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Second Continental Congress
The delegates decided to outlaw slave trade in the colonies. This is because if the increase in African slaves compared to the number of free me in the colonies. -
The Declaration of Independence
It explicitly says that all men are created equal, but doesn't talk about slaves. It does target the king for using slaves to fight against the colonists. -
Vermont Outlaws Slavery
Vermont outlaws slavery in their states constitution. They become one of the many northern states to outlaw slavery. -
Gradual Emancipated
Gradual emancipation becomes a law in Pennsylvania. This means that no new slaves could be brought into the state, and all slaves that were born before the act was passed have to stay slaves. -
Massachusetts Outlaws Slavery
Massachusetts outlaws slavery. This was decided because of the Supreme Court case, Commonwealth vs. Jennison case. -
Northwest Ordinance
Slavery is outlawed in certain regions of United States. Specifically north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. -
Three-Fifths Compromise
Three-Fifths of the state's population goes toward representation in Congress. They also decide that 1808 is when Congress can stop the slave trade. -
Opposing the Slave Trade
New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania oppose the slave trade. They make all of their citizens not participate in anything having to do with it. -
Kentucky
Kentucky becomes the first new slave state to enter the United States. -
Fugitive Slave Law
It denies a trial to any fugitive slaves and gives any federal or state judge to decide their consequence. Many northerners saw this as an attack on "personal liberty". -
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison put out a series of documents against the Alien and Sedition Acts. They say the Acts are unconstitutional, and say that every state has the right to reject them. -
Ohio
Ohio becomes a free state in the United States. Joining the mostly free northern states. -
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana purchase opened up many debates. The most prominent being whether or not it should be a slave territory. -
Gradual Emancipation in New Jersey
New Jersey passes their own gradual emancipation act. They then become the "last state to pass a long-term end to slavery." -
Slave Trade Ban
Congress passes a law to ban the slave trade, but isn't put into effect until 1808. However, it isn't enforced until 1861. -
Hartford Convention
A group of Federalist from New England talk about the power of slaveholders in the government. They also talk about how the Constitution needs amendments. This is where a requirement of a 2/3 vote by congress is brought up. -
New York Emancipation
New York makes a law that takes place on July 4, 1827 that all slaves that were not free in 1799 will become free then. -
Slave Trade and Piracy
Congress defines anything having to do with the Slave trade as piracy. Which means that the consequences of slave trade are equal to the consequences of piracy. -
Missouri Compromise
The House and Senate can't decide whether or not Missouri should be a free state or a slave state. Then Congress comes up with a compromise that allows Missouri to have no slave restrictions, but restricts the rest of the Louisiana territory. -
Equal States
Missouri is entered in the Union as slave state, but every state to the north of Missouri must be a free state because of the compromise. This makes the free to slave states even with 12. -
Denmark Conviction
Denmark Vassey, is convicted of planning a slave rebellion. Him and 35 other people are hung in Charleston, South Carolina. -
Free African Americans in South Carolina
The Denmark Vassey suspicions about a slave revolt makes South Carolina nervous. This causes them to arrest and imprison a plethora of free African Americans in South Carolina. -
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson, a slave-owner, becomes president. This makes him the seventh slave owning president. The only presidents to not own a slave being John Adams and Quincy Adams. -
David Walker
David Walker, a self taught and free black man, releases a book called David Walker's Appeal. It is about how African Americans should rise up through violence. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner leads the bloodiest slave rebellion in US history. 70 white people are killed, and 100 black people are killed as well. -
William Lloyd Garrison
Garrison, an abolitionists, starts publishing his newspaper, The Liberator. -
Virginia and Slavery
After the Nat Turner slave revolt, Virginia thinks about getting rid of slavery. However, the laws are not passed to abolish slavery, and keeps them as a slave state. -
Garrison Takes Action
William Lloyd Garrison, along with whites and blacks, organize the New England Antislavery Society. This is made specifically to try to end slavery in a non violent way. -
Compromise Tariff of 1833
John C. Calhoun says that states have the right to go against federal legislation. This is only if it is against their interests. Later, Henry Clay helps with the Compromise to lower the tariff of 1832. -
Andrew Jackson's 2nd term
Andrew Jackson is re-elected as president. Making the abolitionist even more upset about slavery because there is a slave-owner in office. -
Massachuttes Frees Slaves
Massachusetts declares that any slave brought into that state by a master is free. This frees hundreds to thousands of slaves in Massachusetts. -
Gag Rule
Congress passes a series of unconstitutional laws that get passed because most northern Democrats voted for it. It says that publication against slavery is illegal. -
Texas
Texas declares themselves independent from the United States, and becomes the Republic of Texas. However, the US refuses to recognize Texas as independent. Most abolitionist also oppose Texas being entered into the Union as well. -
Slavery is good?
Calhoun tells the senate that slavery is good for our society. -
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren is elected president. He is one of only two presidents to not own slaves while he was in office out of the first twelve presidents. -
Unemployment
A sudden increase of inflation becomes disastrous for most Americans. This causes a plethora of Americans to lose their jobs, and brings about panic. -
Wendell Phillips
Wendell begins his work as an abolitionist, and a Native American advocate. Right after he graduates from Harvard law. -
William Henry Harrison
Harrison beats Van Buren in the election, but would die a month later. However, the Liberty Party only gets a total of 7,000 votes. -
Prigg vs. Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court decides to uphold the federal fugitive law of 1793. They also say that states can't pass law preventing the removal of runaway slaves. -
James K Polk
James K Polk is elected president. The Liberty Party wins with 65,000 votes in the election to beat out the Whig, Henry Clay. -
Texas becomes a State
Texas officially becomes a state. Bringing another problem to the United States, mostly to the Abolitionists. Whether or not Texas should be a free state or slave state. -
Compromise of 1850
California becomes a freee state. However, New Mexico and Utah obtain the right to vote on whether or not they want to be a free or slave state. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This is an antislavery book written by Harriet B. Stowe. It was banned in most Southern states, but still sold over a million copies. -
Fugitive Slave Act
A stronger, more forceful form of the Fugitive Slave Law is passed. Giving the slaves denied jury, and having to be returned to all owners. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This allowed the citizens in Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not they want to become free or slave states. It also repealed the Missouri Compromise. -
John Brown
John Brown kills multiple proslavery activist. This causes a series of violent attacks between abolitionists and proslavery activists. -
Dred Scott vs. Sanford
The U.S. Supreme Court decides that slavery is protected by the Constitution, and is unconstitutional to ban slavery. Every judge that sides with Chief Marshall, Roger Taney, are Southerns. -
Lincoln vs. Douglas Debates
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debate for four months in race to become Senator of Illinois. Lincoln would lose the election, but would become President of the United States 2 years later. -
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The Confederacy Starts
South Caroline, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas all secede from the Union. -
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Presidents
Jefferson Davis is inaugurated as the President of the Confederacy, but Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as as the President of the United States. -
Start of the Civil War
Fort Sumter is attacked by was attacked by Confederate soldiers in South Carolina. They attacked a Union base. -
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