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Invention of the Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was invented by Eli Whitney in 1793. It revolutionized the cotton industry by speeding up the time it took to process cotton. Cotton soon became Americas leading export. The cotton gin allowed Southern Planters a new justification to increase slavery.
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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was created to keep the number of free and slave states within the Union the same. It allowed Main to be admitted as a free state and Missouri to be admitted as a slave state. It also prohibited slavery within the Louisiana territory anywhere north of the 36° 30' Latitude line. The act was later repealed and replaced with the Kansas-Nebraska act, and deemed unconstitutional by the US supreme Court. Reference -
Tariff of 1828 & Nullification Crisis
The Tariff of 1828 was sought to protect northern and western agricultural products from the need to compete with foreign imports. The tariff however had a negative effect on the southern states causing the cost of living to go up, and it cut into the profits on New England's industrialists. Vice President John C. Calhoun penned the South Carolina Exposition stating that a state had the right to reject federal laws within its borders.
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The Liberator is Published
The Liberator was weekly newspaper published in Boston by William Lloyd. Garrison was a journalistic crusader who wanted to abolish slavery and gained a national reputation of being one of the most radical abolitionist in America. The Liberator denounced the Compromise of 1850, as well as condemning the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The southern slaveholders demanded the end of the paper, and the state of Georgia even offered a $5,000 reward for Garrison's Capture.
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Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of meeting places, secret routes, passageways and safe houses used by the slaves in the U.S. to escape from into the northern states and parts of Canada. The railroad was established in the early 1800's and aided by people who wanted to end slavery. The Underground Railroad helped thousands of slaves escape slavery, this number is upwards of 100,000 slaves.
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Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion was the name given to the slave rebellion that happened in Southampton County, Virginia. Rebel slaves killed as many as 65 people. This was the largest and deadliest slave uprising in U.S. history. The rebellion only lasted a few days until it was put down. Nat Turner was able to go into hiding and survive in hiding for more then two months after it ended.
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Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso created by David Wilmot, was designed to abolish slavery within the lands acquired by the U.S. during the Mexican War. President James k. Polk sought a bill to negotiate the terms of a treaty with the Mexican Government. Fearing the addition of a pro-slave territory, David Wilmot a Congressman from Pennsylvania proposed his amendment to the bill. The proposal was blocked, but the underlying principle helped form the Republican party in 1854.
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Compromise of 1850
Senator Henry Clay brought forth a series of five resolutions. They were all created to try compromise and diffuse the situation with the South. Who wanted to secede and go to war.
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Uncle Tom's Cabin is published
Uncle Tom's Cabin is a novel that shows the reality of how slaves are treated. The novel fallows Uncle Tom, a slave whose story touched millions. Several other characters where also included in the novel to tell their stories of slavery as well. It was the second best-selling book of the 19th century, and the best-selling novel. This novel opened many peoples eyes to the conditions and mistreatment of slaves in the U.S.
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Dred Scott decision
Dred Scott was a slave but he was then taken to Illinois, which was a free State. Then to Wisconsin, which was also a free State. After that he lived with his master in Missouri, who then died in 1846. Scott then sued his Master's Widow claiming he was now a free man. He had one but when it was taken to the supreme court, he had lost.
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Bleeding Kansas
The Northerners (Free-Staters) had claimed that if Kansas became a pro slave state then all of the rich slaveholders would buy all of the good farmland and leave no work for the people. While the Southerners (Pro-Slavers) said that if Kansas became a Pro Slavery State then they people would be able to keep their land and their slaves. This led to a bloody and long conflict between the two. In the end, the Free-Staters won.
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Kansas-Nebraska Act
An Act passed by Congress which allowed the people of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves on whether or not to allow slavery in their States. This Act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Which had banned slavery North of 36 30
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Brooks-Sumner Event
Representative Preston slammed Senator Charles Sumner with a cane in The Senate. All because of a speech that Sumner had given a few days prior. The attack almost killed Sumner.
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Lincoln-Douglas Debates
These were 7 debates that spanned from August to October between the Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln, and the Democratic candidate Stephen A. Douglas. The main issue that was brought up throughout the debates was slavery. Douglas had pushed for Popular Sovereignty amongst the states with slavery, while Lincoln wanted it outright banned.
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John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown's intentions were to lead an armed slave revolt. He planned on doing this by taking over a United States arsenal in Harper's Ferry. Brown had control of the Ferry house for a few days but the Marines eventually made it in and stopped any more efforts from John Brown and the Slaves.
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Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president over a deeply divided Democratic Party. Lincoln was the first republican to win the presidency. He only won 40% of the popular vote but defeated the three other candidates. By the time Lincoln inaugurated in march seven states already seceded from the union, and formed the Confederate States of America.
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Secession of Southern States
During the Civil War, a total of 11 States Seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. These states seceded carrying on all the affairs of a separate government and conducted a major war until they were defeated in the spring of 1865. They were convinced that their way of life, based around slavery, was threated by President Abraham Lincoln being elected president.
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Fort Sumter is Fired Upon
Abraham Lincoln being elected in November, 1860 brought to a head the issue of slavery within the US. Seven southern states seceded from the Union. With their secession declaration came the demands that all US property be turned over to those states. The government refused and decided to resupply the forts. Early morning of April 12, found Fort Sumter being attacked by the Confederate Army.
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