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The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an attempt at maintaining order between slave and free states. Before Missouri was added to the Union, there were 11 slave states, and 11 free. In order to keep the balance, Missouri would become a slave state, however Maine would be declared a free state. The Compromise was a temporary fix, as new settlers moved to territories that were not yet states. More Information on The Missouri Compromise -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was made as a response to the failure of the Missouri Compromise. The Compromise in 1850 declared California a free state. It also gave former-Mexican territories authority over whether or not they would be free or slave states. More on The Compromise of 1850 -
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 is Passed
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 created fines and penalties for any individual who assisted escaped slaves. It also required the federal government to return fugitive slaves to their masters. The act enraged many abolitionists, and many publicly harrassed those who were in it's support. More Information on the Fugitive Slave Acts -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, it portrays the reality of slave life, and it revealed many abuses that were endured. Many of the Southern States banned sales of the book, and people could have been imprisoned if it was found in their possession. More Information on Stowe and Uncle Tom's Cabin -
Election of Frank Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the fourteenth President of the United States. President Pierce was the signer of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The way he dealt with slavery conflicts in Kansas and Nebraska contributed to the subsequent election of James Buchanan in March of 1857. More Information on Franklin Pierce -
The Formation of the Republican Party
The Republican Party was formed by abolitionsists and Northern members of the Whig party who were opposed to the spreading of slavery. Many Southern States threatened to secede from the Union if the newly formed Republican party came into power. More About the Formation of The Republican Party -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephen Douglas, a Northern Senator proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which created two new territories. The territories were not likley candidates for slavery, however the possibility for it rendered the previous Missouri Compromise useless. The Native American settlements on the land at the time were for the most part, ignored. More information on The Kansas Nebraska Act -
Struggle for Control Over Kansas
Violence in Kansas resulted from conflicts between abolitionists and individuals in favor of slavery. Large groups of new settlers were murdered in the struggle for control. The term "Bleeding Kansas" was used to describe the bloody conflict taking place at the time. More on Bleeding Kansas -
James Buchanan Elected
James Buchanan was the fifteenth President of the United States, he followed on the footsteps of Franklin Pierce. Many believe Buchanan's presidency to have been largely unproductive because he did not deal with the issue of slavery as he believed that slavery was a state and territorial matter, not a federal one. More on James Buchanan -
Dred Scott Decision
When the slave, Dred Scott, moved to two free states with his master and returned to Missouri, he sued for his freedom as he was a former resident of a free state. The court decided that he was not a citizen, but property, his masters propery could not be taken away. More Information on Dred Scott -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
Radical abolitionist John Brown collected funds in an attempt to lead a revolution against slavery. Brown, along with 21 volunteers seized the fedral arsenal. A battle with U.S. forces followed, and he was captured and executed. More on the raid of Harper's Ferry -
Abraham Lincoln's Presidency
The Election of 1860 was a turning point in American History, it spurred the conflict over slavery, causing a war that would forever change America. After it was announced that Abraham Lincoln won the election, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Other Southern States would soon follow suit. More on Abraham Lincoln -
Civil War Begins
Some of the causes of the civil war were: States' Rights, Economic Differences, Westward Expansion, Slavholders versus Abolitionists, and Lincoln's Election. The Civil War would become one of the most violent wars to have ever been fought. More on the roots of the Civil War -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh took place in Tenessee and lastes two days, ending on the 7th of April. The casualties were approximately 2400 troops in total. The battle resulted in a Union victory. More on Shiloh -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam took place in Maryland from September 16th to 18th. About 23 000 casualties resulted, and it was considered to be a strategic victory by the Union. More on Antietam -
Attack on Lee's Army in Fredericksburg
The Attack Against Colonel Robert E. Lee's army in Fredericksburg, Virginia was lead be Union General Ulysses S. Grant. The Union fell to the Confederacy in this battle. The casualties totalled more than 15 000. More on Robert E. Lee -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is one of the most highly regarded documents in Amrican History. It declared all of the some 3 million slaves in America shall be considered free. President Lincoln used the proclamation in an attempt to draw the surrender of the south, but the south refused, so he signed it. More on The Emancipation Proclamation -
Battle of Chancellorsville Begins
The battle of Chancellorsville was in Virginia, and lasted from April 30th to May 6th. It was a victory for the Confederate States of America. More on Chancellorsville -
Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle of Vicksburg lasted from May 18th to July 4th, and took place in Mississippi. The casualties were in excess of 35 000 soldiers. The Union forces were victorious at Vicksburg. More on Vicksburg -
Battle of Gettysburg
Gettysburg is one of the most honored and recognized battles of the civil war. It took place in Pennsylvania from July 1st to July 3rd. The battle of Gettysburg resulted in the highest number of casualties in any one battle, approximately 51 000. More On Gettysburg -
Atlanta is Captured
General William Sherman's Union forces captured and set fire to Atlanta. The soldiers began a 400 kilometre march following the battle in an attempt to diminish the strength of the Confederate soldiers. The victory in Atlanta was a decisive blow to the Confederacy. More on William Sherman -
End of the Civil War
The End of the Civil War was marked by the surrender of Col. Robert E. Lee and his troops in Virginia at Appotamox Court House. It was a tremendous victory for the Union general Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil War was one one of the deadliest wars in all of American History, the casualties nearly reached a value of 1 million by the end of the war. More on Ulysses S. Grant -
President Lincoln is Shot
Following the Colonel Lee's surrender, President Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater and died the following day. Lincoln's assasination is one of the most widely known events related to the civil war. -
Reconstruction Begins
The period known as Reconstruction, following the end of the Civil War, and Abraham Lincoln's assassination was a time in which former slaves experienced great hardship despite the advancements in equality. The Reconstruction period was a time for America to recover from the destructive war. More Information on Reconstruction -
The Thirteenth Amendment Ratified
The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is most often attributed to President Abraham Lincoln. It abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. More on the Constitution -
The Fourteenth Amendment Ratified
The Fouteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S. stated that all people who are bornin the U.S. shall be considered citizens of the U.S. and the State in which they live. It also states that no State can impede on a person's life, liberty, or property, inless warranted by law. -
Standard Oil is founded
John D. Rockefeller established the Standard Oil Company, which was composed of many smaller companies, however he could essentially control all of them and dominate the oil business. Public criticism later forced the company to discontinue. More on Standard Oil -
The Fifteenth Amendment Ratified
The Fifteenth Amendment granted all citizens of the United States the right to vote, regardless of color, race, or being a previous slave. -
Reconstruction Ends
The period of Reconstruction allowed the United States to make advancements in both social equality, but also in economic development. The years following the Reconstruction Era would shape America into the future. More on Reconstruction
