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Bacon's Rebellion
Led by Nathaniel Bacon, over 1,000 Virginians rose up against their governor, William Berekly, for not retaliating against attacks by Native Americans. The rebels burned down the capital of Jamestown and caused the governor to flee. The ruling class was frightened by this strong demonstration of unity among indentured servants. As a result of this rebellion, more slaves were used for manual labor instead of indentured servants. -
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Slavery Outlawed in the North
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The Three-Fifths Compromise
Was a compromise between the North and the South reguarding the representation of slaves. It was agreed upon that slaves would count as 3/5ths of a person. -
The Northwest Ordinance
The creation of the Northwest Territory as the first organized territory of the United States. Created by Congress and signed by President George Washington, the Ordinance stated that "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory." -
Cotton Gin is Invented by Eli Whitney
The Cotton Gin was a machine invented to seperate cotton seeds from fibers. It boosted the production of cotton and therefore the South became even more dependant on slaves and plantations. -
Tallmadge Amendment
The Tallmadge Amendment was proposed by James Tallmadge, Jr. to the House of Representatives imposing that Missouri would end slavery within a generation. -
The Missouri Compromise
Was a passed agreement created by Henry Clay. It concluded that slavery was prohibited north of the 36'3 line in the Louisiana Territory, with the exception of in the boundaries of Missouri. This compromised worked for 30 years. -
Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion
Was a slave rebellion led by Nat Turner, that resulted in the most deaths by a slave rebellion. About 55-65 whites were killed. The after affects of the rebellion cause panic and fear in the south and was very polarizing. Many suspected blacks were killed by mobs, laws were passed that blacks could not be educated, and blacks' civil rights were severely restricted. -
Wilmot Proviso
Was a major cause of the Civil War. The Wilmot Proviso, a proposal of the non-extension of slavery in any land aquired from Mexico, failed in the Senate numerous times because the South had greater representation there. It was proposed by David Wilmot. -
Compromise of 1850
Was a compromise after the Mexican War that California would enter the union as a free state and Texas would enter the union as a slave state. -
Federal Fugitive Slave Act
Was an act that stated anyone in the North who helped runaway slaves or refused to help the South in catching the slaves were commiting a felony. This was very polarizing because it caused many in the North to turn against slavery; they were upset about being criminalized for crimes they often did not commit. Additionally, bounty hunters who could not find the slave that they were hired to catch often kidnapped free blacks, promting the Personal Liberty Laws. -
Personal Liberty Laws
The Personal Liberty Laws were the North's response to the Federal Fugitive Acts. These laws were implemented to prevent southern bounty hunters to capture free blacks. Blacks were made to carry around ID to show thay they were free. This was polarizing because the North could no longer turn a blind eye to slavery in the South and were now involved in it. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Was an act detirmining that Kansas and Nebraska, two territories who wanted to enter the union, would vote if they were going to be a slave state or not. Republican Whigs argued that non-extension was crucial. The election in Kansas, because of this, became more of a riot that an actual election. Many other states from the North and the South sent people into the states to vote. -
Dred Scott v. Sanford Case
A case that went to the Supreme Court, the Dred Scott case was a controversial decision by the Supreme Court. Dred Scott was a slave whose owner had died, and argued that he was now free. The Court ruled that negroes were not U.S. citizens and therefore did not have a right to the Federal Courts. Also, it was ruled that since slaves were equal to property, the U.S. could not interefere and take away property from a citizen. The case recieved widespread publicity. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
These debates helped Abraham Lincoln gain a national reputation and eventually helped him in being elected president. He famotusly said, "If slavery is not wrong, then nothing is wrong", and "The government cannot permenantly endure half slave and half free". -
John Brown's Raid
Was another anti-slavery raid that was very polarizing, led by white abolitionist John Brown. The revolt was eventually crushed. However, the South blamed the North for instigating slaves to kill Southerners.
