-
Ban on Importation of Slaves
In 1808 congressmen banned the importation of slavery. This however, although seen as progress by the abolitionists, did nothing to slow the sales and trade of slaves. The Internal trade of slaves continued in locations that were legal. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri compromise showed the struggle to maintain a balance between slave and nonslave states in the United States. The nonslave state of Maine, was admitted to the Union and Missouri was determined to be a slave state. The Missouri Compromise also prompted the ban of slavery north of the Lousiana Territory. -
Founding of The Liberator
William Lloyd Garrison founds his famous newspaper The Liberator. This was seen as a shift in the slavery movement. Garrison used his newspaper to spark an abolutionist movement among the north. He was able to gain many followers and shed light on the idea of slavery and its negative moral connotations. It helped to develop a strong line between the beliefs of the north and the south. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
A Virginian slave named Nat Turner led a large scale slave rebellion. Turner believed he was chosen to lead the slaves. He and his following killed 57 white people. However, in the end nearly 200 slaves were killed in retaliation. Due to this rebellion the Virginian legislature failed to pass a bill that would lead to the emancipation of all Virginian slaves. The threat of slave uprisings becomes more prominent. -
Prigg vs. Pennsylvania
Prig vs. Pennsylvania played an important role in the development of slavery. The U.S. Supreme Court decided to uphold the Fugative Slave Laws. This caused nine Northern states to create personal liberty laws. These laws forbid state officials from complying with the Fugative Slave Laws. This caused an increase in tensions between the north and south. -
Harriet Tubman Escapes from Maryland
In 1849, Harriet Tubman escaped from Maryland. This prompted one of the most infamous events in all of the civil history. After her escape from Maryland, Harriet Tubman returned 13 times and rescued many slaves. She became known as one of the most important parts of the underground railroad. The underground railroad was a system in which slaves were smuggled from plantations in the south to locations in the north, in which they were able to gain their freedom. -
Bleeding Kansas
A small scale civil war broke out in Kansas. A Proslavery group attacked a group of abolitionists. The abolitionists attempted to fight back. Over the course of the next year, nearly 200 Kansans were killed, with nearly $2 million worth of collateral damage. This outbreak caused tensions to arise between the south and the north. This contributed to the overall feeling of the Antebellum era. This small-scale Civil War was indicative of the future. -
The Dred Scott Case Verdict
Justice Roger Taney concluded that regardless of whether or not a African-American was free, They were still not an American citizen and were therefore not protected by the Constitution. Due to this, African-Americans had no ability to sue in a court of law. It was also decided that the federal government had no power to regulate slavery in the federal territories. Dred Scott's claims were denied. Once again, this caused attentions to rise. -
Abraham Lincoln is Nominated for Presidency
Lincoln's speech 'A House Divided' made clear his opinions on slavery. Lincoln believed that the United States couldn't function as a separated being. Lincoln became known as an abolitionist and his notoriety began to spread to various regions of the United States. This was a monumental step towards the Civil War, as the south disliked the ideas of Lincoln and then North agreed with the majority of his beliefs. Eventually, Lincoln won the presidency and began to push towards the end of slavery. -
Start of the Civil War
In Charleston Harbor, South Carolina troops began to fire on Fort Sumter. This is largely considered to be the start of the Civil War, in which the south and north fought against one another. This is considered to be the peak of tensions between the north and south and is one of the most important factors in all of American history.
