Final answer:
The Kansas-Nebraska Act and the firing on Union forces at Fort Sumter were the two most important events along the road to the Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Road to the Civil War
The road to the Civil War in the United States was marked by several significant events. Two of the most important and influential events were the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the firing on Union forces at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to allow slavery. This act led to violent conflicts between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups, fueling tensions between the North and the South.
The firing on Union forces at Fort Sumter in 1861 marked the beginning of the Civil War. The Confederate forces' attack on the Union-held fort was a clear act of aggression and forced the Union to take military action, leading to the outbreak of the war.