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Cotton Gin Patent
The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney in 1793. The development of the cotton gin allowed farmers to make a profit off of short-fiber cotton. The cotton gin contributed to the expansion of slavery -
The Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was made in April 1803. After Napoleon Bonaparte regained control of the Louisiana Territories, President Jefferson was worried that, due to the presence of the French, America would be pushed into an alliance with Britain. To avoid this, Jefferson sent Monroe and Livingston to buy New Orleans and western Florida. The purchase was made for $15 million. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was meant to appease the North and slave-holding states. In the effort of keeping balance, and under the leadership of Henry Clay, Congress admitted some states as free states and others as slave states. Maine was admitted as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. -
Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine was President Monroe’s 1823 message to Congress. He warned outside powers, such as Russia, Spain, and Portugal to not interfere with affairs of American politics. He stated that the U.S would regard such actions as “dangerous to our peace and safety”. -
Nullification Crisis
Occurred in the 1830's when Southern Carolina leaders learned they could nullify federal laws. John Calhoun encouraged states to disregard some of the federal laws. The crisis ended after a compromise regarding tarrifs was reached. http://history1800s.about.com/od/1800sglossary/g/nullification-crisis-def.htm *Could not find exact date -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner led a rebellion of 80 slaves and killed 60 white slave owners. Turner was tried and hanged. After the rebellion, southern whites killed 200 African-American slaves. Many of the slaves were innocent and were not connected to the rebellion. -
American System
The American System was a plan to unite different parts of the country and to introduce a more stable economy by: “developing transportation systems and other internal improvements, establishing a protective tariff, and resurrecting the national bank”. House speaker, Henry Clay coined it the “American System”. -
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution was a rebellion following the revocation of local powers and the 1824 Mexican Constitution. -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed by the U.S and Mexico in 1848. Mexico ceded California and New Mexico to the U.S. The U.S paid $15 million for the cessation, -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was an agreement between North and South created by Henry Clay and backed by Daniel Webster, Clay’s rival. Under the compromise, New Mexico and Utah were given popular sovereignty. The U.S government also paid Texas $10 million to release its claim to New Mexico. The Northerners were happy because the compromise limited slavery to within Texas borders. The Southerners were happy because it helped pay off Texas’ debts from the war with Mexico. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, an abolitionist. The novel was a best seller, published in 1852, more than a million copies were sold by the middle of 1853. The book added to the debate regarding slavery, as Southerners felt it was an attack against the south as a whole. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska act was a bill introduced to Congress on January 23, 1854. The bill was very controversial, it would split the Kansas-Nebraska territory in two and allow popular sovereignty. Most of the Southern congressmen voted for it, but many Northern congressmen saw it as plan to turn the Kansas-Nebraska territories into slave states. -
Beating of Charles Sumner
Charles Sumner delivered a speech to Senate on May 19th. For two days he berated his fellow senators for their support of slavery, particularly Andrew P. Butler. Butler’s nephew, a fellow senator named Preston S. Brooks beat Sumner with his cane. Brooks hit him several times until the cane broke, leaving Sumner with brain damage. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision was a landmark Supreme Court Case. In the case of Dred Scott, a slave who had lived in a free territory for years. The Supreme Court ruled that Scott did not have the rights of a citizen because he was a slave. They also overturned the Missouri Compromise as unconstitutional because it interfered with the slaveholder’s right to own property. -
Harper's Ferry
A group of abolitionists led by John Brown attempted to raid the military arsenal at Harper's Ferry. The group was made up of 21 men, including 5 African-Americans. John Brown was captured, convicted of treason, and hung. http://www.history.com/topics/harpers-ferry -
Election of 1860
President Abraham Lincoln ran for election in 1860. He was one of four candidates, the other three being: Stephen Douglas, John C. Breckinridge, and John Bell. Lincoln won, but received no electoral votes from the South. -
South Carolina Secedes
After Lincoln’s win, the Southerners were concerned that they had lost their voice in the national government. Many southern states decided to take action, to secede. South Carolina took action first and seceded on December 20th, 1860, followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.