-
Period: to
Political events during the Antebellum period
The period after the War of 1812 and before the Civil War. -
Period: to
The American Industrial revolution
The Industrial Revolution was an important part of the antebellum period because it further separated the North and the South economically. The North began to build factories that could mass produce products and led to urbanization. The South however was able to produce more cotton thanks to the cotton gin but it didn't develop the factories and urbanize like the North did. Because of this the south became more dependent on slavery. The differences between the two led to political disagreements. -
Period: to
The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a protestant religious movement that began before the Antebellum Period but hit its peak during it. Many Methodist and Baptist preachers held revivals where they spoke eloquently from memory, gaining membership into their churches. The Great awakening also led to the temperance and abolitionist movements. It also led to the further development of the United States into a predominately protestant nation which was its purpose. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri compromise was a key political agreement that maintained the balance of power in the U.S. Senate by admitting Maine to the Union as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. It also stopped the spread of slavery past the 36' 30 parallel (North) with the exception of Missouri. This compromise preserved the Union for a short time but its restrictions on slavery led to its eventual repeal. -
Period: to
Trail of Tears
After the passing of the Indian Removal Act about 60,000 Native Americans mostly Cherokee were forced to march on foot West to Oklahoma to free up land for white settlers who often owned slaves. They were ill prepared for the march which led to the deaths of 4,000 to exposer, disease, and starvation. The absence of Native Americans on their land led to more slavery in that region and more political division amongst the federal government. -
Collapse of the Whig Party
Following the Kansas Nebraska Act the Whig Party ceased to exist. The party collapsed due to mass immigration and because it was composed of different political factions. Due to the tension in the nation and political disagreement over slavery the Whigs could no longer function. This event is important because it gave way to the Republican Party which challenged the Democratic Party for the Presidency and won, further dividing the Nation politically. -
Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska Act created the Kansas and Nebraska Territories which opened lands for the Transcontinental Railroad. This act was popular with Southern politicians because it repealed the Missouri Compromise by allowing slavery to spread in theory through popular sovereignty. Popular Sovereignty allowed by this act would eventually lead to conflict in Kansas over slavery(Bleeding Kansas). -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was the nickname for a series of violent confrontations between native residents of Kansas who apposed slavery and pro slavery groups that would move into Kansas to sway the popular vote. Kansas was important to both pro and anti slavery groups because popular sovereignty would decide whether or not it became a free or slave state. Kansas would eventually become a free state but Bleeding Kansas illustrates how divided the nation was on slavery in just one state. -
The Caning of Charles Sumner (bleeding sumner)
During the conflict in Kansas Senator Charles Sumner spoke out on the senate floor denouncing the Kansas Nebraska Act and its authors one of which was a relative of Representative Preston Brooks. Brooks responded by ferociously beating Sumner with his cane. This incident reveal how violent and divided the North and South were. The time for words was almost at an end. -
The Dred Scott Case
The Dred Scott Case was a key court ruling in which a Slave (Dred Scott) sued for his freedom on the basis of being taken to a free territory of the U.S.A. On March 6th 1857 the Supreme Court decided that since African Americans were not considered citizens by the constitution, the rights given to citizens did not apply to Scott and he was not freed. This ruling emboldened the South who pushed for the further spread of Slavery and used the Dred Scott case as Justification. -
1860 United States Presidential Election
1860 presidential election was an important political event because it took place at a very politically tremulous time. Abraham Lincoln won the election by gaining the majority of the popular vote and the electoral college. The election further divided the nation politically as it put a Republican into office who was anti slavery. This was possible the final nail in the coffin before the beginning of the Civil War.
