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Invention of the Cotton Gin
Patented in 1794 by Eli Whitney the cotton gin revolutionized the production of cotton. At the time cotton was Americas leading export. Although Whitney didn't make much money because of patent-infringement issues he was hailed as a pioneer of American Manufacturing. http://www.history.com/topics/inventions/cotton-gin-and-eli-whitney -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri's application for statehood as a slave state sparked a national debate.Ultimately congress reached the Missouri compromise. Missouri became a slave state and Maine was a free state preserving congressional balance. The 36 30 parallel was drawn separating them both http://www.history.com/topics/missouri-compromise -
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Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was first mentioned around 1830. This served as a route through the south to help escaped slaves get to the north. It ended around 1865 when slavery started to die out. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html -
Tariff of 1828 and Nullification Crisis
In 1828, Congress passed a high protective tariff that infuriated the south because they felt it only benefited the industrialized north. Because of this VP John C. Calhoun passed the doctrine of Nullification, which allowed states to ignore national laws they felt were unconstitutional. A new tariff with lower rates was passed in 1832 to please the southern states Primary Document: http://en.citizendium.org/images/thumb/5/56/Pro-tarf.jpg/350px-Pro-tarf.jpg -
Nat Turners Rebellion
in August, 1831 Nat Turner and 70 cohorts killed about 60 white people in several plantations in southern Virginia. After 2 days or killing they were stopped by militia infantry. Afterwards about 200 or so slaves were lynched and many of the rights that slaves held were taken away. -
The Liberator is Published
First Published in 1831, the Liberator was a newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison. Here he discussed controversial topics such as denouncing the Compromise of 1850, condemning the Kansas-Nebraska act, damning the Dred Scott decision and hailed John Browns raid. Georgia offered a $5,000 reward for Garrison’s capture. The Liberator was a mighty force from the beginning and became the most influential newspaper in the antislavery crusade -
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Wilmot Proviso
This was a piece of legislation proposed by David Wilmot after the mexican american war which outlawed slavery in places taken by the United States which was most of the south west extending to California.The debate surrounding the Proviso prompted the first serious talks of secession http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/polk/aa_polk_wilmot_1.html -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was introduced by Senator Henry Clay. He made it as an effort to seek a compromise between the North and South and to avoid a crisis. As a part of it, it made California the 16th free state and the slave trade in Washington D.C. was abolished. Primary Document:
https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=27 -
"Uncle Toms Cabin" is published
written by Harriet Beecher Stow, the fictional explanation of slave life seemed to open the door to the issue of slavery. For Northerners it seemed to open their eyes to the real horrors of slavery, but the southerners rejected it as slanderous. Uncles Toms Cabin became the 2nd best selling book in America during the 19th century, second only to the Bible. Primary Document:
http://msa.maryland.gov/ecp/10/223/0001/html/00010000.html -
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Bleeding Kansas
When pro and anti slavery agitators came to Kansas, trying to shift the weight of popular vote in their favor. This lasted 5 years and resulted in the deaths of 56 people. It eventually ratified anti-slavery constitutions. https://www.britannica.com/event/Bleeding-Kansas-United-States-history -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This allowed for new territories to decide if they were a free state or a slave state by popular sovereignty. It did the opposite of the Missouri Compromise which separated said states by a latitude line. It fueled the disagreement between pro and anti slave factions. Primary Document:
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/kansas.html -
Brooks-Sumner Event
Massachusetts senator, Charles Sumner was attacked by congressman Charles Brooks. Sumner was giving a speech about the atrocities occurring in Kansas at the time and mentioned Senator Andrew Butler for his involvement. Brooks, being Butler's nephew, took this personally. -
Dred Scott Decision
One of the most famous U.S. Supreme Court cases. The ruling stated since slaves were not U.S. Citizens, they didn't have the rights established in the Bill of Rights. The Court also ruled that Congress lacked power to ban slavery in the U.S. territories. Primary Document:
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/DredScott.html -
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Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Series of seven debates between Republican nominee, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, the Democratic nominee. They conflicted over slave rights and views. Although, Lincoln lost in the end, he had much more popular votes, signaling the political shift of Illinois. http://www.history.com/topics/lincoln-douglas-debates -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown gathered a small group of white allies and free blacks to raid a government arsenal in Virginia. His goal was to steal their weapons and distribute them to Southern slaves in hopes of a slave uprising. He was caught in the process and executed for treason. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected by a large margain. As a Republican, many southerners were fearful of his anti-slavery views. A little later after the polls closed, the Southern Union succeeded from the U.S. Primary Document:
https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/elections/election1860.html -
Succession of Southern States
A month after election polls, South Carolina seceded. By spring of 1861, six more states seceded. They were greatly influenced to secede by Abraham Lincoln's Republican views. https://www.civilwar.org/learn/articles/reasons-secession -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Abraham Lincolns election in 1860 brought forth the issue of slavery, in which many states did not agree with. Some states sought to secede, the first of which was South Carolina, Lincoln chose not to provoke conflict but didntwant to let go federal installations, such as Fort Sumter, to the Confederates. Talk to preserve peace failed on April 12, 1861 when confederates surrounded the fort, and the Union soldiers evacuated the next day. http://www.historynet.com
