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First Issue of the Liberator
In protest to slavery William Lloyd Garrison started The Liberator, an antislavery newspaper. Garrison was one of the first abolitionist to speak out against slavery publicly. The first issue of The Liberator was released on January 1, 1831 and continued for 35 years until December 29, 1869. -
Compromise of 1850
In 1849, California applied for statehood. This caused major conflict in Congress. If California was to become a state, the free states would out number the slave states. This upset many Southerners. Henry Clay of Kentucky proposed a compromise. California would be added as a free state, slavery would be illegal in Washington D.C., and a new, stronger fugitive Slave Act would be put in place. The plan was soon approved and was signed into action in 1850. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a book in 1852 called Uncle Tom's Cabin. It described slavery as a cruel and inhumane practice. This caused much uproar in the South. Soon after its debut, Uncle Tom's Cabin was banned from the Southern states in protest to it's message. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
In 1854, Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act in attempt to calm the South's rage. Nebraska and Kansas had applied for statehood; by the word of the Missouri Compromise of 1820, both states would be slave free, upsetting the balance in Congress of anti and pro slavery delegates. The Missouri Compromise would be repealed. Popular sovereignty would decide whether the states would be free or slave states. Americans rushed to the states in hope that their side won. -
James Buchanan Sworn into Office
After winning the Presidential Election in 1856, James Buchanan was sworn into presidency on March 4, 1857. He was President from 1857 to 1861. -
Dred Scott Vs. Sandford Verdict
Dred Soctt was a slave from Missouri. He and his owner moved to the North for a few years before returning to Missouri. Scott tried to sue his owner for his freedom. He said that since he had lived in free states, he was a free man. The Supreme Court deemed otherwise. They said Scott couldn't sue because he wasn't a U.S. citizen, but property that still belonged to his owner because of the 5th Amendment. Nothing could legally stop slavery for limiting the spread of slavery was unconstitutional. -
John Brown's Raid at Harpers Ferry
On October 16, 1859, John Brown lead a raid to Harpers Ferry. He planned to seize a federal arsenal and arm slaves to overrun slaveholders. Local citizens and federal troops stopped Brown. He was later convicted of treason and murder and was sentenced to death by hanging. This shocked Northerners and abolitionists. While some thought Brown's death was unjust, others considered him a martyr. In the South Brown's raid only convinced many that the North was conspiring to overthrow the slave system. -
Abraham Lincoln is Elected President
The election of 1860 had four candidates. John Bell from the Constitutional Union Party, who was had no position on slavery. Stephen Douglas from the Northern Democratic Party. He believed in popular sovereignty. John C. Breckenridge for the Southern Democrats. He wanted to keep slavery. Lastly Abraham Lincoln from the Republican Party. He wanted to end slavery in the new territories. Since the Democratic Party was divided and Bell's party was small, Abraham Lincoln easily won the 1860 election. -
South Carolina Secedes From Union
After Abraham Lincoln was elected President, South Carolina decided they had had enough. Even though Lincoln goal was just to ban slavery from the new territories, states in the Deep South were not happy with the new president. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida quickly followed suit and together formed the Confederate States of America. -
Battle of Fort Sumter Begins
Fort Sumter was a U.S. fort on an island in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina commanded by Union Major Robert Anderson. After South Carolina seceded, it was demanded that the fort surrendered. Anderson refused. He sent a letter to Lincoln asking for supplies for they were running low. Lincoln sent unarmed troops with supplies, but it was too late. President Davis had ordered troops to attack. On April 12, 1861, the first shots of the Civil War were fired and the South took Fort Sumter. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle in the Civil War. The North was confident that they would win. The Confederates got off to a rocky start and began to retreat, but reinforcements lead by Confederate General Joseph Johnston came to help.The Confederates made a strong comeback and won when the Union was forced to retreat. Union General McDowell was blamed for the loss and was replaced by General George McClellan. -
Emancipation Proclamation Goes Into Effect
On September 22, 1862, President Lincoln released the Emancipation Proclamation, a document saying the seceded states had until January 1, 1863 to rejoin the Union or all the slaves in those states would be set free. None of the seceded states did rejoin, but thousands of slaves were set free on January 1, 1863 when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. -
Battle of Gettysburg Begins
Confederate and Union troops meet at Gettysburg, PA, on July 1, 1863, fighting broke out. Confederate General Robert E. Lee's troops pushed the Union back. On July 2, the armies fought but made no progress. On July 3, General Lee ordered cannons to fire so Confederate troops could charge the Union. The Union stopped firing, waiting for the Rebels to attack. The Rebels charged and were met with rapid fire. Hand to hand combat followed. Eventually, the Rebels retreated giving victory to the North. -
Sherman's March to the Sea Begins
On November 12, 1864, Union General William T. Sherman and 62,00 troops began the March to the Sea, starting in Atlanta, Georgia. As the Union soldiers marched, they burned and destroyed everything in their way. The troops marched to Savannah, Georgia. 10,000 Confederate soldiers were waiting. After battling, Confederate General William J. Hardee's troops were forced to retreat. Sherman's army continued north to join Union General Grant's troops, burning and destroying everything along the way. -
The Surrender at Appomattox Court House
While marching near Appomattox, Virginia, Confederate General Lee met Union troops and pursued to attack. The battle led the Confederates into an ambush. Union General Grant's forces closed around the Confederates, trapping them in Appomattox, Virginia. After attempting a few escapes, General Lee saw it was a lost cause and called for a meeting with General Grant at the Appomattox Court House. On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered his forces to the Union, signaling the end of the Civil War. -
Lincoln's Assassination
While President Lincoln was in Ford's Theater, Washington D.C., famous actor and Confederate supporter John Wilkes Booths shot President Lincoln in the head. President Lincoln died from the wound later the next day. This sent America into an uproar. Five days prior to the assassination, Confederate General Lee had surrendered his troops, ending the Civil War. Though that should have stopped all conflict, Lincoln's death showed that not everyone was glad and appeased with the outcome of the war.
