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Slavery in the South
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Nat Turner’s Rebellion
Nat Turner was a black slave who led a rebellion of more than 50 people through Southampton, Virginia. Their revolt killed more roughly 60 people, mainly women and children, and caused panic to spread throughout the region. While the uprising was stopped the next morning, Turner was not captured for 60 days after. Nat Turner’s Rebellion also led to the creation of new laws and harsher restrictions on all African Americans. Restrictions included the ability to travel and learn to read or write. -
The Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was an amendment created by David Wilmot. The Proviso stated that any territory that the United States gained from the Mexican-American War was banned from allowing slavery. This stopped the expansion of slavery throughout the United States. While the amendment did pass through the House of Representatives, it was defeated in the Senate. However, The Wilmot Proviso was still a large factor in the split of the Democratic Party, as well as the nation, over the issue of slavery. -
Frederick Douglass publishes North Star newspaper
The North Star was an anti slavery and abolitionist newspaper that was published by Frederick Douglass, who was a free slave. The North Star quickly became one of the most influential antislavey newspapers of the pre-Civil War era. The paper was said to be read by over 4000 readers throughout the United States, Europe and the West Indies. The North Star helped spread the ideas of the abolishment of slavery, as well as gained more supporters of the abolitionist movement. -
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
The Fugitive Slave Act was a law that was put in place to allow the capture and return of runaway slaves within all territory of the United States. The Act was originally passed in 1793, but it was not strongly enforced. However, the new act of 1850 had more restrictions. These harsher restrictions were met with equally strong criticism and resistance and many states created new measures to bypass the law. Abolitionists also increased their efforts to assist runaways and many revolts broke out. -
Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an elaborate network of people devoted to the liberation of slaves. Many people provided temporary shelter and aid to runaway slaves, while they made their way to the North. Harriet Tubman was one of the most famous “conductors” of the railroad. Tubman was born a slave, but in 1849 she escaped her plantation, and in 1850 Tubman made her first Underground Railroad journey. Throughout her life, Tubman helped liberate over 300 slaves and move them to the North. -
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a story written by abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe. It portrayed the horrors of the act of slavery, and opened the Northerners eyes to the mistreatment that many slaves had to endure. However, while the Northerners believed that the book was eye opening, the Southerners believed that it was untrue. Uncle Tom’s Cabin became the 2nd best selling book in the U.S. at that time, and helped show the issue of slavery and how it effected the every day lives of the slaves. -
Anthony Burns case
Anthony Burns was a fugitive slave from Virginia who had escaped to Boston, Massachusetts. His location remained secret from his owner, but was accidentally revealed in a letter. Burns’s owner, Charles F. Suttle took the trip north and reclaimed Burns under the Fugitive Slave Act. Many anti slavery groups were upset with this, and made an unsuccessful attempt to free him. In trial, the Judge ruled against Burns. However, Burns’s freedom later on was bought by a group of anti slavery activists. -
Pottawatomie Massacre
Abolitionist John Brown led the Pottawatomie Massacre, a raid on Pottawatomie Creek, in hopes of ending slavery. He led a group of 8 abolitionists to the creek, 5 of them being his sons, murdering 5 pro-slavery men along the way. The massacre helped give the time period the name “Bleeding Kansas”. It also paved the way for more violent acts against pro-slavery men to happen in the future, and it helped stir the controversy of slavery in the United States. -
Dred Scott v Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave who tried to sue for his freedom in court. However, the The Supreme Court ruled that slaves who lived in free states were not entitled to their freedom, and could never become citizens of the United States. They believed that slaves were property of their owners. Eventually, Scott was able to win his freedom and he moved to St. Louis as a free man. The Dred Scott Decision caused a huge debate between the North and South on the future of slavery in the United States. -
John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry
John Brown was an abolitionist who led a group of 17 people, including 5 black members, to raid Harper’s Ferry in Virginia. He wanted to start an uprising of enslaved people using the weapons they had stolen. However, their plan was not successful as troops quickly surrounded Brown’s men, and they were all either captured or killed. Brown was sent to trial and hanged for his crimes. The raid on Harpers Ferry helped fuel the fire of the growing abolitionist movement, and increase followers.