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Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin had the job to draft a document over the colonies intentions in Philedelphia. The document stated that all men are created equal, sadly it left the idea of slavery open and failed to deal with it. Slavery was to be a dying practice but soon will become important for the South's economy. -
Invention of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invents a revolutionary device, as slavery seemed to be a dying practice. This will revive slavery and the production of cotton increased drastically. The South became a huge agricultural factory. Slavery was improved and worsened. -
Louisiana Purchase
France under the control of Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. The purchase will double the size of the nation but will also aggravate the subject of slavery because there was more land that could be farmed by slaves. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Will add the Mexican Cession to the United States. Document signed by Nicholas Trist on behalf on the U.S and Luis G. Cuevas, Bernardo Couto and Miguel Atristain for Mexico. This addition of land will bring up the problems if the territorys will become a free or slave state. Which in the future will upset the balance of fre and slave states. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Law passed by United States Congress. Allowed for slave owners to retrieve runaway slaves in the North. Failed to protect free black citizens. Judges mostly favored the slave owners. Riots of whites in the North. Will also lead to the writting of Uncle Toms Cabin. There was more activity in the Underground Railroad taking slaves towards Canada. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Book showing the horrors of slavery written by abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe. Book becomes a best seller and raises more awareness against slavery. Increased number of Abolitionists, Abraham Lincoln would say this is the little lady that caused this great war. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
Act written by Stephen A. Douglas adding Popular Sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska territories wether they will allow slavery or not. This caused a flood of pro and anti slavery people to fight bloody battles in the territories. This will shock the country and will also cause problems in the balance of free and slave sates. -
Dred Scott decision
Dred Scott lost his case suing for his freedom. This would inspire abolitionists to further their cause against slavery. -
John Brown's raid
John Brown captures a federal arsenal commiting treason. He did so to arm slaves and cause an uprising. Soon they captured and killed. This will cause open warfare between abolitionists and pro-slavery citizens more frequent. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln
The election of a Republican candidate that had moderate views on slavery will cause for Suth Carolina and six other states to secede from the Union. Abraham Lincoln's election was a watershed in the balance of power and the South saw it as a loss of power for themselves so they left. Abraham Lincoln will try to preserve the Union and will try to keep it together.
