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Harriet Tubman escapes to Philadelphia
Harriet Tubman, a courageous abolitionist, feared that her and her other family members would be sold. She immediately took charge and came up with a solution. Harriet Tubman and two of her brothers escaped slavery in Maryland's Eastern Shore. Her brothers turned back, but Harriet Tubman was to determined to follow. She walked 90 or so miles to Philadelphia for freedom. Although, she immediately returned to Maryland to rescue her family. Eventually, she guided dozens out of the state for freedom -
The Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed on by congress. This act demanded slaves to return to their owners. It also made the federal government responsible for finding, returning, and trying escaped slaves. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
Uncle Tom's Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, is an anti-slavery novel. The book was so widely read! It sold 300,000 copies within three months. Even Abraham Lincoln got a hold of one of those copies. President Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1862, and he reportedly said: "So this is the little lady who made this big war.” The publish of this book was adored by the North, but absolutely hated in the South. The South didn't want to give up slavery. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not they would like to allow slavery within their borders. This act override the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Many in the North were furious because they considered the Missouri Compromise to be a long-standing agreement. Although, in the pro-slavery South, it was strongly supported. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was an enslaved African American held as a slave in Missouri in a free territory. In 1846, him and his wife, Harriet Scott, both realized that there was a doctrine in state courts that stated "once free, always free" They filed freedom suits. 11 years later they were taken to the Supreme Court, and were unsuccessful. Apparently blacks did not have rights in federal court and states no longer had to honor that doctrine. This fired controversy, which later exploded into the Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln Debates Stephen Douglas
The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of mature political debates between Abraham Lincoln, and Stephen A. Douglas, in a campaign for one of Illinois' two United States Senate seats. Although Abraham lost the election, these debates increased his chances that led him to becoming president. They agreed to do 7 debates. Each debate, one would speak for an hour and a half, and same with the other. Douglas got to go first 4 times. Each debate lasted 3 hours. (August 21, 1858- October 15, 1858) -
John Brown's Attack on Harpers Ferry
John Brown, an abolitionist, attempted to start an armed slave revolt and destroy slavery. He gathered a small group to raid against a federal armory in Harpers Ferry. John Brown grew up in an anti slavery family. As he grew older, he experienced a lot of failures, including bankruptcy. In 1837, he attended an abolition meeting where he announced his passion for destroying slavery. Although the raid failed, it inflamed sectional tensions and raised the stakes for the 1860 presidential election -
Abraham Lincoln is Elected President
Abraham Lincoln is elected president of the United States, and he was the first Republican to win the presidency. The South didn't want to vote for him because he opposed slavery. Although, he won by a good amount even though he didn't get many votes from the South. He only received 40% of the popular vote, but he defeated the other 3 candidates: John Bell, Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, and Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas. He was the 16th president of the United States. -
South Carolina Seceded
On December 20th, 1860, South Carolina became the first slaved state to secede from the United States. South Carolina left the United States because they didn't want to be told what to do. Since Abraham Lincoln is now president, they were afraid Lincoln would take their slavery away. South Carolina seceding led to other states who also seceded within the winter of 1860, to spring of 1861. -
The Confederacy is Formed
The states farthest south, where agriculture and slavery were located, formed the Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as president. The states that seceded from America gathered together to form the Confederacy. These states were Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
