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Invention of the Cotton Gin
IMPORTANCE: This caused a revolution in the production of cotton in the Southern states, and had a troumendous impact on the institution of slavery in the U.S.
WHO WAS INVOLVED: Eli Whitney
WHAT HAPPENED: Befor the cotton gin only large plantations could raise cotton cost effectively. After, raisong cotton became a lucrative and less labor intensive cash crop. Raised production of cotton in the deep south, led to the increase in the number of slaves and slave holders. -
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Civil War TImeline
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The Missouri Compromise
IMPORTANCE: was able to keep the balance of power in Washington D.C. and was able to hold of on making a perminant decision on slavery.
WHO: Henry Clay
WHAT HAPPENED: Missouri petitioned for statehood, but would throw balance of power off. Only after Maine petitioned for statehood was Missouri allowed as slave state, Maine free. Also stipulatedthat all of the Louisiana Territory would be free, and no slavery would be allowed North oif the Souothern boundary of Missouri, excluding Missouri. -
Underground Railroad
IMPORTANCE: Due to the Railroad, the South lost about 100,000 slaves between 1810 and 1850
WHO: a vast network of people who helped fugitive slaves escape to North or Canida, wasn't a single organization or person. -
Wilmot Proviso
IMPORTANCE: Brought sectional disagreement into sharper focus with its debate.
WHO: David Wilmot
WHAT HAPPENED: Wilmot introduces a rider to an appropriation, which was derived from the Northwest Ordinace, prohibitting slavery in all Mexica Territories. Passed the House, but failed in the senate. -
The Compromise of 1850
Ended slave trade in Washington D.C. and allowed California in as a free state.
FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT: Required citizens to assist in the recovery of slavery. Denied slaves the right to a trial; many blacks fled to Canida because of. -
Compromise of 1850
IMPORTANCE: gave the nation a temporary solution to stay untited.
FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT: made abolitionists more resolved to put an end to slavery. Brought disaster to blacks trying to build new life in the North.
WHO: Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, and Stephen Douglas.
WHAT HAPPENED: according to the compromise, Texas would give land in dispute for 10 million dollars; help pay debt with Mexico. New territories would be allowed to choose slavery or not. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
IMPORTANCE: put a face to slavery.
WHO: Harriet Beecher Stowe.
WHAT HAPPENED: Best seller in the North, Britian, Europe, and Asia; banned in the South. Translated into 60 languages -
Caning of Charles Sumner
IMPORTANCE: Most violent episodes in congressional history.
WHO: Charles Sumner and Prestin Brooks
WHAT HAPPENED: Brooks felt that Sumner insulted his family in his "crime against kansas" speech. Hit sumner many times with his can. It took him several years to recover from his server injuries. -
Dred Scott Decision
IMPORTANCE: Permitted slavery in all U.S. territories by declaring the Missouri compromise unconstitutional and stating black could not become citizens, their property.
WHO: Dred Scott, Sanfordm and Roger B. Taney
WHAT HAPPENED: Dred Scott was bought in Missouri, before moving to Illinois and Wisconsin. Both free states Scott appealed tot he supreme court in hopes to grant his freedom. -
Linncoln-Douglas Debates
Importance: Lincoln would preview the issues that would face him in the aftermath of his victory in the 1860 presidential election.
Freeport Doctrine: Douglas made an effort to revive the doctrine of popular sovereignty.
WHO: Stephan A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln
WHAT HAPPENED: Lincoln and Douglas took debates through the districts of Illinois. The main issue was slavery and its expansion.
Freeport Doctrine Douglas stated that legally slavery could be barred in territories if voted by people -
Election of 1860
IMPORTANCE: demonstrated devisions within the U.S. just before and pushed the nation into the Civil War.
WHO WAS INVOLVED: Abraham Lincoln, John C. Breckinridge, John Bell, and Stephen A. Douglas
WHAT HAPPENED: Docratic party split into two sectional factions, each promoting its own candidate. Republiccans and Constitutional Union PArty also ran candidates.Lincoln won the presidency. -
The Confederate States of America
IMPORTANCE: Attempt by the South to form their own nation, this is what caused the CIvil War
WHO: Representatives from 7 succeeded states
PRESIDENT: Jefferson Davis -
Battle of Shiloh
IMPORTANCE: Really began to hit home with both sides, with the amount of life lost, that the war would not end quickly
WHO: Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. GemP.G.T. Beauregard
WHAT HAPPENED: confederate forces under Gen. Johnston attacked Gen. Grants army of Pittsburg landing/ Unprepared, union forces were able to hold their own until the arrival of reinforcements. Gen. Johnston was killed by a stray bullet and the next day the Confederate forces fled to Corinth. -
Fort Sumner
IMPORTANCE: The opening engagement of the American Civil War.
WHO: Maj. Robert Anderson and Brigadier gen. P.G.T Beaugard
WHAT HAPPENED: Ge. Beaugard in command of Confederate forces at Charlston, S.C. demanded the surrender of Union Garrison of Fort Sumner. Refusing, Confederates opened fire on the fort. Unable to reply Maj. Anderson surrendered at 2:30 A.M., April 13 -
Battle of Antietan
IMPORTANCE: single most bloodiest day in AMerican military history.
WHO: Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan and Robert E. Lee's armies.
