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Cotton Gin Invented
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin made it easier and faster to clean cotton. -
Gabriel Prosser's Rebellion
Gabriel Prosser and 50 other armed slaves failed to gain control of main road to Richmond because someone tipped off the white authorities. Prosser and 25 of his followers were executed. -
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German Coast Uprising
A revolt of black slaves in parts of the Territory of Orleans -
Erie Canal Completed
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American Temperance Society Founded
The American Temperance Society was founded by evangelicals in order to bring attention to alcohol and its role in social life. -
Sabbatarian Movement
Attempt by evangelicals to end mail service on Sundays as part of attempt to shut down all non-church activities on Sundays. -
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Slavery Declines in Upper South
Upper South is becoming less tied to the plantations and slavery at this time, so slave population makes up only half of the total percent it used to. -
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Nat Turner's Rebellion
A slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia. Led by Nat Turner, rebel slaves killed 55-65 people, the largest and deadliest slave uprising in U.S. history. -
New England Anti-Slavery Society Founded
Founded by William Lloyd Garrison and was the first abolitionist society in the country to really speak out against slavery. -
Black Hawk's War
Sauk, Fox an Potawotami tribes were defeated by the Americans and were forced to cede land that was promised to them in an earlier treaty. -
Texas Gains it's Independence
Texas army defeats Mexican army at San Jacinto and Gen. Santa Anna is captured trying to escape and was forced to sign a treaty recognizing Texas as an independent state -
Battle of the Alamo
The Mexican army (4,000 men) annihilated the American defenders (187 men) after Texas declared independence from Mexico. Among the Americans that died were David Crockett and Jim Bowie. -
Massachusetts School Board Established
Established by the Massachusetts legislature. The head of the board (Harace Mann) demanded the state assume central control over schools in the area. -
World Anti-Slavery Convention (London)
The World Anti-Slavery Convention met for the first time in 1840. It was organised by the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. -
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German/Irish Immigration Boom
4.2 million immigrants entered from 1840-1860 and a majority of them were Irish and German. -
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Oregon Trail Most Active
Most traveling groups began traveling together through the trail after the panic of 1837. Around 90,000 settlers migrated and about 5,000 died on the way. -
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Edmund Muffin Reforms
Was a Virginia planter who suggested farmers use Marl and rotate crops. He was known as the Father of soil science. -
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"Know Nothing" Party Active
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Presidency of James K. Polk
Polk was elected as the 11th president of the United States in 1844 and unlike other democratic presidents, he was willing to take Texas in and started war with the Mexicans. -
Mormon Migration to Utah
After Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormons, was killed in a mob in 1844, the Mormons sought to relocate and found Utah appealing because of the lack of white settlers and its isolated location. -
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Mexican-American War
After the Mexican Army attacked a U.S. fort in Rio Grande, Polk announced to congress that the Mexicans shed American blood on American soil, and congress declared war. After a swift victory for the U.S. because the Mexican Army lacked the modern artillery and naval unit, a treaty was signed to end the war. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The first convention devoted to women's suffrage and voting rights. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty signed by Mexico in order to end the Mexican-American war. Off of the treaty, the United States gained Texas north of the Rio Grande, California, and New Mexico (which included Arizona, Utah and Nevada). The U.S. agreed to pay the Mexican government 15 million and grant Mexicans citizenship in the new territories. -
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California Gold Rush
After gold is discovered in 1848, mass immigration moved to California. The population rose from 100,000 to 400,000 during one year. 50% of population was made up of minorities and in 1850 California becomes a free state. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Passed by United States congress as part of the compromise of 1850 between southern slave holding interests and Northern free Soilers -
Fort Laramie Treaty
The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs tried to draw boundaries for the various tribes offer the 50,000 every year for 50 years (later reduced to 10 years by congress). -
Gadsden Purchase
Established the boarders of the lower 48 Sates for the U.S.
