-
Period: to
Mexican-American War
Mex-Am WarAfter America annexed Texas from Mexico, Mexico decided to wage war on us. The war lasted for two years and America dominated Mexico. Texas was then brought into the union as a slave state - but not for 9 years. -
Wilmot Proviso
Wilmot Proviso textDuring the Mexican-American War, the government was trying to decide which states they gained from Mexico would become slave states, and which free. David Wilmot proposed to ban slavery in all new territories. This passed in the House of Representatives but never in the senate. Exact date unknown. -
Compromise of 1850
Compromise of 1850When California wanted to enter the Union as a free state, more problems were created between the North and South. More problems meant more compromises, and the "Compromise of 1850" was actually 5 compromises, created, for the most part, by Henry Clay. Among the compromises was the abolishment of the slave trade in Washington, DC. -
Fugitive Slave Law
Slave Act textA law was passed stating that any slave who escaped to the North was still a slave and must be returned to his or her master. The law said that any official who comes across an escaped slave must arrest them, and the individual could be arrested on no more than a man swearing he owned them. Also, any official who did not comply could be charged a $1,000 fine. -
Period: to
Underground Railroad
Milton HouseExact dates unknown, but most of the activity occured during the 1800s. Many slaves tried to escape their masters and steal their freedom. They used a network of secret routes called the Underground Railroad, aided by escaped or freed African-Americans, as well as some abolisionists. Any person involved in the Railroad was breaking the law. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe CenterHarriet Beecher Stowe wrote this story as a narrative of a slave's life. It was published in weekly installments in the newspaper National Era. The story illustrates many of the hardships a slave endures and was designed to promote abolishinist beliefs. Harriet Stowe was not herself a slave, but she met a lot of former and escaped slaves in Cincinatti -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Kansas-Nebraska ActThis controversial act allowed Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to have slavery. It seemed to ignore the Missouri Compromise. In the wake of this, activists from both sides tried to influence the vote of slave v free. The chaos ended up with Kansas having two legislative groups. This created Bleeding Kansas. -
Ostend Manifesto
Cuba-Ostend ManifestoExact date unknow. American Expansionists wanted the country to annex Cuba into the Union. Southern states wanted it to become a slave state. While it ended up not happening at all, it was (like many other new states of the time) the source of argument between pro- and anti-slavery activists. -
Bleeding Kansas
Competition for Virgin TerritoryDuring the year of 1855 (exact date unknown), the Territory of Kansas was subject to large amounts of violence due to the disagreement over whether it would be a slave or free land. Many people died in this feud. It was one of the most violent times in U.S. History. -
Caning of Sumner
Sumner CaningSenator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts was at his desk one day, looking over speaches he had written. It was here that Representative Preston Brooks entered the office and started beating Sumner with his cane. The attack was sinister and severe; it was not for 3 years that Sumner felt safe enough to rejoin the Senate. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott v SanfordIn the court case of Dred Scott v Sanford, it was decided that an African-American person who was a slave, a former slave, or the decendant of a slave could never be a U.S. Citizen and was not protected by the U.S. Constitution. This made life for every African-American immensely harder and had effects lasting well after the Civil War. -
John Brown's Raid
Raid on Harper's FerryA slave revolt led by John Brown with the goal of overruning and capturing Harpers Ferry, a U.S. Armory in Virginia. The armory was taken, but the rebels were trapped inside and killed, some trying to surrender. on the 18th, marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee got inside and killed Brown and captured many rebels. This increased tension between the slaves and their owners.
