Historical Events Paper

Three historical events that impacted civil war are discussed in this paper. Opening shots of April 12, 1861 at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, starting the four-year battle to end on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, ending what became known as American Civil War (Davidson, Gienapp, Heyrman, Lytle, and Stoff, 2006). Following Revolutionary War, America was in two different economic directions: industrial North became agricultural South. Although it is believed that underlying cause behind Civil War was due to abolition of slavery (slaves were considered an important asset in southern states), following time line shows that there are many other factors involved. Since signing of Declaration of Independence to launch of first shots at Fort Sumter, U.S. travel for equality and unity is complex, leaving in its wake destruction, discord and civil strife.

In summer of 1776, following Revolutionary War, thirty-three years old, Thomas Jefferson wrote what is known as Declaration of Independence (Davidson, Gienapp, et al, 2006), stating that ". .. all men are created equal "(Declaration of Independence, pp 2, 1776) and by its Creator has given them right to" life, liberty and pursuit of happiness "(Declaration of Independence , pp 2, 1776). On July 4, 1776, Continental Congress signed Declaration of Independence of United States of America. By signing this Declaration, thirteen colonies formally severed their ties with British Empire. Despite American Revolutionary War continued after signing of Declaration of Independence, Declaration was used as the symbol and united by same cause: fight for independence. U.S. ancestors arrived in New World seeking religious freedom and social and stood firm when those freedoms were threatened (Davidson, Gienapp, et al, 2006). Those who fought in Revolution to establish priority for those who fight in Civil War: with the fervor that made them stand up and fight for what you believe in.

On July 13.1787, Congress of Confederation of United States passed Northwest Ordinance, allowing land north of Ohio River and east of Mississippi River to be settled on basis that territory would become part U.S. states (Davidson, Gienapp, et al, 2006). According to Northwest Ordinance, the territory could not be less than three and not more than five states (Davidson, Gienapp, et al, 2006). Along with territorial arrangements, there were also provisions for educational development, maintenance, civil liberties, and exclusion of slavery. West is expanding.

With increase of settlements in West, question of slavery also began to increase. Missouri Compromise of 1820 was the compromise between pro and anti-slavery states prohibiting slavery in what was Louisiana Territory and all states north of 36 (Line 30 'latitude, and Missouri and Maine would become free states. Although compromise was rejected initially, Maine was allowed to enter as the free state and Missouri was to become the state without restrictions on slavery (Pearson Education, 2000-2009).

Between 1828 and 1833, increasing tensions between North and South beginning to mount. tariff of 1828, known in South and tariff of abominations, passed in order to ...