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Harriet Jacobs born
Edenton, North Carolina -
New York abolishes slavery
Slave owners could legally bring slaves into state. Blacks were still subjected to property qualifications. -
Jacobs gives birth to son, Joseph
Father, Samuel Tredwell Sawyer -
Nat Turner rebellion
The insurrection was originally planned for July 4, 1831, but postponed due to Turner's illness. After Turner's capture, he "confessed" during an interview at the South Hampton County Jail in Virginia. He was later hanged and skinned on Nov 11, 1831. -
Jacobs gives birth to daughter, Louisa Matilda
Father, Samuel Tredwell Sawyer -
Jacobs escapes to the North
Flees to Philadelphia and then on to New York with the help of The Anti-Slavery Society -
Jacobs relocates to Boston
Brother, John, assists her in hopes of escaping recapture -
Jacobs's first trip to England
Her first trip to England serving as a nurse for Imogene Willis's baby. This was Frederick Douglass's first trip to England also after publishing The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave (he went to escape recapture). It was probable that the two did not know each other -
Jacobs relocates to Rochester, New York and is aquainted with Amy Post
While In New York, it is known that she is also acquainted with Frederick Douglass, but their initial introduction is unknown -
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
Congress enacted the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 in order to specify procedures to aid in the recovery of runaway slaves. The Act of 1793 established a $500 fine for any persons aiding fugitives -
Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman?" speech
Delivered at the Woman's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio -
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin
First appears in serial form in The National Era, an abolitionist newspaper. Amy Post asked Stowe to scribe Incidents for Jacobs; however, Stowe declined instead offering to include portions of Jacobs's narrative "Uncle Tom" -
Jacobs gains her freedom
Cornelia Grinnel Willis, Nathaniel Parker Willis's second wife, purchases Jacobs's freedom -
Dred Scott Decision - Dred Scott v Sanford
Dred Scott sues his slave owner, John Sanford, for his freedom. Debates over Scott's citizenship ensued and the court ultimately decides that he cannot sue for freedom. Chief Justice Roger Taney also rules that no Black, free or enslaved, could become citizens of the United States. -
Jacobs's second visit to England
Jacobs travels abroad to find a publisher for "Incidents" -
Abraham Lincoln elected the 16th President of the United States
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"Incidents" published
Jacobs purchase the plates from the Boston Stereotype Foundry. Incidents was published by a Boston printer "for the author." Lydia Maria Child edits it and signs the contract to publish the book -
Confederate States of America, AKA "The Confederacy," established
South Carolina was the first to secede in November 1860, followed by AL, FL, GA, LA, MS. The six Southern states seceded following Lincoln's election in order to preserve slavery and states' rights. Texas later joined the secession -
Civil War begins
At Fort Sumter, South Carolina -
First Confiscation Act passed by Congress
The Act was passed to ensure a speedy termination of the Southern rebellion. Allowed U.S. Troops to confiscate the property of Confederate officials, including slaves. The Act did not free slaves -
Second Confiscation Act passed by Congress
Congress frees the slaves belonging to anyone in support of the Southern rebellion against the North -
Congress bans slavery in D.C. and all of its territories
The Act excluded the four bordering Southern states that did not secede (Maryland, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Missouri who stayed in the Union for political reasons) -
Emancipation Proclamation Act
Frees all slaves in Confederate-held territories (follow-up to the Confiscation Acts). The Proclamation did not include Maryland, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Missouri. Lincoln did not want to alienate these Southern states because they did not secede from the Union -
Congress repeals all Fugitive Slave laws and Black Union troops granted equal pay
Many Southern states cited their reason for secession was due to lack of enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law. The laws were repealed by a Republican dominated Congress. Later, Congress grants equal pay to Black Union troops to that of Whites' pay on Jun 6, 1864 -
Civil War ends
Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia -
Lincoln assassinated
Lincoln assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. -
Thirteenth Amendment ratified
The amendment permanently outlawed or abolished slavery in the United States. Originally passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 -
Jacobs relocates to Savannah, Georgia
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Jacobs's last trip to England
She travels with her daughter to England to raise funds for an orphanage and home for the aged in Savannah, Georgia. She raises £1,000 -
Fourteenth Amendment ratified
Granted citizenship to former slaves. Additionally, the Amendment stated, “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Originally passed Congress on June 16, 1866 -
Fifteenth Amendment ratified
Granted Blacks the right to vote. Originally passed Congress on February 26, 1869 -
Jacobs relocates to Cambridge, Ma
She and Louisa flee Georgia for fear of increased terrorism against Blacks. Runs a boarding house in Ma. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
Signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, the Act was enacted to prohibit racial discrimination. “All persons ... shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of inns, public conveyances on land or water, theaters, and other places of public amusement.” -
Jacobs relocates to Washington, D.C.
Relocates with Louisa -
First "Jim Crow" law
Tennessee enacts the first of many future laws concerning racial segregation in the South. The Tennessee law required railroads to provide separate cars or compartments for the use of Blacks -
Plessy v Ferguson
Judge John H. Ferguson of the Criminal District Court of the Parish of Orleans, LA ruled against Homer Plessy (considered 7/8 White) challenge to the 1890 Louisiana Separate Car Act. Plessy challenged Ferguson's ruling in the Supreme court, but the Louisiana court ruling was upheld. "Separate but equal" facilities was decided as constitutional -
Harriet Jacob dies
Jacobs dies in Washington, D.C. and is buried next to her brother, John, in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA.
