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Underground Railroad
The underground railroads were used as a secret way for the African American slaves to escape from their owners. Most routes led to Canada, but others led to places like Mexico or to other places overseas. During the 20 year peak period, around 30,000 slaves escaped in that span, and in total, an estimated 100,000 slaves escaped all together. Underground Railroad -
Inventing Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney strived to find a new way to separate cotton from the seeds. So he created the Cotton Gin, which basically worked as a strainer to separate the cotton and keep the seeds out. This invention increased the speed of removing seeds from 1 pound of cotton to over 50 pounds a day. This invention caused a high demand for slaves in the South for picking cotton. Cotton Gin -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was proposed to try and keep the states equal between slave states and free states. In 1819, Missouri tried to join the union, but the plan was shot down by the Northern states. In 1820, the state of Missouri was a slave state and Maine was announced as a free state. Compromise 1820 -
Tariff of 1828 & Nullification Process
This tariff was made to protect the industries in the Northern states. It was officially called the "Tariff of Abominations." The Nullification Crisis was trying to take away that tariff because it was unconstitutional and unenforceable in the state of South Carolina.
1828 Tariff -
The Liberator is Published
It was a weekly newspaper published by a man named William Lloyd Garrison. Three quarters of the people who purchased the newspaper were African-Americans. It earned nationwide notoriety for its uncompromising advocacy of "immediate and complete emancipation of all slaves" in the U.S. Liberator -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
It was a rebellion that took place in Southampton, Virginia. Nat Turner led them; him and other rebel slaves killed between 55 and 65 people, which is the largest slave uprising in U.S. history. It was put down within a few days, but Nat survived in hiding for more than 2 months afterwards. In retaliation, the white militias punished many slaves, even ones who didn't participate. Nat Turner -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso proposed a law to ban slavery in the mexico territory that was taken in the Mexican War. This conflict was a major event leading to the civil war. It was proposed many times a few different ways and failed. Wilmot Proviso -
Compromise of 1850
This compromise consisted of 5 laws passed in 1850 that dealt with slavery. The state of California wanted to enter the union as a free state, but people feared it would upset the balance of slave and free states. A Senator named Henry Clay set it up with acts that dissolved the situation, settling land diputes between Texas and Mexico. California successfully entered the Union as a free state. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is published
The author of this book was Harriet Beecher Stowe. She wrote this book in reaction to the recently tightened fugitive slave laws. the book had a major influence on how the American public viewed slavery. -
Bleeding Kansas
This event was a result of people that were outraged because of the Kansas-Nebraska Acts that were put in place. Many small and big battles occured between the pro-slavery and the anti-slavery supporters. A few days after the Raid of Lawrence, the anti-slavery supporters caused the Pottawatomie Creek Massacre. Kansas was eventually a free state. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act allowed people in Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not to allow slavery in their borders. It served to repeal the Missouri compromise of 1820 which didnt allowed slavery north of the line. This act caused violience from the outraged people of the north that supported the Missouri compromise. Kansas-Nebraska -
Brooks-Sumner Events
It occured when Brooks attacked Sumner with a walking cane after Sumner gave a speech in which he criticized slaveholders. The beating nearly killed Sumner, and it drew a sharply polarized response from the American public on the subject of the expansion of slavery in the U.S. It was considered symbolic of the "breakdown of reasoned discourse" that led to the civil war. -
Dred Scott Decision
This decision by the U.S. Surpreme Court stated that Dred Scott, who resided to a free state, was not allowed to have his freedom. They also stated that African-Americans should never be allowed freedom from slavery. This decision added fuel to the sectional controversy and pushed closer to the civil war. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
These debates were between Abraham Lincoln and Stephan Douglas. They both were trying to win the legislative votes to gain control of the Illinois General Assembly. They had joint appearences that were held in the 7 remaining districts, and the topics discussed were mostly about slavery. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
This was an effort by an armed abolitionist named John Brown. His plan was to initiate an armed slave revolt by taking over a United states arsenal at harpers ferry. To assist in this plan, he asked Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, who both declined because of the likelyhood of it failing. -
Election of 1860
This election was won by Abraham Lincoln, and he beat out people like Stephan Douglass. After winning the election, it led to the immediate seccession of the 7 lower cotton states. Lincoln's further actions caused 4 more states to join the confederacy at the outbreak of the civil war. 1860 election -
Fort Sumter is fired upon
The start of the Civil War began as the Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. The Union and the Confederacy had strong tensions for several months. The firing upon this fort in South Carolina turned into the bloodiest war in American history. Fort Sumter -
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Secession of Southern States
After the civil war began, 4 states of the upper South-Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, declared their secession and joined the confederacy. The confederacy later accepted Missouri and Kentucky as members. The government of the Union rejected the claims of secession and considered the confederacy illegitimate.
