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Ohio Constitution
Ohio constitution outlaws slavery. It also prohibits free blacks from voting. The Ohio Legislature passes the first “Black Laws” which place other restrictions on free African Americans living in the state. This abolished slavery in Ohio increasing the opposition. (Attacking) -
Louisiana Purchased
On April 30, Louisiana is purchased from the French. The new territory nearly doubles the size of the United States. South Carolina opens a new port to accommodate the importation of slaves from Africa. The extra land came with more of a need for slaves and the new port made slave importation easier. (Defending) -
Andry’s Rebellion
A slave insurrection led by Charles Deslondes, begins on the Louisiana plantation of Manual Andry. Slaves are beginning to stand up for their freedom. (Attacking) -
The American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society is founded by Bushrod Washington (the nephew of George Washington) and other prominent white Americans who believe enslaved African Americans should be freed and settled in Africa. Abolitionist Levi Coffin establishes the Underground Railroad. Many whites are now fighting for slaves to be free. (Defending) -
Getting rid of Restraints
Virginia and North Carolina remove restraints on interstate slave trade. These states make slavery easier to achieve by removing the laws that disallowed slavery. (Defending) -
The Compromise of 1820
The Compromise of 1820 allows Missouri into the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It also sets the boundary between slave and free territory in the West at the 36th parallel. The compromise is one of many in the hope to keep the balance between slave and free states. (Defending) -
Freedom Journal
Freedom’s Journal begins publication on March 16 in New York City as the first African American owned newspaper in the United States. The editors are John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish.
Also Slavery is officially abolished in New York. free slaves are speaking out and slavery is gettiong abolished in more states. ( Slave and Free Black Resistance) -
Bans on teaching slaves
North Carolina enacts a statute that bans teaching slaves to read and write. If the slaves are not educated then they will not know any better. This increased slavery. -
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is founded in Ohio. It admits African American men, black women and white women. By 1860 one third of its students are black. Allowing blacks to enter college was a step torwards everyone being equal. -
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth and William Wells Brown begin their campaigns against slavery. Truth was a black woman speaking out against slavery. -
Oregon
Oregon prohibits slavery. Slavery decreases after it is abolished. -
Texas
Texas enters the Union as a slave state. Texas is furthering the use of slavery. -
Slave state
Missouri removes restraints on interstate slave trade. This allows for trade to become easier and will increase the use of slaves. -
The North Star
Frederick Douglass breaks with William Lloyd Garrison's abolitionist newspaper, THE LIBERATOR, to found a black abolitionist paper called THE NORTH STAR. People both black and white are spreading the word against slavery. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 revisits the issue of slavery. California enters the Union as a free state, but the territories of New Mexico and Utah are allowed to decide whether they will enter the Union as slave or Free states. The 1850 Compromise also allowed passage of a much stricter Fugitive Slave Law. -
Move to Mexico
Approximately 300 Seminoles and blacks in Texas head to Mexico, where enslavement is prohibited, inspiring others to follow. Many are wanting to end slavery to where they are willing to move to get rid of slavery. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes her novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, which becomes a bestselling book and a major influence on the Anti-Slavery Movement. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act passes Congress and overturns the Missouri Compromise opening the Northern territory to slavery. Both sides begin to send settlers into the areas in an effort to influence the future status of these areas. This act causes problems with free and slave states. -
Bleeding Kansas
As Kansas prepares for elections thousands of Border Ruffians from Missouri enter the territory in an effort to influence the election. This begins the Bloody Kansas period with duplicate constitutional conventions, separate elections and constant and violent attacks. This is the first violent attack between slave states and free states. -
Charles Summer
Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner delivers a speech attacking slavery supporters in the Senate. He singles out Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina in his speech. Two days later, South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks, Butler's nephew, attacks Sumner on the Senate floor and beats him with a cane. The House did not expel or censure Brooks for the attack, Sumner took three years to recover. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott Decision - The Supreme Court rules in Scott v. Sandford that blacks are not U.S. citizens, and slaveholders have the right to take existing slaves into free areas of the county. -
Lincoln
Lincoln becomes president.
