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Missouri Compromise
An effort to preserve the balance of power in Congress between slave and free states. -
Nat Turner Slave Rebellion
A rebellion of black slaves took place in Southampton County, Virginia. The rebels killed between 55 and 65 people, at least 51 of whom were white. -
War of Mexico
A war between the United States and Mexico over the United States' annexation of Texas. -
Wilmot Proviso
An unsuccessful proposal in the US Congress that tried to ban slavery in territory acquired from Mexico in the Mexican-American war. -
Compromise of 1850
Consists of 5 laws passed that dealt with the issue of slavery and territorial expansion. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Passed by United States Congress as part of the Compromise of 1850 that made the federal government responsible for finding nd returning slaves that escaped from the South. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was an anti-slavery novel written by American author Harriet Beecher Stoe. This novel had many effects on attitudes towards African Amercians. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
A territorial organic act that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. It allowed people in the territories to decide for themselves whether or not they wanted slavery within their borders. -
Bleeding Kansas
A series of violent civil confrontations in Kansas territory, which began from a political debate over is slavery was legal or not in Kansas. -
Dred Scott Decision
A landmark decision of the U.S supreme court in which the Court held that the U.S constitution was not meant to include American citizenship for black people. -
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry was an effort by abolitionist John Brown, to initiate a slave revolt in Southern states by taking over the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. -
Formation of Confederate States of America
A collection of 11 states that seceded from the US following the election of President Abraham Lincoln. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
Lincoln's election served as the primary catalyst of the American Civil War. The United States had become increasingly divided during the 1850s. -
South Carolina Secedes
When the ordinance was adopted in December, this caused South Carolina to become the first slave state to declare that it had seceded from the United States. -
Fort Sumter
A bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charselton by the South Carolina militia. -
Antietam
A battle of the American Civil War fought between Robert E. Lee's army and the Union General. -
Siege of Vicksburg
The final major military action in the Vicksburg campaign of the American Civil War. -
Battle of Gettysburg
A war fought between the Union and the Confederates during the American Civil War. This battle involved the largest number of casualties of the entire war and was considered a turning point of the war. -
Battle of Appomattox Courthouse
A battle that led to Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender of his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant.