in Kansas due to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
- Summary: The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether to allow slavery through popular sovereignty. This act resulted in a rush of both pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers moving to Kansas, leading to violent clashes between the two factions. The intense and bloody struggles in Kansas, known as "Bleeding Kansas," further polarized the nation and highlighted the failure of popular sovereignty as a solution to the slavery issue.
6. Dred Scott Decision (1857)
- Visual: Image of Dred Scott, an enslaved African American.
- Caption: This is a picture of Dred Scott, whose legal case contributed to the tensions between the North and South over slavery.
- Summary: The Dred Scott Decision by the Supreme Court ruled that enslaved individuals were not citizens and had no rights, and Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in any territory. This decision angered many in the North and fueled anti-slavery sentiments, as it appeared to open the door for the expansion of slavery into all territories, further deepening the divide between the North and the South.
7. John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry (1859)
- Visual: Illustration depicting John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry.
- Caption: This illustration shows John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, in which he hoped to spark a slave rebellion.
- Summary: John Brown, an abolitionist, led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to arm enslaved individuals and initiate a slave rebellion. The raid was quickly suppressed, and Brown was executed. While the raid failed in its immediate objective, it further heightened tensions between the North and South, with Northerners viewing Brown as a martyr for their cause and Southerners fearing more violent actions from abolitionists.
8. Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860)
- Visual: Image of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.
- Caption: This image depicts Abraham Lincoln, whose election as president stirred considerable controversy and ultimately led to the secession of Southern states.
- Summary: Abraham Lincoln, a Republican candidate who opposed the expansion of slavery, won the presidential election of 1860. His election triggered the secession crisis, as several Southern states feared that Lincoln's policies would threaten their way of life. The secession of Southern states and the formation of the Confederate States of America set the stage for the Civil War.
By presenting these items in a timeline graphic organizer or creating a slideshow portfolio, students can effectively demonstrate their understanding of the factors that led to the outbreak of the Civil War.