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Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a secret society in which slaves escaped from slavery. There were many routes to freedom including into Canada, Northern Territory, Florida, and Carribean lands. Along the Underground Railroad there were safe houses and abolitionists who helped them. There were many different secret codes including; songs , sayings, lanterns, quilts, stars, constellations, etc. involving the Underground Railroad. There are many heroes known from the Underground Railroad, as well -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was over slavery in Missouri. The South wanted slavery in Missouri, the North did not. As a result, the 36' 30' line was established. This line proposed that Lousiana Territory north of it were free and south of it had slavery. Missouri joined the Union as a slave state. To keep the balance between states, Maine joined the Union as a free state. -
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was born around 1820 as a slave in Dorchester County, MD. She was a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad and perhaps one of the most well known worker. She was a very brave woman who made roughly 19 trips down south and rescued over 300 slaves! She, miraculously, never lost a single passenger. She was known as "Moses." During the Civil War, she worked as a spy for the Union. She lived the rest of her life in Auburn, NY until she died March. 10, 1919. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner was famous for leading 60 to 70 slaves in Nat Turner's Rebellion. This took place in Virginia and all started at the Travis plantation, who happened to be Turner's slave owner's land. The militia of 3,000 troops were sent to capture the rebels. In the end, about 60 plantation owners and their families were killed. As a result of capturing them; Nat Turner was hanged, many slaves in the rebellion were executed, many more slaves were murdered, and The Black Codes were passed. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was brought up by Henry Clay and it had five parts to it. First, California would join the Union as a free state. Second, It had the choice of what was going to happen to the lands the U.S. had won in the Mexican American War. Third, slave trade was not permitted in Washington D.C. Fourth, Texas would get ten million dollars if they gave up the land they were fighting for. Fifth, the Fugitive Slave Act. Abolitionists did not like this plan because it favored the South. -
The Rise of the Know Nothings
The Rise of the Know Nothings all began when nativists became very prejudiced against immigrants, especially Catholics (Irish or German). At first, it became a secret society called the Order of the Star Spangled Banner. When a member was asked about this society, they were supposed to say, "I know nothing." This society then became a political party, called the American Party or the Know Nothings. This party pledged that all nativists would be treated better than any immigrant. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was pre Civil War and passed on May 30, 1854. This act stated that settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska Territory decided if they would permit slavery or not. The 36'30' line was a abolished. Both anti-slavery and pro-slavery settlers hurried into Kansas. Elections were held and pro-slavery settlers refused to vote, which cause two opposing legistatures within Kansas. As a result of everything, on January 29, 1861, Kansas joined the Union as a free state. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was caused by The Kansas-Nebraska Act. When Kansas had two opposing legislatures, that's when it all went downhill. Violence exploded and John Brown led anti-slavery forces and started 'bleeding Kansas'. President Franklin Pierce who was a pro-slavery supporter sent troops to stop the violence. Eventually, Kansas joined the Union as a free state. -
Dred Scott Case
The Dred Scott Case began when Dred Scott sued his owner, Sanford, because he believed he and his family had the right to be free considering he and his wife, Harriet, had lived in Illinois which was free territory before. The Supreme Court had overuled Scott due to the fact that Congress had no power to ban slavery in territory anywhere. President Buchanan supported their decision. This verdict repealled the Missouri Compromise because it was believed to be unconstitutional. -
Presidential Election of 1860
The Presidential Election of 1860 was a battle between the Republican, Abraham Lincoln; the Northern Democrat, Stephen Douglass; the Southern Democrat, John Breckinridge; and the Constitutional Union Party, John Bell. They all did not have plans to end slavery, because they knew the importance of it whether they liked it or not. Abraham won this election with 180 votes out of 303! That's 40%! He did this without one southern vote. Lincoln was the 1st Republican to be elected as president! -
Attack on Fort Sumter
This event occured after South Carolina seceded from the Union. In the morning, around 4:30 A.M., Beauregard and his confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter. The Union commander in Fort Sumter was Anderson. He, also, happened to be Beauregard's teacher in West Point! This was the 1st battle of the Civil War, and the Confederacy won due to surrounding the Union Fort with their two forts, Fort Johnson and Fort Moultrie. This event was near the city of Charleston and its' harbor.
