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North Ordinance 1787
It's purpose was to establish procedures of new lands added to the U.S. It was important because this was going to set the basis of the North government. -
3/5 Compromise 1787
3 out of 5 of the slaves would be counted towards a territories. It was important because in this case they counted slaves as people, but when it came to slave laws, they saw slaves as property -
Fugitive Slave Act
Law that required runaway slaves be returned. Force authorities in free states to return fugitive slaves to their masters.
Important because it enforced the idea that slaves, no matter what, would always be owned by white people. -
Invention of cotton gin
The invention of cotton gin machine changed the production of cotton by speeding up the process of removing seeds from cotton fiber.
It was important because since it increased cotton production, it increased need for slaves. -
Ban on Slavery Importation
A law that stated that no new slaves were permitted to be brought into the United States.
It was important because it's purpose was to limit slavery, however there were people that would illegally bring slaves to the U.S. -
Missouri Compromise
Compromise that admitted Missouri as a slave state, Maine as a free
It's purpose was to keep the balance of power in Congress between slave and free states. -
Nat Turner Rebllion
Slave rebellion that took place in Virginia led by Nat Turner. Rebel slaves killed from 55 to 65 people, the majority white.
This rebellion sparked fear in white people of blacks, and made white people feel like they had to oppress the blacks more to keep them under control. -
South Carolina Nullification Crisis
It was when South Carolina `szz
This event, foreshadowed what would happen before the Civil War occurred, South Carolina would succeed from the Union. -
Organization of Underground Rail Road
The National Antislavery Society organized the Underground Railroad, which combined the efforts of both white and black abolitionists. They helped roughly 100,000 slaves to freedom. It was not an actual rail road. The fear of many Southerners was coming true, and all the freed slaves would eventually compromise the Southern economy if it kept on going. -
Wilmot Proviso
Suggested compromise that stated the new territories would be slave free.
If this would have been passed, it would have been very important because that means slavery would have been severely limited. It's important even though it was not passed because it shows how people were thinking. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty that officially ended the war between Mexico and America.
U.S gained land that makes up or is part of: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
This treaty was important because the all the land the U.S. gained from Mexico. -
Compromise of 1850
5 bills:
1) Enter California as a free state
2) Popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico
3) Texas gave up territories in New Mexico for $10 million
4) Harsher fugitive slave laws
5) Slave trade was banned in D.C. Each one of these bills benefited the North or South, and defused the tension between the North and South for a couple of years. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
An anti slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This book caused a ripple in American history. The North started to see the side of the slaves, and their opinion was changing. Southerners were enraged, and this book caused them to have to defend slavery. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
Popular sovereignty in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide to allow slavery or not in their state. The Act basically repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, and this infuriated the North. -
Bleeding Kansas
Various violent clashes in Kansas between anti and pro slavery citizens.
Kansas is battlefield on which the forces of anti-slavery and the forces of slavery meet. -
Charles Sumner Attacked
A member of the House of Representatives walked into the Senate Chamber and beat a senator Charles Sumner into unconsciousness. Preston Brook's motive was slavery, and this act of violence proved the simple fact that slavery was taring not only the nation's citizens apart, but the government as well. -
Dred Scott Decision
Slave Dred Scott was a slave who's master had resided in a free state. However the Supreme Court ruled that he is not entitled to his freedom and African Americans were not and could never be citizens of the United States. This court was important because it contradicted the Constitution. It states that everyone was created equal and all American citizens have the right to a court ruling. However the court ruled that since slaves were property, they did not have the right to a court ruling. -
John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry
Effort by John Brown to start rebellion of armed slaves. He was depending on slaves to come and join the rebellion, however that help never came. Brown's following were defeated, and Brown was sentenced to be hanged due to treason. Many Northerners felt sympathy for him, while slave owners lived in fear of slave uprisings and invasion by armed abolitionists. Brown's attempt made southerners nervous. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina left the Union, and later on 7 other states would follow. These states would create the Confederate States of America. This is the first domino that falls to create the two sides of the Civil War: the Union and the Confederate States of America. -
Lincoln's election
Lincoln won the presidential election. He faced Douglas, Breckinridge and Bell. His election was important because he won the presidency without one vote from the Southern states. This was the last straw for the Southern states, and not too long after, South Carolina secedes from the Union.
