The Compromise of 1850 was a series of bills, introduced by Henry Clay, passed by congress in attempts to limit the expansion of slavery. Within this compromise, five bills were passed. 1. Fugitive slave law, meaning that any runaway slave shall be captured and returned to original territory. 2. The slave trade in Washington, D.C. would cease to exist. 3. California was to be entered as a free state. 4. Territorial government in Utah. 5. Settling of a boundary dispute between Texas and Mexico. Trailing behind the compromise was the publishing of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe written in 1852. This anti-slavery novel was written to shed light on slavery and its effects on the families divided by it. It contributed to the beginning of the war by personalizing the political and economic disagreements regarding slavery. By sharing this information, it helped many Americans decide what kind of country they wanted to be a part …show more content…
General P.G.T. Beauregard, commander of the confederate forces, demanded the surrender of the Union garrison of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Robert Anderson, garrison commander, refused surrender. Because of this refusal, Beauregard and his men opened fire on Fort Sumter. Ironically, Anderson then surrendered, leading to a victory for the confederacy. This event was the opening battle for the civil war. There were no casualties upon initial bombardment. After the battle, two union members died and two were wounded by the fault of a cannon that