-
telegraph
Samuel Morse created the first telegraph. He sent the first message from Washington D.C., to Baltimore, Maryland. This began to replace the Pony Express -
sewing machine
Elias Howe made the first sewing machine. This revolutionized the way clothes were made in homes and factories. -
Free-Soil Party
The free-soil party was created to prevent the expansion of slavery into the western territories. Wilmot Porviso was a leader is helping this antislavery party rise. Martin Van Buren was nominated as thier presidential condidate, but did not win. -
Compromise of 1850
Congress passed the compromise of 1850 to ease southern concerns. According to the compromise, California was admitted as a free state, but in the other territory acquired from Mexico, voters would decide the slavery issue for themselves. This became known as popular sovereignty. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the book Uncle Tom's Cabin as a firsthand description of slavery. It sold 300,000 copies in its first year, which increased antislavery sentiment in the North. This was a very influential piece for the next few years. -
safety elevator
Elisha Otis developed the first safety mechanism to prevent elevator cars from suddenly falling -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Written by Douglas, The Kansas-Nebraska Act divided the Nebraska Territory into Kansas and Nebraska. Voters in each territory would decide the issue of slavery by popular sovereignty. -
World's first oil well
Edwin Drake dirlled what became the world's first oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania. -
Harper Ferry
Harper Ferry, an industrial town, was a half free, half slave town right on the border. John Brown and a band of followers seized the federal arsenal and bridges in the town. The raid was about 36 hours and then the US marines finally took down Brown's men. -
On the origin of species
A biologist, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species, arguing that animals evolved by a process of "natural selection" and that only the fittest survived to reproduce. -
election of 1860
The election of 1860 demonstrated that there were no longer any natinal political parties. Lincoln won this election with 60% electoral votes. Zero of these electoral votes were from the south. -
South Carolina secession
After Lincoln was confirmed to be the next president, the South Carolina legislature had a state convention. The all agreed and declared that South Carolina was seceding from the United States. -
The Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was formed by seven states in February of 1861. Jefferson Davis became the president. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was one of the few forts in the south that stayed in Union hands. The South fired on the Union troops that tried to help the union men in Fort Sumter. This led to Lincoln declaring that "insurrection" existed and calling for 75,000 volunteers to fight against the Confederacy. -
Battle of Bull Run
A very deadly war fought during the civil war. This battle was an important confederate victory. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The emancipation proclamation, written by President Lincoln, declared that "all persons held as slaves within any State or the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free." -
Draft law
A law passed by congress requiring all able-bodied men between the ages of 20 and 45 to serve in the military if called. This led to riots breaking out in northern cities. -
Battle of Gettysburg
A very important Union win that destroyed about one third of Lee's forces. This battle then led to the Gettysburg Address, which was about what this war was really about. -
total war
Union general Sherman led his forces through Georgia and Soth Carolina to destroy all troops and resources. The troops burned crops, tore up railroad tracks, and destroyed homes. This led to the end of the war -
end of the civil war
Lee surrendered to Grant in Appomattox, Virginia because the Confederacy was exhausted. The south was left in shambles. Many migrated either north or west. -
Lincoln assassination
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in a theater. Vice President Andrew Johnson then took his place as president as the nation mourned. -
Fourteenth Amendment
The fourteenth amendment guaranteed full citizenship status and rights to every person born in the United States, including African Americans. -
Knights of Labor
Uriah Smith Stephens founded a labor union called the Knights of Labor that included all workers of any trade, skilled of unskilled. Also they recruited African Americans. -
Yellowstone National Park
When people began to raise concerns about protecting Natural resources, congress set aside protected land as National parks. One of the first federal responses to the concern was to create Yellowstone National Park. -
telephone
Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone. Whithin a few years, 148 telephone companies strung lines all over the midwest over long distances. -
light bulb
Thomas Edison patents the electric light bulb. In the next two years, he installed the first street-lighting system in New York. -
time zones
Delegates from 27 countries divided the globe into 24 time zones, one for each hour of the day. The railroads then adopted this system. -
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
Samuel Gompers formed the AFL, a craft union, or a loose organization of skilled workers from some 100 local unions devoted to specific crafts or trades. The members of the group gained strength in bargaining, yet retained their individuality. -
Interstate commerce commission (ICC)
The united states senate created teh interstate commerce commission to oversee railroad operations. First federal body to monitor American buisness operations. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
The senate passed the Sherman Antitrust Act, which outlawed any trust that operated "inn restraint of trade or commerce among the several states." -
first flight
Oriville and Wilbur Wright flew the first sucessful airplane flight. This marked the birth of a new industry.