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Nat Turner Slave Revolt
This slave rebellion took place in Virginia, this was one of the first revolts among slaves to take place in the United States. This eventually led to other revolts and greater attention paid towards abolitionism. -
William Lloyd Published "The Liberator"
This newspaper was an abolitionist based newspaper, stating the horrors of slavery and advocating the freedom of all slaves in the United States. This took major steps in the abolitionist movements in that it was one of the first series of written documents advocating for such a cause. -
American Anti-Slavery Society Begins
This was an abolitionist society that brought greater awareness surrounding slavery. Major leaders within this society included Frederick Douglass and William Wells Brown, who both proved to be major influences within this abolitionist community. -
Sarah Grimke's Letters on the Equality of the Sexes and the Condition of Women published
Grimke's letters stated that there under God, women were equal to men. Which introduced the idea that religion validated equality, which struck the attention of many who were religious. -
Henry Highland Garnet's "Address to the Slaves of the United States of America"
Throughout this speech, Garnet states that the only way slaves would be able to fight for freedom would be to rebel. This later started a chain among those who sought freedom for others in slavery. -
Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls
This was the first meeting to kick start the women's suffrage movement. It was here that the document "Declaration of Sentiments" came about. -
Harriet Tubman Escapes Slavery
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery and later became a major "conductor" of the underground railroad. Later leading thousands of slaves out of slavery through the underground railroad. -
Compromise of 1850
Through this Compromise, the North gained a new free state, California. While Texas territory was lost, which they were given 10 million dollars in compensation for, also, slave was not allowed in Washington D.C., while slavery was. The point of this was meant to make slavery states and non slavery states equal in numbers. -
Fugitive Slave Act
This act, further strengthened by the Compromise of 1850, stated that if found, fugitive slaves were to be returned to their owners. -
Harriet Beecher Stowe Published Uncle Tom's Cabin
Stowe writes this story based on a slave who attempts to escape, however is caught and whipped to death by their master. Therefore, bringing attention to the horrors that African American slaves face in the event that they attempt to fight for their freedom. This compelling story advocating for anti-slavery supported abolitionism and partly created the friction leading to the Civil War. -
Creation of the Radical Republicans
Radical Republicans believed that African Americans deserved the same rights and opportunities as those who were not minorities. They also all agreed that those who served as Confederate leaders during the civil war deserved punishment. -
Bleeding Kansas
Otherwise known as the "Border War" were a series of violent disputes concerning the views supporting slavery in Kansas. -
Republican Party Founded
Once the issue of slavery came more and more into question, the Republican Party was created among those who sought to abolish slavery. This then created new conflict among opposing political parties, and the question of possible equality came more and more into light. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
This act allowed the states of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not they wanted to be slave states, which caused great controversy in states such as Kansas. Who took their methods of enforcing slavery to new levels, which snowballed into one of the factors leading to the Civil War. -
Panic of 1857
Due to the international economy drastically declining, and the over expansion of the national economy, the United States was quickly led into a financial panic. This proved to be the first worldwide economic crises, which later was contributed to by the Civil War, which added onto the expenses from this panic. -
Lecompton Constitution
In Kansas, those who advocated for slavery created a written document that excluded African Americans from basic human rights, while also protecting those who supported slave holding. Actions like these slowly led to the Civil War. -
Dred Scott Decision
This legal case concerning whether or not Dred Scott, a slave, was not entitled to freedom despite him being in a free state. This then implied that, even within free states, slaves where still considered property, thereby fueling outrage among abolitionists. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
This included about seven debates between the Republican Lincoln and the Democratic Douglas, who both had their own views on slavery. Which brought into question on whether or not it should be extended among other territories. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
Initiated by John Brown, his effort to lead an armed slave revolt on Harper's Ferry was a bold and effective attempt to advocate for abolitionism. However, his army was quickly defeated and many slaves were killed during this attempt. -
Democratic Party Splits Into Northern and Southern Halves
After Lincoln's election, his views on slavery eventually led to the split of the Northern and Southern halves. The Democratic party separated once the argument on whether or not slavery should continue was brought to more light. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
As a president who advocated for abolishing slavery, Lincoln was the first Republican President that openly made efforts to support efforts made to end slavery, such as his support of the Union and the Emancipation Proclamation. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
During the beginning of the Civil War, South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union, which created a chain reaction among other southern states who chose to do the same. -
Confederate States of America Founded
