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Missouri Compromise
With the admission of Missouri and Maine to the Union, the number of slave states and nonslave states remained equal at 12 each, which prevented the South from having more representation in the Senate, than the North. Slavery would be forbidden north of the latitude line that runs along the southern Missouri border for the remaining Louisiana Territory. Monroe signed Congress's bill reflecting the Compromise on March 6, 1820.
Source: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/monroe/aa_monroe_compromi -
Texas Annexation
Sam Houston wanted to add a territory to the United States. It took a long time to annex Texas because of the slavery issue. Mexico threatened to go to war with the US if they did annex texas, which they did. This led to the Mexican War.
Source: Notes -
"54-40 or Fight"
James K. Polk's campain slogan which represented the idea that he was going to expand the land up to the 54th parallel which would now be present day Canada. Many people were drawn to him because they felt it was their right and duty as Americans to get as much land as possible.
Source: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/polk/aa_polk_expansion_3.html#__utma=37760702.2131904165.1348795421.1348797803.1349033351.3&__utmb=37760702.3.9.1349033359276&__utmc=37760702&__utmx=-&__utmz=37760702.1348795421. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was an important congressional proposal in the 1840s to prohibit the expansion of slavery into the territories that were part of the Mexican Cession. It was not successful.
Source: notes and http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/644611/Wilmot-Proviso -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
In December 1845, the U.S. Congress voted to annex the Texas Republic and sent troops led by General Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande to protect its border with Mexico. The clashes between Mexican troops and U.S. forces provided the logic for a Congressional declaration of war on May 13, 1846. On February 2, 1848 the Treaty was signed in Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
Compromise of 1850
In the Compromise of 1850, California entered the Union as a free state. Slavery in Utah and New Mexico territories would be decided by popular sovereignty. Texas border was settled and all its debt was paid off. The Compromise also outlawed slave trade in Washington D.C.. There was also a stricter Fugitive Slave law.
Source: Notes/ppt -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
A novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe that became a best seller. Book was about the issue of slavery and brought a lot of attention to the subject. Many people's perspectives changed. North and South were both angered.
Source: NOTES -
Gadsden Purchase
americaslibrary.govMeeting in Mexico City where James Gadsden, U.S. Minister to Mexico, and General Antonio López de Santa Anna, president of Mexico, signed the Gadsden Purchase. The treaty settled the dispute over the exact location of the Mexican border west of El Paso, Texas, giving the U.S. 29,600 square miles of land in what is now southern New Mexico and Arizona, for $10 million. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This Act in 1854 nullified the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and made it possible for voters in Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not slavery would exist in their territories.
Source: http://myloc.gov/exhibitions/lincoln/rise/thenewlincoln/kansasnebraskaact/Pages/default.aspx -
Brooks-Sumner Incident
historyengine.richmond.eduMassachusetts Senator Charles Sumner had recently given a speech called “The Crime Against Kansas” on abolishing slavery in the United States. Sumner specifically mentioned Senator Andrew Butler, of South Carolina in the speech because of his involvement with the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Preston Brooks, Butler's cousin, assaulted Sumner with many blows to the head with a walking stick which cut his head. Brooks hit Sumner so hard he broke his cane. -
Republican Party Founded
On the outskirts of Jackson, Michigan more than 10,000 people turned out for a mass meeting "Under the Oaks." This led to the first organizing convention in Pittsburgh. The gavel fell to open the Party's first nominating convention, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 17, 1856, announcing the birth of the Republican Party as a unified political force.
Source: http://www.ushistory.org/gop/origins.htm -
Harper's Ferry Raid
Raid led by John Brown who was an abolitionist. His goal was to capture federal arsenal in Harper's Ferry and lead a slave rebellion. He captured the slaves but was caught in the spot they were hiding so the raid was not a success. he was put on trail and was executed in December 1859.
Source: Notes -
Election of 1860
Election between Stephen Douglas (N. Democrat), John Breckinridge (S. Democrat), Abraham Lincoln (Republican) and John Bell (Constitutional Union). Lincoln won the elections and because of this seven states seceded (SC, MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, and TX).
Source: notes -
firing on Fort Sumter
The Confederate army opened fire on the fort, which was unable to respond effectively. Major Anderson surrendered and evacuated the garrison on the following day. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. There were no casualties during the bombardment, except one Union artillerist was killed and three were wounded when a cannon exploded prematurely while leaving.
Source:http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/placesinhistory/archive/2011/20110408_fortsumter.html -
First Battle of Bull Run
Federal forces led by General Irwin McDowell attempted to be on the outsides of the Confederate positions by crossing Bull Run but were turned back. The end result of the battle was a Confederate victory and Federal forces went back to the defenses of Washington, DC. One week later, General George McClellan was appointed head of the Army of the Potomac.
Source: http://www.loc.gov/rr/geogmap/placesinhistory/archive/2011/20110721_firstbullrun.html -
Monitor v Merrimac
Monitor and Merrimack, two American warships that fought the first fight between ironclad ships. At the beginning of the Civil War, the Union forces abandoned the Norfolk Navy Yard at Portsmouth, Va., they destroyed the powerful steam frigate Merrimack. She was raised by the Confederates, made into an ironclad, and renamed the Virginia. It was used for fighting.
Source: http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0833724.html -
Battle of Antietam
The Army of the Potomac, led by George McClellan, gave a series of powerful assaults against Robert E. Lee’s forces near Sharpsburg, Maryland. This was the bloodiest day in American military history. The Confederate retreat gave Abraham Lincoln the victory he wanted before issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.
Source: http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/antietam.html?tab=facts -
Battle of Gettysburg
Was one of the bloodiest battles fought in Pennsylvania. Union army was led by General George Meade. General Robert E. Lee led the Confederate. Lee struck the sides of the Union line resulting in severe fighting at Devil's Den, Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, Peach Orchard, Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill. Southerners gained ground but failed to remove the Union host. The Union won this battle.
Source: http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/gettysburg.html?tab=facts -
Sherman's March
The Civil War was in its final weeks when a strong force, led by Union General William T. Sherman, marched in through the Carolinas, capturing town after town. They overcame the Confederate soldiers led by General Joseph E. Johnston. The Union Army captured and destroyed the Confederate arsenal, a building where weapons were made and stored, in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Source: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/civil/jb_civil_fayette_3.html -
Appomattox Court House
civilwar.orgThe remnants of John Brown Gordon’s corps and Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry formed line of battle at Appomattox Court House. Gen. Robert E. Lee was determined to make one last attempt to escape and reach his supplies at Lynchburg. The Confederates advanced, initially gaining ground against Sheridan’s cavalry. The arrival of Union infantry stopped them from continuing. Lee’s army was now surrounded on three sides. Lee surrendered to Grant.
