-
Period: to
Haitian Revolution
Self-liberated slaves rose up against French colonial rule. This was the first, and only, slave revolt to found a new state in the Atlantic world. This event sparked a wave of anxiety across the slave holding South. -
Fugitive Slave Law
Act of the US Congress to guarantee the right of a slaveholder to recover an escaped slave. This started an industry of slave-capturing bounty hunters who were allowed to cross state borders in their hunt. -
Cotton Gin Pattented
Eli Whitney invented a machine that quickly separated cotton fibers from their seeds, dramatically increasing the productivity of the plantation economy. Amount of raw cotton yielded doubled each subsequent decade. Marked a period of sharp decline in manumissions due to increased demand for slave labor. -
Gabriel's Conspiracy
Gabriel was a literate, enslaved blacksmith who conspired to lead a slave revolt near Richmond. First postponed by extreme rain, then betrayed by an informant. -
Nat Turner Born
Born a slave in Southampton County, Virginia. -
Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves
Jefferson promoted this legislation following global trends to end the international slave trade. This was one of many laws passed by Congress with the intent of economically and politically pressuring the plantation economy. -
Missouri Compromise
Congressional legislation allowing the admission of Maine and Missouri into the union, the latter as a slave state. Slavery was then prohibited North of the 36°30′ parallel, excluding Missouri. This was intended to maintain the balance of power between North and South. -
Denmark Vesey's Attempted Revolt
Born a slave in Charleston, South Carolina. The literate Vesey bought his freedom after winning the lottery. He eventually organized a slave revolt that would have killed planters and liberated as many slaves as possible to flee on stolen ships to Haiti. They were betrayed from the inside. All the leaders were tried and hanged. -
Freedom's Journal Founded
First African American owned newspaper, started in New York. This publication created a vehicle for black voice among the abolitionist press. Specifically fought the paternalistic defense against slavery that portrayed slaves as ignorant children who needed protection from the wise whites. -
Nat Turner Begins Rebellion
Turner and a handful of other slaves kill 55 white men, women, and children on surrounding plantations. This was the largest, most successful slave rebellion in American history. -
Nat Turner Hanged
Tried and convicted after a month of hiding. Nat Turner shared his beliefs and motivations with lawyer Thomas Gray, who published the conversation as a pamphlet titled 'The Confessions of Nat Turner'. At least 120 slaves were murdered by militia and mobs during the white panic that ensued. -
American Anti-Slavery Society Founded
Evangelical, abolitionist society founded on the principle of universal emancipation by William Lloyd Garrison. Membership reached a height of 250,000, including prominent members of the African American community like Fredrick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony. -
British Slavery Abolition Act
Parliamentary act abolished slavery throughout the British Empire. -
Period: to
Civil War
Longstanding tension over slavery and regional dominance boiled over into the bloodiest war in American history. Over 1 million people (3% of the population) died. Ended in Northern victory and universal emancipation. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln that changed the federal legal status for over 3 million African Americans in the US from enslaved to free. -
13th Ammendment
Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except for penal labor as punishment for a crime.
