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Declaration of Independence of united States of America
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Extension of slavery into new territories and states
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Ratification of the new Constitution
The debate brought into existence two factions: the Federalists, who favored a strong central government and supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who favored a loose association of states and who opposed the Constitution fearing that a strong central government could become tyrannical and oppressive. -
Bill of Rights
Bill of Rights, became part of the Constitution. The original constitution said nothing about the rights and freedoms of individuals. Most of the Bill of Rights concerns legal protections for those accused of crimes. -
The economy of the Northern states was rapidly modernizing and diversifying. By contrast, the Southern economy was based principally on large farms (plantations)
Industrialization had taken root Northern states. By contrast, the Southern economy was based principally on large farms that produced commercial crops such as cotton and that relied on slaves as the main labor force. Rather than invest in factories or railroads as Northerners had done, Southerners invested their money in slaves. -
The price of cotton and the value of slaves rose commensurately
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Northerners invested their capital in manufacturing, while Southerners invested their money in slaves.
The per capita wealth of Southern whites was twice that of Northerners, and three-fifths of the wealthiest individuals in the country were Southerners. -
First Confiscation law
Congress passed the First Confiscation Act, which allowed Union troops to seize rebels’ property, including slaves who fought with or worked for the Confederate military. One Union general, Benjamin Butler, used confiscation laws to the Union’s benefit by turning the slave owner’s claim to property rights on its head. So many slaves, about 80 percent of eligible white Southern men wound up serving in the military. -
Congress banned slavery and approved the Second Confiscation Act
Congress abolished slavery in the District of Columbia and paid owners in the district about $300 on average for each slave. Three months later Congress passed the Second Confiscation Act, which mandated that any Confederate civilian or military official who did not surrender within 60 days would have his slaves freed. Two days after that, Congress banned slavery from the territories. -
Emancipation Proclamation, Income tax and issuance of paper currency
Emancipation Proclamation would free the slaves in areas that were not under Union control. Lincoln realized that such a move would strike a serious blow militarily to the Confederates, and giving additional incentive to slaves to run away.
The income tax, like many other war measures, disappeared after the war. A nationally recognized paper currency, however, was with the country to stay. -
Battle of the Wilderness and hand-to-hand fighting at Spotsylvania
The Confederate leader attacked Grant from the west in the Battle of the Wilderness. Grant general had lost 18,399 men at Spotsylvania. Lee’s combined losses at the Wilderness and Spotsylvania were an estimated 17,250. -
Lee's surrender to Grant
Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendering to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.
