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Nat Turner's Rebeliion
Nat turner was a man believed he was called by God to deliver his people from slavery. Turner used preaching to try and get people to join him. On August 21st, 1831, at 2a.m., Turner and his followers started their rebellion by killing his master's entire family. Turner and his followers then marched through Southampton County in Virginia, killing at least 55 people until white authorities crashed the revolt. Turner avoided capture for nearly 2 months and when he was caught he was hung. -
The underground Railroad
The underground railroad was an informal system that helped thousands of people escape slavery. Harriet Tubman herself was a "conductor"(someone who helps the slaves on the underground railroad). By the end of the underground railroad it was estimated that around 3,300 people were saved and escaped slavery. -
Fugitive slave act
The fugitive slave act was an act that was supposed to benefit slave owners but ended up hurting The South. Any African American could be accused of being a slave and could even be captured. Once the accused slave was captured, they would be brought to could and since they weren't able to testify, they wouldn't be able to prove his or her case in court. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe got a letter from her sister that said "Now Hattie, if I could use a pen as our can I would write something that would make this whole nation feel what an accursed thing slavery is." Once seeing this letter from her sister, Harriet Beecher then made a book called Uncle Tom's Cabin. The book was so good that Southerners tried to take it down and the book's dramatic impact on public opinion added the the sectional tensions leading up to the Civil War. -
Bleeding Kansas
Kansas, the first battleground of people who want slavery and people who don't. Kansas had the same soil and climate as Missouri, setters that moved there from Missouri were bringing their slaves with them. Northerners hurried into the territory hoping to make it a slave free state and have the majority over the Southerners, it wasn't long before they had conflict. on may 21st, 1856, border ruffians attacked Lawrence after this attack there was 2 million dollars worth of property destroyed. -
The Caning Of Charles Sumner
during the debate of the future of Western territories. Charles Sumner, a fiery abolitionist, made a statement that accused senators of forcing Kansas into ranks of slave states saying that Andrew P. Butler had "chosen a mistress... the harlot slavery." Several days later Charles Sumner's second cousin approached Sumner and he shouted that Sumner's speech had been "a libel on south Carolina, and Mr. Butler who is a relative of mine." He raised a gold-handled cane and beat Sumner savagely. -
The Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was an enslaved man who's slave owner had taken him to from Missouri to live in a place that had free territory for some time. When Dred Scott's owner took him back to Missouri he sued his slave owner claiming that he was free because of the time that he spent in free territory and his case went all the way to supreme court. Taney delivered the majority opinion in the case. Taney ruled against Scott, he claimed, African Americans weren't citizens and therefore could not use in courts. -
John Brown's Raid
A fervent abolitionist, John Brown, took direct action against slavery. he helped make a plan to seize the Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia. The night of October 16th, 1859, Brown and 18 followers seized the arsenal. Not long after they were facing a contingent of U.S. marines, less than 36 hours after it started and Brown's attempt to start a slave insurrection ended with his capture and in court he was sentenced to death. In his last words to the court, Brown repented nothing. -
The Emancipation Proclomation
On September 22, 1862, Lincoln kept his word. Lincoln said that he would end slavery if the union could drive Lee’s forces from northern soil, he would issue a proclamation ending slavery. The proclamation stated “that all persons held as slaves within said designated states… are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive Government of the United States… will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.” African Americans were freed in states at war with the Union. -
Black codes
Black codes were limits on African American rights. The black codes varied between states but seemed intended to keep African Americans in a condition similar to slavery. The black codes angered many Northerners.