-
Mexican War
The Mexican war was between the U.S. and Mexico. The war war began in 1846 and lasted till 1848. The first attack was by the Mexicans. They attacked on the texas border, in 1846. Unfortunatley the U.S. occupied Mexico City a year later. This led to the signing of a peace treaty between the two. The Mexicans realized just how powerful the U.S. was.
source:http://www.lone-star.net/mall/texasinfo/mexicow.htm -
Wilmot Proviso
This was one of the major events leading to the Civil War. It was to ban slavery in any territory. A Congressman named, David Wilmot was the first to introduce the Proviso to the House of Representatives in the U.S. It was intended to resolve the Mexican War. This attemp of the Proviso failed.
source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmot_Proviso -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise was created by Henry Clay. The compromise was made for several reasons. Texas would be given money to pay off its debt to Mexico. The territories of New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and Utah would no longer be organized with the use of slaves. The abolishment of slave trade was placed in the district of colombia and California would be made into a free-state. They passed the fugitive slave act to permit this.
source-http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2951.html -
Publication of Uncle Tom's cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe, a slave in the mid 1800's, witnessed in her life freedom and slavery.The Fugitive Slave Law led to free blacks and fugitives that were seized in Ohio.Harriets family & friends had been abolitionists,& were furious by the injustice of the Fugitive Slave Law.She began sketching for an abolitionist newspaper. Her story later on became a huge hit,over 300,000 copies were sold within the 1st year.
source:http://specialcollections.vassar.edu/exhibit-highlights/stowe/essay2.html -
kansas-nebraska act
The act allowed people living in Kansas and Nebraska, to decide for themselves. They were to decide if slavery should be allowed within their borders. The Act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The North were furious with this act. ONce the act was passed anit slavery and pro slavery supporters to settle for the first election. These were the two opposing legislatures in Kansas. The anti-slavery legislature won making Kansas officially a free state. -
Attack on Charles Sumner
An American politician and statesman from MA. He denounced the compromises which helped with slavery and led to confrontations in Kansas. He denounced the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the concept of residents of new states deciding whether to make slavery legal. In 1856, Representative Preston Brooks pissed off and angry with Sumner beat him with his cane on the floor. Tensions grew leading to war.
source:http://history1800s.about.com/od/abolitionmovement/a/sumnerbeaten.htm -
Harper's Ferry
Harpers Ferry was marked as a starting point for John Brown , a man who had faith in freeing all slaves. Him and his army of 21 men seized armory from the Arsenal, causing several deaths in his army. He was caught and killed but left the nation to catch attention toward the issues of slavery,heading the country into civil war.
source: http://www.nps.gov/archive/hafe/history.htm -
Election of 1860
In the election of 1860, the democratic party fled to Charleston, SC to choose their next upcoming president. The south wanted a president who would support slavery in their territories. The west disagreed with slavery rights & tried promoting popular soverignty. The south lost their arguement. Abraham Lincoln and the republican party were brought to power during this election. The south did'nt support them.Lincoln promoted declerations of secession during his victory. source: wikipedia.org -
Lecompton Constitution
It was the second of four proposed constitutions for the state of Kansas. Written in response to anti-slavery, the territorial legislature, made up of mainly slave-owners met to produce a rival document. Slavery was enshrined in the proposed state. The rights of slaveholders were to be protected. Voters were given the option of allowing more slaves to enter the territory. This became known as the new constitution, of Lecompton.
source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecompton_Constitution -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was surrendered because of the American Civil War. Fortress, controlled the Charleston Harbor entrance. The U.S. Major moved his defense there on December 26, 1860. James Buchanan (U.S. President), attempted to reinforrce and resupply the Majors men using a merchant ship. On Januaray 9, 1861 the ship failed due to firing by shore batteries. The SC authorities seized all Federal property of Charleston, besides Fort Sumter.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle of Fort Sumter