Shortly after Lincoln was elected, this was formed. It ran its own government, and truly attempted to separate themselves from those who did not support their ideals, they even fought their own wars as their own nation, such as the Civil War. -
Firing on Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first battle launching the Civil War. -
Battle of Antietam
Over 23,000 men died on this day, which is considered to be one of the bloodiest battles in American history. This victory in favor of the union later spurred Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. -
Battle of Gettysburg
During the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg marked a major victory for the Union. Wherein, Confederate general Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North proved unsuccessful. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This decree famous given by Abraham Lincoln eventually paved the way towards greater abolitionism within the country. With this, the Civil War's intention now involved the freeing of slaves among other factors. -
Gettysburg Address
Delivered by Abraham Lincoln, in addressing the union soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of Gettysburg. This proved to show which of the "sides" that Lincoln favored, while also serving his presidential duty of recognizing the sacrifices taken. -
Sojourner Truth Delivered her "Ain't I a Woman" Speech
Being a black woman who also escaped slavery, she is known as one of the most influential abolitionists of her time. Her speech, however, advocated more for women's rights, and proved to have a lasting impact on such a movement. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
When this Union general decided to march to sea in order to capture Atlanta, Georgia. This proved to be an important transportation port for the confederate army, and therefore gave the union a great advantage during the Civil War. -
General U.S Grant Assumed Command of Union Troops
This position, granted to General Grant by Abraham Lincoln, marked the president eventually taking partial leadership within the Union. -
Abraham Lincoln Reelected
This election, the second to take place during a major war, led to the surprising reelection of Abraham Lincoln. Who believed he had little chance against his candidate, who proved more favorable. -
Arrival of Scalawags and Carpetbaggers in the South
Carpetbaggers refers to those who lived in the North and moved to the South shortly after the Civil War. They did so for financial and political means, while Scalawags were those who cooperated with African Americans and the new Northerners. Thus altering traditional Southern ideals. -
Lincoln Assassination
During the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by Confederate supporter John Wilkes Booth. Therefore murdering one of the most important figures in United States History. -
Freedman's Bureau Established
Shortly after the Civil War, the aftermath it left in the South was devastating to poor whites and African Americans, this bureau began a reconstruction period in this region. -
Period of "Redemption" after the Civil War
After the Civil War, there was a period where Radical Republicans attempting to be overthrown by the Democratic party. Therefore ending the Reconstruction Era. -
Ku Klux Klan Formed
This cult was formed during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War. Originating in Tennessee, this clan directly sought to harm and discriminate against those who were not straight, white men. -
Lee Surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House
When Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to the union, this marked the official end to the Civil War. -
Andrew Johnson Became President
After taking hold of the presidential office after Lincoln's assassination, Andrew Johnson was the first president of the United States to be impeached. -
Johnson Announced Plans for Presidential Reconstruction
This gave the South a hand in adjusting to the transition from having slavery to not having slavery. However, African Americans did not have a part in politics during this time. -
Congress Passed the 13th Amendment
This amendment was put in place with the intention of abolishing slavery, however this did not extend to punishment. Therefore, if someone were to commit a crime, slavery would be a valid punishment that could be used. -
Civil Rights Act Passed Over Johnson's Veto
After the basic rights of African Americans were denied, this act enable that decree to be powerless. Now, if anyone were to treat African Americans with less respect were now punishable by fine and even imprisonment. -
First Congressional Reconstruction Act Passed
This stated that post civil war, the South would be admitted back into the Union, therefore maintaining the idea of a more united states. -
14th Amendment Ratified
This amendment granted citizenship to anyone who was born or naturalized in the United States, therefore allowing immigrants to have children who would automatically become citizens upon being born in the U.S. -
U.S Grant Elected President
After being nominated among other Republicans, U.S Grant ran for office and won. Therefore being the youngest president, at the time, to enter office. -
Andrew Johnson Impeached
Due to the disputes during and after the civil war, Johnson was found dismissing important government officials without the permission of the senate, which proved to be unconstitutional. -
15th Amendment Ratified
This amendment granted African American men the right to vote. -
Slaughterhouse Cases (Supreme Court)
This ruled that citizen's privileges were protected by the Constitution's 14th amendment. However, this case limited those rights, eventually leading to the cases ruling against other slaughterhouses. -
U.S. v. Cruikshank
This case involved the dispute on whether or not using violence and depriving rights from newly freed slaves. Wherein, the court rules that it was alright to do so, leading to a further discrimination among freed slaves. -
Compromise of 1877
After the election of 1876, there were troops within the South due to the controversy surrounding the recent election. This compromise marked the removal of these troops, officially ending the Reconstruction era.
