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"American Slavery as It Is" published
"American Slavery as It Is", a compilation of advertisements and articles in southern newspapers, is written by Theodore Weld. The book is able to successfully battle the slave trade using the very words of Southerners. The central argument in the book is that slavery divided families across state borders. While not as influential as Uncle Tom's Cabin, the book served to broaden the understanding of slavery, especially in the north. (McPherson, 39). -
Martin Van Buren's Presidency
Martin van Buren is elected to the presidency in 1837 as the Democratic Party candidate. He endorsed the exclusion of slavery into the western territories and sought to abolish enslavement in the District of Columbia, seeing it as a moral and political evil. The development of the nineteenth century continued to bring the issue of slavery to the forefront. While van Buren did little during his term to limit slavery, the issue was clearly becoming a more popular political topic (McPherson, 62). -
Free Soil Party is Founded
The Free Soil party is founded in 1848 at a convention in Buffalo. The party centrally focused on opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories. A committee of 465 met and fused three factions of New York's Democratic-Republican party. While it had been important in the past, slavery became a central political issue (if not the most important topic) during this time with the emergence of the Free Soil Party and the Republican party a few years later (McPherson, 61). -
Nashville Convention
Fifty-nine delegates, representing seven Southern states, met in Nashville following the admission of California to the union as a free state. South Caroline proposes a cooperative secession between the states, which fails to pass. However, the governors of Georgia and Mississippi justified the need for a special convention to discuss the debate of secession (Varon, 227). About ten years before the civil war, the question of secession was already on the table in favor of the rights of states. -
New Mexico Applies to be a Free State
Civilians and slaves residing in the territory of New Mexico held a convention to write a free-state constitution, which was ratified by less than 8,000 votes. The addition of California would increase the number of free states by two. Texas threatened to use force to uphold its claims on Sante Fe and the rest of the territory. With looming threats of a skirmish between federal troops and Texas, the country continued to push toward violence over the issue of slavery. (McPherson, 68). -
Harriet Beecher Stowe Publishes Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes her bestselling novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, to depict the horrors of slavery and bring these terrors to the homes of everyday American citizens. The novel served as an eye-opener to many Americans in the north who had never visited the south, as the book portrays the beatings of slaves and other racist acts. The south banned the novel, and possession of a copy could lead to arrest. Stowe's book served as another seperator between the north and the south. -
The Caning of Senator Sumner
Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts gave a fervent speech before Congress antagonizing slavery while also accusing Senator Andrew Butler of taking advantage of female slaves. Butler's cousin, Representative Preston Brooks, felt responsible for defending his family's legacy. In response to Sumner's speech, Brooks beat him with a cane, nearly killing him on the floor of the senate while other southerners cheered him on. This act brought violence to the seat of government. -
Bleeding Kansas
Due to growing disputes over how to determine whether a territory is to become a free or slave state, Senator Douglas proposed the concept of popular sovereignty, which allows the inhabitants of the territory to determine its status on slavery. This led to an influx of individuals with both ideologies into the territory of Kansas. As a result, violence erupted between the two groups with a pseudo-civil war playing out. Bloody Kansas served as a dress rehearsal for the Civil War. -
The Lecompton Constitution
President Buchanan recommended the admission of a sixteenth slave state to Congress, which propose the Lecompton Constitution. This article is highly pro-slavery and also limited the freedom of unenslaved blacks. The issue was debated in Congress for several months, and even resulted in violence on the floor of the House between Representatives Keitt (SC) and Grow (PA). Once again, violence became common even within the seat of government when it came to discussing slavery. (McPherson, 178) -
Dred-Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave whose owner was a military officer, which often led to Scott being in both slave and free states. Scott goes to the Supreme Court since he believes he must be free, and the decision is made in favor of Scott's owners since slaves do not have standing - they are not legally citizens of the U.S. The Court also determined that individual rights supersede state laws, and slave owners can bring their slaves to any state. This decision allowed slavery to be prevalent anywhere. -
John Brown's Assault on Harper's Ferry
The radical anti-slavery advocate John Brown planned a violent siege on Harper's Ferry, a federal weapon arsenal in Virginia. He planned to use the weapons to lead a nationwide slave revolt. Brown's party of twenty-two men initiated the raid on October 16. Two days after the start of the violence, Robert E. Lee crushed the rebellion. Just months before the beginning of the Civil War, Brown's Raid exemplified the heightened tensions between slavery supporters and abolitionists.