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Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (Red, Social + Political)
Established the previous 10 districts, of the Northwest, into a single Northwest territory. This territory would eventually be turned into 3-5 territories. Here, there would be guaranteed freedom of religion, the right to trial by jury and slavery would be prohibited. Once the population reached 60,000, the territory could apply for statehood. -
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 (Green, Political)
In order to appease both the North and the South, a bill was proposed that would combine both the Maine and Missouri proposals. This meant that Missouri would be admitted as a slave state and Maine would be admitted as a free state. Senator Jesse B. Thomas of Illinois proposed an amendment that would prohibit slavery in the rest of the Louisiana Purchase territory north of the 36°30' parallel, or the southern border of Missouri. Congress adopted the Thomas Amendment. -
Nat Turner Rebellion (Red, Social)
Nathaniel Turner led a small band of African Americans, who then broke into Benjamin Travis's home and killed him and all of his family members. Turner then marched towards Jerusalem, VA to capture the armory at the county seat. On his march he killed roughly 60 people. Six weeks later, he and 16 others were found in Dismal Swamp. They were later executed in Jerusalem, VA. This rebellion re-instilled the fear in slave owners that their slaves or neighboring slaves would commit acts of violence. -
The Gag Rule (Red, Political)
Proposed by James Hammond of South Carolina. The “gag rule” was a practice put into place by the House of Representatives that forbade the House from discussing the issue of slavery for 20 years, due to a shortage in cotton production. Henry L. Pinckney added to this by stating that all petitions, memorials or resolutions regarding the issue of slavery, should be automatically tabled. This was strongly opposed by John Quincy Adams, who saw it as a restriction on the freedom of speech. -
The Amistad Case (Red, Political)
Portugese slave hunters captured hundreds of slaves from Africa and illegally sold them into slavery in Cuba. Eventually, several of the slaves seized control of the Amistad. They arrived off the coast of Long Island and were seized by naval officers. The U.S. District Court in Hartford, CT, ruled that they had been illegally captured and should be returned to Africa. The Supreme Court later upheld the lower courts' decision because of the abolition of transatlantic slave trade. -
The Annexation of Texas (Red, Political)
Mexico urged Americans to move into the Texan territory, to be a buffer between Mexico and local Indian tribes. Stephen Austin of Missouri, encouraged this idea. Austin created centers of power in Texas, which led to the annexation of Texas from Mexico.The president of the nation, Sam Houston, applied to be admitted into the Union. Northerners were opposed to the admittance of a new slave state and the increase in southern votes in Congress and the Electoral College.Texas was admitted in 1845. -
The Mexican War (Red, Political + Economic)
President Polk sent John Slidell to make an offer to Mexico for the disputed territories, which was rejected by. Polk then ordered the Texan army to move across the Neuces River to the Rio Grande. Mexico refused to fight for months but eventually attacked U.S. troops at Rio Grande. Critics accused Polk of intentionally moving the country into conflict and draining resources. The U.S. eventually acquired New Mexico and California. The conflict was resolved with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
Wilmot Proviso (Red, Political)
An amendment proposed by David Wilmot to the Appropriation Bill, which is where the U.S. purchased land from Mexico for $2 million. It would prohibit slavery from any territory acquired from Mexico. The amendment was passed in the House, but defeated in the Senate. Southern militants contended that all Americans had equal rights in the new territories, including the right to move their "property" or slaves there. -
California Gold Rush (Red, Economic)
The gold rush increased the population of California significantly, attracted the first Chinese immigrants to the U.S., caused a serious labor shortage, which led to the overt exploitation of Native Americans and caused an influx of immigrants from around the world. Migrants who abandoned their farms, families and businesses to harvest gold became known as the 49ers. It also brought about statehood for California, which was admitted as a free state. -
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 (Red, Political + Social)
Prior to 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 and the Fugitive Slave Clause were enacted to ensure that runaway slaves would be returned to their masters. Both were widely opposed, thus bringing the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. It was a part of the Compromise of 1850 and stated that runaway slaves were required to be returned to their owner and that the federal government was required to find, return and try runaway slaves. It's purpose was to try and force the Northern states to follow the law. -
The Compromise of 1850 (Red, Political)
The proposal of five laws by Henry Clay, to resolve the issue of slavery and territorial expansion. It stated that California be admitted to the Union as a free state, the formation of territorial governments in the lands acquired from Mexico with no restrictions on slavery, the abolition of slave trade in the District of Columbia and a new fugitive slave law. Debates ensued following the proposal, which reaffirmed the need to settle the tensions and division between the North and the South. -
The Publication of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (Red, Social)
An anti-slavery novel published by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was in a reaction to the more restrictive fugitive slave laws that had been enacted. The novel changed many American’s view on slavery. -
Ostend Manifesto (Red, Political)
President Franklin Pierce had been attempting to buy Cuba from Spain. A private declaration had been issued from Ostend, Belgium, which stated that the U.S. would be justified in seizing Cuba if Spain was unwilling to sell it to the U.S. It enraged many antislavery northerners and who charged the administration with conspiring to bring a new slave state into the Union. Also, the South opposed all efforts to acquire the new territory, as it would not support the slave system.It was unsuccessful. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act (Red, Political)
A proposal from Stephen A. Douglas to organize the Nebraska territory. Proposed that the territorial legislatures determine if it would be free or slave states, divided the territory into Kansas and Nebraska and repeal the Missouri Compromise. This was opposed by Southerners due to the possibility of both being admitted as free states. Opposed by Northerners because of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Tore apart the Whig Party, divided Northern Democrats and created the Free Soil Party. -
Bleeding Kansas 1855-1861 (Red, Social)
Missourians arrived in Kansas and were considered residents of Kansas, which allowed them to vote in the territorial elections. A majority of pro-slavery men were voted into the legislature, after filling ballot boxes with fictitious ballots. This caused a formation of a new, anti-slavery government, in Lawrence, Kansas. A series of violent events followed between the pro-slavery anti-slavery residents of Kansas, including the Sac of Lawrence and the Pottawatomie Massacre. -
Dred Scott Decision (Red, Political)
Dred Scott was a slave who he had been taken to live in free territory before returning to Missouri after his slave owner, John Emerson, had died. Scott filed a lawsuit against the widow for freedom and the state court ruled in his favor. John Sandford then claimed ownership of Scott and brought the case to the Supreme Court. Justice Roger Taney ruled against Scott, as he was not legally a citizen and did not have the right to bring his case to court. Tensions rose between the North and South. -
John Brown and the Raid on Harpers Ferry (Red, Political+Social)
John Brown, an abolitionist, staged a plan to seize a mountain fortress in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with the intent of fomenting a slave insurrection in the South. He and 18 others seized control of the U.S. arsenal. Brown was soon besieged by Robert E. Lee and U.S. troops, where 10 of his men were killed and Brown surrendered. Brown was later tried for treason in Virginia and sentenced to death, with 6 of his followers. -
Crittenden Compromise (Red, Political)
Proposed by John J. Crittenden, a Whig from Kentucky. It would reinstate the Missouri Compromise, extend the line westward, guaranteed the existence of slavery and solved issues of fugitive slaves and slavery in Washington D.C. It also included a clause that stated that these amendments could never be repealed or modified. It was originally tabled, but was later rejected by Congress. Its purpose was to quell the tensions, preserve the Union, and appease southerners after the election of Lincoln.
