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Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of people offering shelter to slaves by day, as they were on the run at night trying to escape to the North. One of the key figures of the Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman, who helped an estimated 200 slaves escape to the north. -
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
Nat Turner was a slave who led successful rebellion in August of 1863. His rebellion began when he and six other slaves killed the Travis family, stole arms and horses, and went on a killing spree that claimed the lives of 51 white men, women, and children. His actions lead to the passing of new laws prohibiting the education, movement, and assembly of slaves in the south until the civil war. -
Fugitive Slave Law
The Fugitive Slav Act was a law that allowed for the recapture of runaway slaves in the North. It placed strict punishments on those who assisted in the escape of runaway slaves and made it legal for bounty hunters to capture slaves and bring them back to the south. -
Harris v. Runnels
A Statute of Mississippi that prohibited convict slaves from entering the state. It also declared that no slave should enter the state without a certificate, and placed a $100 fine on anyone who violated this law. -
Moore v. People of State of Illinois
Was a court case that ruled that the state statute that made it illegal to provide shelter to a fugitive slave and in anyway hinder in their recapture, was perfectly valid. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska Act was a law that gave the citizens of the two states the choice of whether slavery would be allowed in their states. After the law went into affect, pro-slavery and anti-slavery supporters moved to Kansas to affect the outcome of the election. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Dred Scott was a slave who sued for his freedom in 1856. He argued that because he lived in the North, he should be entitled to emancipation. The Supreme Court ruled that because slaves did not have U.S. citizenship, he could not sue, and therefore dismissed his case. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The Lincoln Douglas Debates were a series of seven debates between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, over the topic of slavery. Lincoln was running for a seat in the U.S. Senate against Douglas, the incumbent. The debates drew national attention because of Douglas' stature, and Lincoln's arguments throughout his campaign. -
Confiscation Act
The Confiscation Acts were laws passed during the civil war that played a key role of the liberation of slaves in the confederate states. It also authorized the seizure of confederate property by the union. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was and executive order issued by President Lincoln declaring ¨All persons held as slaves" were now free.
