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America's 2nd Census
Nearly a fifth of population filled by slaves. The growing number of slaves increases the fear of possible revolt. -
Gabriel Prosser Organizes a Revolt in Richmond, Virginia
Though the plans were discovered and Prosser and many rebels were hanged, it was one of the first planned slave revolts. -
Congress bans importation of African Slaves
The growing opposition to slavery in the north caused Congress to put a ban on further importing slaves. -
American Colonization Society is Founded
Founded to help free blacks resettle in Africa-appealed for people against slavery as a means for freed blacks to live in their native homeland. -
Virginia outlaws blacks and mulattos from meeting for the purposes of education and forbids teaching blacks to read and write
Restricts blacks from understanding the Slave Code laws and appealing to court. -
Denmark Vesey plans a slave revolt in Charleston, South Carolina
Denmark Vesey purchased his freedom and planned a revolt, but was uncovered and hanged along with 34 conspirators. -
Slavery Becomes Illegal in New York
Northern states strongly oppose slavery and slowly states make it illegal. -
Georgia Prohibits Education of Slaves
Southerners fear conflict and overruling by slaves so Georgia takes the initiative to restrict them from education. -
William Lloyd Garrison Publishes the Liberator
A weekly paper that advocates the complete abolition of slavery. -
Nat Turner leads the significant slave uprising in Virginia
Nat Turner is captured and hanged. Virginia and the south institute stricter slave laws. -
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hosts the 1st American Anti-Slavery Society Convention
Sixty abolitionist leaders met to bring about immediate emancipation of all slaves. -
U.S. House of Representatives Adopts a "Gag Rule"
Faced with a deluge of abolitionist petitions, the U.S. House of Representatives adopts a "gag rule" by which abolitionist materials are automatically tabled. The rule is renewed numerous times- slavery cannot be brought up as an issue in Congress. -
The Georgia Legislature Declares That It Will Never Recognize Free Blacks as Citizens
Impose resoluteness of being a slave state. -
The Wilmot Proviso
David Wilmot, representative of Pennsylvania, attempts to ban slavery in territory gained from Mexico. -
Compromise of 1850 establishes a stricter Fugitive Slave Law
Government still finds slaves to be property of slaveholders. -
Fugitive Slave Act grows stricter
gradual tension between the South and North, South grows more resentful of abolitionism. -
Sojourner Truth gives her famous "Ain't I a Woman" speech
at the Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio- merges the issue of women’s rights with abolitionism. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Depicted southern planters as brutal antagonists to the slaves. -
Proslavery groups in Kansas attack the free soil town of Lawrence
Radical abolitionist John Brown and his followers strike in retaliation, initiating a wave of violence and destruction, known as "Bleeding Kansas -
U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dred Scott v. Sanford denies citizenship to all slaves
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dred Scott v. Sanford denies citizenship to all slaves, ex-slaves, and descendants of slaves and denies Congress the right to prohibit slavery in the territories. -
John Brown attacks Harpers Ferry, Virginia
John Brown, an abolitionist, and a small army attempt to take over the arsenal in Virginia to help the slaves rise in revolt. John Brown is captured and hanged for treason. -
Congress repeals the Missouri Compromise
Opening western territories to slavery.
