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Slaves Arrive in America
Slaves were first brought into the colony of Jamestown in 1619. Their purpose was to help with farming different crops, such as tobacco. -
Slave Trade Abolished
The Slave trade was abolished in 1807 and stated that no more new slaves were allowed to be imported into the United States. The act took effect in 1808. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise established the line between the slave states and the anti-slavery states. Because of this act Maine became a free state and Missouri was a slave state to keep the balance. Slavery was prohibited north of the line. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was an idea that proposed the prohibition of slavery in the territory the United States gained by the United States from the Mexican War. This was proposed by David Wilmot, who was a Democratic member of the House of Representatives. However, the proposal was unsuccessful. -
Compromise of 1850
In the Compromise of 1850, California became a free state. Also, the Utah territory and the New Mexico territory could decide whether they wanted slaves or not. -
Fugitive Slave Acts
When the Fugitive Slave Acts were passed, it allowed for former slave owners to go capture slaves that had escaped. It also made people that knew of slaves that escaped to have to assist in their recapture. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a book published in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. This book is a story that shows how the life of slaves were. This book being published outraged Southern whites that owned slaves, however Northerners felt enthusiastic about her contribution. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act which made it up to Kansas and Nebraska if they wanted to have slaves or not. When people from both sides started to come into these areas to influence their decisions, it created violence between the two sides. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. It also made it up to them on if they wanted to allow slavery or not. It basically repealed the Missouri Compromise and also led to what was known as "Bleeding Kansas". -
Dred Scott v. Sanford Supreme Court Case
The Dred Scott v. Sanford Supreme Court Case was when Dred Scott, an enslaved man, sued for his freedom. The Supreme Court decided that since Scott was a slave, he was property, and therefore had had no rights to do this. The case began in 1856 and was argued into 1857. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown was an abolitionist who thought that God had told him to fight for the freedom of slaves. With the help of his sons, they raided Harper's Ferry for the weapons to give to the slaves to fight for their own freedom. However, Brown's effort failed and he ended up being executed.
