John Brown led a raid on the federal arsenal in Harper's Ferry in 1859 hoping to arm slaves and start an uprising. He was captured, convicted of treason, and hanged. His actions increased tensions between northern abolitionists and southern slaveholders. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president, despite not being on the ballot in many southern states. As southern states increasingly feared the potential end of slavery, seven states seceded from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America, with Jefferson Davis as its president.

1. U.S. History Chapter 18: A Divided Nation Section 4: Secession

2. The Raid of Harper’s Fairy 1858: John Brown begins work to seize federal arsenal in Harper’s Ferry Plan: arm slaves Band of 19 men John Brown (1856)

3. The Raid of Harper’s Fairy Oct. 16 1859: raid begins Took over arsenal Sent men into countryside to get slaves John Brown (1859)

4. The Raid of Harper’s Fairy White southerners attack Brown Brown retreats to a firehouse Oct. 17: Robert E. Lee ordered Marines to storm firehouse “ John Brown’s Fort”

5. Judging John Brown Brown charged & convicted of treason, murder, and conspiracy to stir rebellion Sentenced to death Hanging of John Brown Appearing in Frank Leslie's Weekly Illustrated Paper on December 17, 1859

6. “ I believe that to have interfered as I have done…in behalf of His despised poor, was not wrong, but right. Now if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments. -- I submit; so let it be done!“ "Old Brown has just been executed. We cannot object even though he agreed with us in thinking slavery wrong. That cannot excuse violence, bloodshed, and treason."

7. The Election of 1860 April 1860: Democrats meet in Charleston, SC Northern & southern members could not agree on a candidate Party splits

8. The Election of 1860 Senator Stephen Douglas Nominated by Northern Democrats Vice President John C. Breckinridge Nominated by Southern Democrats

9. The Election of 1860 Constitutional Union Party —recognized no political principles other than Constitution, the Union, and the enforcement of laws Former Secretary of War John Bell Nominated by Constitutional Union Party

10. The Election of 1860 May 1860: Republicans hold convention Senator William Seward leading candidate Worries over Seward’s strong anti-slavery views William Seward

11. The Election of 1860 Abraham Lincoln won nomination on 3 rd ballot Moderate: against the spread of slavery Said he would not try to abolish slavery where it existed Abraham Lincoln & Mr. Taylor

14. Breaking with the Union Fears Lincoln would abolish slavery Lincoln insisted otherwise Lincoln had stated slavery had to end at some point

15. Breaking with the Union December 17, 1860: South Carolina holds secession convention South Carolina first state to secede Secession —act of formally withdrawing from the Union

16. Breaking with the Union John C. Crittenden —proposed a series of constitutional amendments to save slavery Senator John C. Crittenden

17. Breaking with the Union Amendments preserved & extended slavery President-elect Lincoln will urge Republicans to reject plan President Abraham Lincoln

18. The Confederate States of America Feb. 1, 1864: MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, & TX had seceded from the Union Feb 4, 1864 : Delegates from states meet in Montgomery, AL and form Confederate States of America Constitution guaranteed right to own slaves

19. The Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis elected President of Confederacy West Point grad, veteran of Mexican War, Secretary of War, & Senator Did not seek presidency Opposed secession Jefferson Davis

20. Secession Causes