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Underground Railroad
The underground railroad was not your normal railroad with two lines of metal stretching for miles upon miles. This one was made up of many whites and blacks alike who were fighting for a similar cause. They were helping runaway slaves get to the freedom of Canada. Between these dates it is estimated that nearly 100,000 slaves were lost. The underground railroad undoubtedly angered the south's slave owners. Creating high tensions between the south and north. *Exact dates unknown -
Harriet Tubman
Tubman was one of the most famous conductors on the Underground Railroad. She escaped one day in 1849 from the fear of being sold. She then came back to help many close others to freedom. She made 19 trips back, while helping close to 300 to freedom. Her master put out a $40,000 for her. She was one of the key components of the Underground Railroad. *Exact date unknown -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The idea of the Kansas-Nebraska Act was to split the one territory of Nebraska up into two different ones, while letting them choose to be either slave or free. This just led to people, of both sides, proslavery and anti-slavery, rushing into Kansas thinking they would get their way. When they found out about each other, brutality broke out. This is where we get characters like John Brown who murdered 5 proslavery people. This is where Kansas got its name "Bleeding Kansas." *exact date unknown -
Dread Scott v. Sanford
Dread Scott, whose residency was in Illinois, a free state, moved to Missouri (a slave state) and appeared in front of the Supreme Court to gain his freedom in Missouri. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Roger Taney (a proslavery man), wrote that blacks had no rights as they were more or less just property of the white man, and the fathers of the country did not intend to include blacks when they wrote "all men are created equal." This case brought much attention to the issue of slavery (cont) -
Dread Scott v. Sanford (cont.)
Many proslavery southerners were very happy to see the decision of the case, and now they wanted to start expanding slavery westward. Abolitionists not happy at all with the decision. We can easily see a split in views with this case. Ideas flowing from both sides. -
Confederates Fire on For Sumter
Confederates begin the war by demanding the Union surrenders Fort Sumter. Lincoln responds by only sending food, trying not to provoke war. Confederate ignores the hints to not start war, and the attack the fort, and start the war. People from both sides of the war are very excited to finally fight for what they believe in. Both sides think the war will be short, with their side coming out on top. They even throw parades for the soldiers leaving. Little did they know the level of cruelty. -
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Civil War
The Civil War was between the Confederates, who lived in the southern part of America, and the Federals, who lived in the northern part of America. There were a few major disagreements that fueled this war, but by far the biggest one was the Confederates feared the Federals were out to destroy their way of life, which included the ownership of other humans. The Union just wanted to keep the states together and not be separated, but eventually it did become a war to end slavery. -
Battle of Bull Run
This was the first major battle of the civil war. The battle-field was only 25 miles from Washington D.C! Confederate general Stonewall Jackson overwhelmed the union and ended up winning. Although, both armies held very inexperienced generals and soldiers. The union lost close to 3,000 while the confederates lost only 2,000. -
Battle of Antietam
Named one of the bloodiest single day's in civil war close to 23,000 men died in all at this battle. This can also be considered one of the turning points in the war. Lee was trying to take the fighting to the North, while also gaining Great Britain’s support. After the Confederates lost this battle though Great Britain decided to postpone their support to the South, and this also gave an opportunity to Lincoln to present the Emancipation Proclamation. Reiterating the support with the Federals. -
The Emancipation Proclmation
When Lincoln presented the Emancipation Proclamation it pretty much eliminated all possibility of compromise. It claimed all slaves that were in rebel or residing in rebellious states, were now and hence forth free. The war was now, not only to preserve the Union, but also to free the slaves. With the hope of compromise out of the question the war was at its deadliest point. This meant there was going to be a winner and a BIG loser, war to the death. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg lasted 3 days, after Gen. Lee of the Confederate army decided to cross east of the mountains and provoke battle at Gettysburg. It turned out that both sides lost over 50,000 soldiers, both equally devastating losses. Lee thought he would be able to defeat the Federals on their home territory, but when he came to Cemetery Hill he was not able to overwhelm them, and was forced to turn and retreat. (cont.) -
Battle of Gettysburg (cont.)
One Federal General says "but after a severe struggle, which was only terminated by the darkness of night, he withdrew, and on the morrow, with the defeated army of Lee, was in retreat to the Potomac." This defeat ruined Lee's confidence. He was so ashamed that he actually tried to resign, but the confederate president, Jefferson Davis, wouldn't have it. (cont.) -
Battle of Gettysburg (cont.) 2
On the flip side, the North was so exhilarated over the fact they finally beat Lee's army once and for all. That's why the Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the war for the North. -
Gettysburg Adress
The Gettysburg Address is famously given by President Lincoln at the battle-field. He explains to the people that part of the land will be dedicated to those who fought and gave their lives to the cause of the Civil War, and they should never be forgotten because of their courage and bravery. He tells the people that the soldiers lives should not go in vain, rallying up emotions in people. This speech pumps up the already excited Federals and gives them the motivation to finish the war.
