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The Missouri Compromise
It was a series of agreements that eventually allowed Missouri to become a slave state due to the expansion of slavery across the West. Since adding another slave state would unbalance the free/slave state ratio, the made Maine a free state to even it out. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner was a slave that led a rebellion across many plantations in southern Virginia. Turner lead around 70 followers and they killed 60 white people through out the Rebellion. 50 slaves involved including Turner were tried and executed. There were many slave rebellions but Turner's was the Bloodiest of them all. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850Similar to the Missouri Compromise, this was a bundel of five different bills that ended the dispute over free and slave territories in the land won after the Mexican-American War. It also created the Fugitive Slave Act, which was a law that forced Northerers to return freed slaves living in the North. -
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" was published
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, it was about a black slaves tragic story of losing his family to become a slave. It gave the Northerners a look into the ugly truth about slavery while Southerners protested that it was insulting. -
Bleeding Kansas
Due to the pressure of Westward expansion, Senator Stephen Douglas thought that the people should decide if new territories would become free or slave states. When settlers found that Kansas could be either, Pro- Slavery settlers and free soil settlers flocked to Kansas and both sides protested what Kansas should do. Confrontations broke out and lasted five years. Dozens of settlers died and many buildings were burned and looted. This event shocked the nation. -
Dred Scott (Scott vs. Sanford)
A slave who moved with his master to a free state and tried to sue for his freedom in court, which resulted in going to the Supreme Court. The final verdict was that since he was a slave, he was property that had no rights or recognitions givin to a human being. This caused celebration in the South, but it became a concern for the north. They were realizing how much power the South really had in political matters. -
Abraham Lincoln get Elected
When people saw Lincoln running for president, they thought he wasent going to win because of his anti-slavery outlook. Even though he wasent included in many southern voting stands, he still won. Since many southern sates feared his presidency, South Carolina left the union on December 20 followed by six more states. -
Fort Sumter
Even though Lincoln and Davis both wanted to keep the peace, they were both preparing for the worst. The problem was the outcome of Northern forts and bases in South Carolina, espically Fort Sumter. When Confederate forces beseiged the fort and the commander asked Lincoln for help, Lincoln was stumped. If he sent troops it would lead to war but he had to defend the Union. A battle broke out starting the Civil War. -
General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee was the General of the Confederate army. He had experience fighting in the Mexican American war and was well respected on both sides. Due to his tactical brilliance he won many battles including the Second Bull Run and the Battle of Chancllorsville. He lost the Battle of Gettysburg but continued to fight against Ulysses S. Grant in many other battles before surrendering in 1865. He won many battles for the Confederacy. -
The Battle of Bull Run
Was one of the first major battles of the Civil War. Was fought in Prince William county, Virginia. -
The Birth of the Confederate States of America
After South Carolina left the union, other southern states including Texas and Florida also left. Delegates form each of these states met in Alabama and created The Confederate States of America. They chose Jefferson Davis as the president of the CSA. Their constitution was based of of the United States except that slavery was allowed. -
The Battle of Fort Henry
Was fought in Stewart and Henry county, Tennessee. It was the first battle to use Ironclad gunboats and the Union won the battle. Confederates lost 80 men, Union lost 40. -
The Homestead Act
This Act offered prospective farmers 64 hectares of land for free, but they had to live on it for five years and imporve it by cleaning the land and planting crops. Even though it had a low sucess rate, it did encourage settlement in the West. -
Emancipation Proclimation
Was issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the thrid year of the Civil War. It states "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." Which basically means all slaves were freed and slavery was abolished which angered the South to a great degree. -
Clara Barton ( Red Cross)
Clara Barton was a nurse who helped many injured Union soldiers during the Civil war. She was part of many battles and later founded the American Red Cross. Her nickname was "Angel of the Battlefield" for her courage on the battlefield. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
Was the largest battle that occured during the Civil War and was the biggest battle ever to happen in North America with 85,000 Union and 75,000 Confederate soliders. It was the turning point of the war and a huge win for the Union. This was Robert E. Lee's second attempt at an invasion which failed like the first. He suffered many loses. Around 51,000 men were killed, injured or MIA after the battle. -
The Gettysburg Adress
A speech written and said by President Abraham Lincoln after the battle of Gettysburg. It is one of the best know speeches in American History because its short and simple meaning was insirational. It adresses the men that died and what they died for, and how the people should not give up and after the war things will be better for everyone. -
Confederates Surrender/ End of Civil War
After the loss of Gettysburg, the South was weak. They continued to fight but lost every time. General Grant was closing in on the confederate capital located in Richmond. They made a stand but were defeated. The capital was burned and realizing his fate, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Grant in Appomattox Court house, Vriginia on April 9. This ended the four year Civil war. -
Rebuilding America
The war devestated America. Many died and it cost the country lots of money. The south lost slavery and needed a new source of income. But Lincoln had a plan to unite the nation to its former glory. It was to allow the states back into the union but they had to swear an oth to not have slaves. It was working but at a slow pace. -
Abraham Lincoln is Assassinated
When the civil war ended, some hardcore confederates were sour with the outcome of the war and blamed Lincoln for all of it. So when Abraham Lincoln went to see a play in Washington, a man by the name John Wilkes Booth shot and killed him. The North fell into a hole of grief and anger. The nation would be lost without Lincoln to guide them to a better future. -
Klu Klux Klan
Was founded by veterans of the Confederate Army. The were against the idea of Reconstruction and they terriorized and harrased freed slaves and even white people. They got so big in numbers and crimes that the Union had to get involved, which led to a fight that pushed the Klan underground. -
14 Ammendment
The 14 ammendment was introduced, which protectes the civil rights for former slaves livinf in America. It was to ensure that all fromer laves enjoyed the rights of citizenship. -
Purchase of Alaska
America always had this dream of manifest destiny, to expand its territory across North America. William Seward, the secratary of state, organized and negotiated with Russia and ended up buying it for $7.2 millionc ($106 million today). This new land gave America furs, resources and the hope that all of North America will become America someday. -
Railroads Construction Completed
The Continential Railroad took six years to complete and was built almost all by hand. This railroad would allow for cargo and supplies to get to places faster and to places farther away. It changed the American view on travel and how much smaller the country became. -
Immigration and Cities
After the civil war, many europeans immigrated to America because of cheap land and new oppertunities. The msot common were Irish, German, Italian, British, and Russian. With more people coming in, cities like New York were increasing in size which provided lots of work for the immigrants. -
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was one of the richest men in America. He figured out a way to mass produce steel so it could be used for buildings and railroads. He found a way and made millions off of it. He soon owned Carnegie Steel Corporation, the largest steel producer of its time.
