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Nat Turner's Rebellion
A slave in Southampton County, Virgina named Nat Turner led a revolt. Turner and his followers killed 55 white men, women, and children. While he hoped for a large following, he only had 60 men, so when the white militia came, they were able to quickly disperse his army. Turner's Rebellion caused blacks to be killed in two days and 15 of their heads were put on sticks as a warning. The southern states toughened their slave codes and rules in fear of a second rebellion. -
Frederick Douglas Becomes a Lecturer
Frederick Douglas becomes a lecturer for Garrison's American Anti-Slavery Society where he becomes famous. His partly African ancestry, commanding presence, dramatic rheotric, and forceful intellect drew in crowds. He denouced slavery in the South and racial discrimination in the North. He did not believe expelling the Southern states from the Union wasa good plan because it would not end slavery. -
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Contributing Conflicts to the Civil War
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Popular Sovereignty
Stephen Douglas believed the public of the state would vote on whether or not slavery would be allowed in their boarders. He called this plan popular sovereignty and politicians liked it because it removed the issue of slavery from national politics and gave the people power. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act was enacted in 1850 through a group of 5 laws known as the Compromise of 1850. This act required federal magistrates to find and return runaway slaves and those who helped runaway slaves could be fined or recieve jail time. This law was controversial because it denied blacks the right to a jury and to defend themselves in court. Abolitonists and free blacks openly resisted this law. -
Boston Abolitionists Help Georgia Slaves Escape
Ignoring the Fugitive Slave Act, Boston abolitonists helped two slaves escape into the North, along with driving a Georgia slave catcher out of Boston. -
Confrontation in Christiana, Pennsylvania
In the Quaker villiage of Christiana, 20 African Americans got into a gun fight with slave catchers. The federal authorities charged 36 blacks and 4 whites for treason. A Pennsylvania jury deemed one defendent not guilty and the public opinion forced the charges to be dropped on the others. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
Harriet Beecher Stowe's book Uncle Tom's Cabin translated the moral principles of those opposed to slavery into personal situations. Her book caused empathy and outrage throughout the North and the northern state legislatures. This book increased the opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act in the North. -
Dred Scott vs Sandford
Dred Scott sued saying that since he lived in a free state and territory with his master he should be free. 7/9 members of the Supreme Court agreed he was still a slave. Taney defended this decison by saying blacks were not citizens of the United States therefore they could not sue. He also deemed slaves property and under the 5th amemdment, the government could not take property without due process of the law and Congress cannot give powers to territories it didn't have itself. -
Ableman vs Booth
The Wiscnsin Supreme Court ruled that the Fugitive Slave Act was void in Wisconsin. Their reasons for doing so was that the law contridicted state law and the constitutional rights of its citizens. In 1859 the case was brought to the Supreme Court where the ruling was undone as federal courts had power over state courts. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln stated he believed that blacks should have equal economic oppurtunites but not equal political rights during a debate with Douglas, who supported white supremacy. During this debate, Lincoln also made a point that a pro-slavery Supreme Court could soon declare that the Constitution does not allow a state to ban slavery.