WHAT HAPPENED: McClellan's army confronted Lee's army of Northern Virginia at Sharpsburg, Maryland. Sept. 17: Hooker's coprs. made a powerful assault on Lee's left flank; leading to more attacks and counterattacks. Lee committed whole force, while McClellan senbt only 3-quarters of his army, enabling Lee to fight the Union to aa standstill. Lee eventually retreated -
Emancipation Proclamation
IMPORTANCE: Hightlighted freedom of all slaves in states at war with the Union and restored peace.
WHO: Abraham Lincoln
WHAT HAPPENED: included clauses addressing rebellion and its elimination. Done through his announcing that any person inciting rebellion against states authority would be imprisoned for 10 yrs. and be liable for 10 thousand dollar fine. Could be pardoned pending slaves release. -
Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation
Effect: Didn't free slaves in the Border States only slaves in the Confederacy, excluding TN.allowed slaves to enlist in the army. It increased the leverage needed in convincing the Border States to end slavery and Lincoln because of this was able to get enough support to perminantly end slavery. -
Siege at Vicksburg
IMPORTANCE: Confederacy was effectively split in half with the loss of their last stronghold on the Mississippi River.
WHO: Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and John C. Pemberton
WHAT HAPPENED: Union army took siege to Vicksburg, entrapping Pemberton's confederate army. Surrendered on July 4, result of one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the Civil War. -
Battle of Gettysburg
IMPORTANCE: With the loss of the battle, General Lee never fought on the offensive again, always on the defensive.
WHO: 9General Robert E. Lee and GEneral George G. Meade's armies.
WHAT HAPPENED: Lee concentrated full strength against Meade's army of the Potomac. July 1: Confederate forces pushed Union back, through Cemetary Hill, rienforcements arrived for both sides that night. July 2: Lee attempted to envelope Union by attaching left, right, and back sides, attempt failed. Confederate lost. -
Gettysburg Address
IMPORTANCE: A proponent of peace and the end of the civil war. Lincoln effectively made the public aware of their rights and declared government answerable to the people.
WHO: Abraham Licoln
WHAT HAPPENED: summed up the consequences of the war. Marked the battle of Gettysburg as a turning point of the civil war, making the town a cemetary for over 7500 soldiers Lincoln's political sentiment s re-addressed war effort and challenged the outcome that was in favor of the "copperheads." -
Election of 1864
IMPORTANCE: Great personal triumph for Lincoln
WHO: Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, George B. McClellan, George Pedleton
WHAT HAPPENDED: Although gettind 45% of the popular vote, Lincoln wanm over McClellan -
Sherman's "March to the Sea"
IMPORTANCE: Sherman was able to strike in the heart of the Confederacy. His and other Union commanders victories marked the beginning of the end for the Confederacy.
WHO: maj. Gen. William Sherman and Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler
WHAT HAPPENED: Late 1864, sherman left Atlanta to head towards the Atlantic. Moving through Macon and Augusta ending up in Savannah. Destroying everything in their path, there was few troops who could stop his forces. -
Freedmen's Bureau
IMPORTANCE: Bacame the guardian of civil rights the former slaves could turn to in postwar South
WHO: Initially started by Abraham Lincoln
WHAT HAPPENED: helped former slaves find jhobs, negotiate ter,s of labor contracts, and investigated claims of unfair treatment -
Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia
IMPORTANCE: Confederate forces surrendered allowing the reunification of the country and sweeping constitutional change.
WHO: Gneral Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant's armies.
WHAT HAPPENED: Confederate forces were required to surrender arms, equipment and symbols of war. Also, prisinors were given their status as paroled prisinors and all were allowed to peaceably return to their homes. No large battles would be fought after. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
IMPORTANCE: with Lincoln's death, the possibility of peace with magnanimity died.
WHO: Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth
WHAT HAPPENED: Watching show at Ford's Theater when Booth snuck past guards and killed Lincoln. Died the next day. -
13 Amendment
IMPORTANCE: Abolition of slavery and involunteery service.
WHAT HAPPENED: Section 1 stated that slavery and involuntary servitude is allowed in the U.S. or any territory subject to their jurisdiction, unless for a punishment. Section 2, states that congress has power to enforce the article by appropriate legislation. -
14 Amendment
IMPORTNACE: guarenteed equal protection for all citizens, necessary to secure for free slaves the same right as whites.
WHAT HAPPENED: Protects rights against state infringments, defines citizenship, prohibits states from interferring with priviliges and immunities, due process and equal protection, punishes states for denying votes, and disqualifies Confederate officials and debt. -
15 Amendment
IMPORTANCE: changed voting requirements
WHAT HAPPENED: stated right to vote could be denies on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude and that congress has the power to enforce the article. -
Election of 1876
IMPORTANCE: led to the end of Reconstruction in the South.
WHO: Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden
WHAT HAPPENED: Tilden, Republican, won popular vote. Disputes in electorial college over the voted of S.C., LA, FL, and OR, because hayes could win if got the majority. Congress appointed a special committee to determine how the dispute votes to be counted, gave Hayes votes. -
Compromise of 1877
IMPOTANCE: Marked to official end to Reconstruction in the South.
WHAT HAPPENED: Republicans agrreed to move federal troops out of the South, when Hayes became president.
