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Cotton Gin
The cotton gin was invented in 1793 by Eli Whitney. It made cotton harvesting a lot faster, and more efficient. However, this led to more crops, and ultimatly more slaves. The cotton gin increased slavery, even though it decreased labor. http://www.archives.alabama.gov/archives_week_art/gabe_wiggins.html -
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Major Events leading to the Civil War
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Louisiana Purchase
In April 1803, the U.S. purchases land from France, and more than doubles in size. More land equals more states. More states means more possible pro and anti slave states. The purchase meant that more states would have to take a stand when the decision was to be asked for. http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-172055 -
American System
President Monroe was seeking to unify the north and south states. The states had different economines, and he seeked to make them more unified. He wanted to develop transportation systems. He wanted a protective tariff. And he wanted the ressuct the national bank. This was a step taken to keep a division from ever happening. http://mrkash.com/activities/americansystem.html -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was the beginning of the affects of the extra land from the Louisiana Purchase. The south wanted Missouri to be a slave state, but the north wanted it free. In the end, Maine was made free, while muissouri was made a slave state. Jefferson thought that the troubles would only get worse. http://mrkash.com/activities/americansystem.html -
Monroe Doctrine
In a speech to congress, President Monroe outlined his plan for the U.S. Monroe declared that the U.S. will not involve itself with European affairs. And, If anyone tried to meddle with U.S. affairs, it will not be taken kindly. Basically, no one was to intervene with anything the U.S. was doing. No one could step in and stop the Civil War when it did happen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_Doctrine#mediaviewer/File:James_Monroe_White_House_portrait_1819.gif -
Nullification Crisis
The Nulification Crisis was a mojor point the time leading up to the Civil War. The problem was that the south was being forced by a law to buy more expensive goods from the north instead of Britain. an idea proposed as a resolution to the issue was that the states could nullify such federal laws, or succed from the Union. This idea of succesion was a major cause of the Civil War. http://mrkash.com/activities/americansystem.html -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
A slave named Nat Turner started an armed rebellion in August of 1831. The rebellion yook place in Southhampton County, Virginia. Nat and his group of 55-70 armed slaves went on a rampage. They killed almost 90 white plantation owners and their families. The Rebellion was eventually quelled by the local militia, The south wanted to keep the issue quiet, but the north found out and made it an example of the bad qualities of slavery. It was a huge embarrassment for the south. http://www.bing.com/ -
Texas Revolution
War broke out between the Republic OF Texas and Mexico in 1835. It was caused by a land dispute between the two. Texas was faced with a flight of fight scenario, and Texas chose to fight. Texas won, and it became a state. due to the goods it could produce, it became a slave state. this was gainst the Norths' wishes, they wanted it to be a free state. http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/texas-maps.htm -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
The treaty signed by Mexico gave the U.S. New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and California. The U.S. payed 15 million for all of the land. The California territory became a free state, and the others were popular sovereignty. This greatly angered the south, who wanted a share in the new land. http://www.whatwouldthefoundersthink.com/the-monroe-doctrine-empire-and-nation-in-nineteenth-century-america-by-jay-sexton -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a response to the southern concerns over thenewly formed states from the Treaty of guadalupe-Hidalgo. Henry Clay designed to as to appease both the north and south. California would be a free state. And tougher fugitive slave laws would satisfy the south. http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/gastudiesimages/Compromise%20of%201850%201.htm -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book published by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was a story of a slave nicknamed "Uncle Tom", who gaverefuge to runaway slaves. He was caught and killed, but the story was a rallying call for abolitionists in the north. Southerners were furious because they saw it as an attack against the southern way of life. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=uncle+tom%27s+cabin&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=C1F65D2BCC3F200EF2CEBBF616B685616CD728CA&selectedIndex=4 -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephen Douglas introduced a plan to divide Kansas in the south, and Nebraska in the north. His plan made both territories ruled by popular sovereignty. This means that both states could choose to be free, or slave states. He was battered by both sides for not favoring one. Eventually, pro slave Kansas attacked free Nebraska and forced them to become pro slave. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=kansas+nebraska+act -
Beating of Charles Summner
Charles Summner was beaten by the nephew of the man he had verbally attacked a few days earlier. The nephews name was Preston S. Brooks. He beat Summner multiple times, and yet no charges were brought against him. Southerners praised him for standing up for his uncle. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=beating+of+charles+sumner&qs=AS&sk=&FORM=QBIR&pq=beating%20of%20charles&sc=3-18&sp=1&qs=AS&sk=#view=detail&id=D0E2223531EFC110DED0BAB4CDCDC698D83994A7&selectedIndex=1 -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who filled a suit for his freedom. His Owner took him to the free north, where he lived for four years. His owner went back south, where he died. After his owners death, Scott filled a suit for his freedom. The Supreme Court ruled that he could not do so becasue he was in Missouri at the time. Also, Congress could not forbid slavery in southern territories. this was a huge win for the south, and a loss for the north. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=dred+scott+decision -
Harper's Ferry
A White man by the name of John Brown led an anit slavery attack on the night on October 16th, 1859. Himself and a small band of 21 men seized a federal arsenal. Robert E. Lee commanded a small detachment of U.S. Marines who defeated the band, and captured Brown. He was later hanged for treason against the south. Brown hoped to stir up empathy for slaves, and it worked. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=harpers+ferry&qs=IM&form=QBIR&pq=harpers&sc=8-7&sp=1&sk=#view=detail&id=B6DD25FCA64D72E2A -
Election of 1860
There were four candidates in the 1860 election. The two candidates from the south were Bell and Breckinridge. The two northern candidates were Douglas and Lincoln. Lincoln won by a narrow margin. This infuriated the south. They were extremely unhappy witht the election, and wouln't stand for it. http://www.voteview.com/Political_Parties_UCSD_21_February_2006.htm -
South Carolina Sucedes
On Decenber 20, 1860, South Carolina officially succeeded from the Union. Southerners feared what the Union might do, in terms of slavery laws. Mississippi followed suit, and so did Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. This was the official split of the south from the north. http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2012/11/12/secession-the-1860s-have-returned/
