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17th & 18th Centuries: Slavery arrived in North America
Slavery and English and Spanish colonists arrived in North America in the 17th and 18th centuries. An estimated 645,000 African Americans were imported during the 250 years the institution was legal. After the American Revolution, northern states slowly passed emancipation laws, the divide began to open as the South became more committed to slavery. -
Abolishment of Slave Importation
The United States banned the importation and exportation of slaves a year after Great Britain abolished their slave trade. Northern states were gradually in the process of ending enslavement, but the institution strengthened in the South as cotton production increased. -
The Missouri Compromise
In an effort to preserve the balance of power in Congress between slave and free states, the Missouri compromise was passed making Missouri a slave state. With the exception of Missouri, this law prohibited slavery in the Louisiana territory. The Missouri compromise was repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 and three years later the Missouri compromise was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott decision. -
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
In August of 1831, a slave named Nat Turner started an uprising that spread throughout many plantations in southern Virginia. He and about seventy cohorts killed around 60 white people. Fifty-five slaves, including Nat, were tried and executed for what they did. After, nearly 200 more slaves were lynched by mobs. -
The Mexican War Ends
When the Mexican war ended America ceded western territories. This posed a debate, these new territories would be admitted states, but would they be free or would they be states that practiced slavery? It began a debate between the North and South over what to do with the newly acquired land, doubled the size of the United States. The war marked a turning point in the slavery debate by unleashing a tension between the North and South on what land would be free and what land would be for slavery. -
The Fugitive Slave Act Passes
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed as a part of the Compromise of 1850. This act forced any federal official who didn’t arrest a freedom seeker to pay a fine. This was very controversial and caused many North American 19th century Black activists to increase their fight against slavery. The Fugitive Slave Act also prompted more activity with the Underground Railroad as freedom seekers went to Canada. -
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” Was Published
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe who was an activist who wrote the book the show the evils of slavery. The book became a best-seller and made a huge impact on how Northerners view slavery. It helped further the cause on Black activism and was even recognized by Abraham Lincoln; the book's publication was a major event leading to the Civil War outbreak. -
“Bleeding Kansas” Riots Shock Northerners
After the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed, allowing the Kansas and Nebraska territories to make decisions for themselves using popular sovereignty for whether they wanted to be a free state or practice slavery. By 1856, Kansas became a source of violence as anti- and pro- slavery forces fought over the states future so much it was called “Bleeding Kansas”. -
Dred Scott Loses His Case To Be Free
In 1857, Dred Scott lost his case that argued he should be a free man because he had been held as a slave while living in a free state. The Supreme Court ruled his petition couldn’t be seen because he didn’t own any property. It went further stating that even though he was taken by his owner to a free state, he was still an enslaved person because these individuals were considered property of their enslavers. -
Lincoln Is Elected President
When Lincoln was elected, South Carolina and six other states seceded from the Union. Even though he had moderate views about slavery during his nomination and presidential campaign, South Carolina warned it would secede if he won the election.