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Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a protestant religious revival that further sharpened political differences by promoting splits within the major Protestant churches. These splits also became increasingly sectional in nature. -
Tallmadge Amendment
Amendment proposed regarding the admission of Missouri to the Union as a free state. Proposed as no further slaves could be admitted into Missouri, and all children after Missouri's admission would be freed. This was a plan for gradual emancipation in Missouri. It was rejected by the Senate. -
Missouri Compromise of 1820
Missouri allowed slavery and was the first application for statehood from the Louisiana Purchase territory. Admitting Missouri would alter the balance in Congress between slave/nonslave states. Henry Clay proposed a compromise; admit Maine as a free state and Missouri could enter as a slave state. Missouri’s southern border at 36° 30′ became the dividing line between slavery and freedom. South of the line, slavery was allowed, while north of the line slavery was not permitted. -
Denmark Vesey Slave Revolt
A rebellion led by Denmark Vesey in 1822 threatened lives and property throughout the Carolinas. Vessey planned an uprising of both city and plantation blacks, but was betrayed by white authorities, the night before the scheduled start. Approximately 130 blacks were arrested, 67 convicted, 35 hung, including Vessey, and 32 exiled. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Denmark-Vesey -
Nat Turner Slave Rebellion
Rebellion of enslaved blacks in Virginia Nat Turner. 65-55 white people killed and Turner with his followers went into hiding. They were captured after six weeks and Turner with 16 of his followers were hung in Jerusalem, Virginia. This rebellion resulted in stricter "black codes" and the massacre of at least 200 black people attacked by angry white mobs. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/nat-turner -
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The House "Gag Rule"
Rule passed forbidding discussion in the House of Representatives on petitions about anti-slavery. This kept the topic of slavery from being discussed in the house. https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1800-1850/The-House-of-Representatives-instituted-the-%E2%80%9Cgag-rule%E2%80%9D/ -
PRIGG V. PENNSYLVANIA
The 1842 Supreme Court case PRIGG V. PENNSYLVANIA ruled that the federal government’s Fugitive Slave Act trumped Pennsylvania’s personal liberty law. The Pennsylvania law did not permit blacks from being taken out of Pennsylvania, which was a free state, into slavery.
https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/blog/on-this-day-the-supreme-court-decides-prigg-v-pennsylvania -
Annexation of the Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas, which practiced slavery, declared independence from Mexico in 1836, and its admission to the Union triggered more debate on slavery. For many observers, the debates over Texas statehood illustrated that the federal government was clearly pro-slavery. Texas President Sam Houston managed to secure a deal with Polk, and gained admission to the Union for Texas in 1845.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/texas-enters-the-union -
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Mexican-American War
The United States fulfilled its "manifest destiny" to control all the territory across the North American continent. -
Wilmot Proviso
Amendment designed to eliminate and prevent slavery within the territory acquired by the United States from Mexico after the Mexican-American War. The amendment was blocked by the senate which was dominated by southern states.
https://www.history.com/topics/mexican-american-war/wilmot-proviso -
Free Soil Party
Political Party formed by anti-slavery members of the Whig and Liberty party opposed to the extension of slavery into the territories acquired after the Mexican-American war. Their motto was "free soil, free speech, free labour, and free men"
https://spartacus-educational.com/USASfreesoil.htm#:~:text=In%20August%201848%20at%20Buffalo,labour%2C%20and%20free%20men%22. -
1848 Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo
Treaty that ended the Mexican-American war and gave America the unorganized territory that included lands that would become the future states of California, Utah, Nevada, most of Arizona, and well as parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. Anti-slavery leaders feared slavery would be allowed in these territories. -
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Seneca Falls Convention
Women’s rights movements also embraced the abolitionist cause. In Seneca Falls, New York, the first of such meetings ever held in United States history took place. It was led by figures like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, women with deep ties to the abolitionist cause. Frederick Douglass also appeared at the convention and took part in the proceedings, where participants debated the Declaration of Sentiments, Grievances and Resolutions. -
The Compromise of 1850
Proposed by Henry Clay, California would enter the union as a free state and all other land from the Mexican-American war would be divided up into two territories where the issue of slavery would be decided by "Squatter's Sovereignty." Slavery would continue in Washington D.C., but the slave trade was outlawed, and a new stricter fugitive slave law would be passed.
https://www.history.com/topics/abolitionist-movement/compromise-of-1850 -
The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850
Required all Americans to assist in the capture and/or return of runaway slaves, even if they were in a free state. This law also denied enslaved people the right to a jury trial. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
This book was written as a reaction to the Fugitive Slave Law that was part of the Compromise of 1850. A passionate but not totally accurate book condemning slavery written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book published as a serial in the newspapers of the country – so this story was read across the nation by very large numbers of people. -
Creation of the Republican Party
Created by Anti-slavery Whigs, the Republican party had one party belief and that was to stop the spread of slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and created two new territories. Both Kansas and Nebraska would be allowed to decide the question of slavery for themselves using "popular sovereignty." Popular sovereignty meant the people in the territory would vote on whether or not to have slavery. -
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Bleeding Kansas
A foreshadowing of what is to come. "Bleeding Kansas" was a war between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups. Rival Governments were established as abolitionists and pro-slave residents fought to determine whether Kansas would be a slave or free state. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
Senator Charles Sumner, an ardent abolitionist, was attacked by congressman Preston Brooks on the floor of the United States Senate chamber in retaliation for a speech Sumner had given. Sumner had criticized and insulted Brook's cousin. Brooks beat Sumner with his cane and nearly killed him. Several Senators attempted to stop the attack but were prevented from doing so by other Congressmen and Senators. Brook's cane was broken into several pieces. Sumner eventually recovered over time. -
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Pottawatomie Creek Massacre
In retaliation for the sacking of Lawrence, KS, which was the headquarters of the abolitionists in Kansas, John Brown and seven others calling themselves "the army of the north" went to the pro-slavery town of Pottawatomie Creek. There, John Brown had five enemies killed. The South was furious because no one had been killed in the sacking of Lawrence, KS. -
Election of 1856
Democrat and Whig Parties start to fracture and the Know-Nothing party featured former president Filmore as its candidate for the election. James Buchanan for the democrats defeated Republican John C. Freemont after a bitter campaign. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Supreme Court decision where Chief Justice Roger Taney wrote that Blacks could never be citizens of the United States and they could not sue in a federal court because they were not citizens. The decision also said slaves were nothing but property and that the Missouri Compromise of 1820 was unconstitutional and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories. -
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The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas as Douglas was up for reelection to the Senate. Lincoln was an excellent speaker and it was during these debates that Lincoln delivered his "House Divided" speech. Douglas was re-elected, but Lincoln got national exposure and tremendous credibility. -
Harper's Ferry
John Brown led a raid at the Federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry with the intent to liberate the slaves of the South. The slaves did not rise up in revolt though and Brown and his group had to fortify themselves in the Ferry and await the arrival of federal troops. The Marines rushed the Ferry and killed or captured all those inside. Brown was captured and several of his sons killed.
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