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Missouri compromise
A compromise between the Northern and Southern States that admits Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. This balanceds out the amount of slave states with 12 to 12 Free States in the Union. In addition, not slave states could be formed north of the southern border of Missouri. -
Compromise of 1850
Five seperate bills make up the Compromise of 1850. The passed bills prevented/delayed the sucession of Southern States and a civil war. The main articles of the Bills were: Texas surrendered its claims to New Mexico and its land north of the 35 degree parallel, and the Slave Trade was banned in Washington DC -
Republican party formed
The Republican party is formed by anti-slavery activists. It recruited former whig and free soil members; eventually growing to become one of two major political parties in the US. -
Harper's Ferry
An abolitionist by the name of John Brown, gathers an army of anti-slave activists, former slaves, and free African Americans, to raid a Federal weapons arsenal in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. US Marines show up and after 2 days of fighting they suppress John Brown's army. Most of his companions were killed, those who survived were hung along with John Brown. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln becomes President of the United States, with a popular vote of 1,865,908 (39.7%) He is also the first Republican President. -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede. In the following weeks sixother states from Texas to Flordia follow along. -
Confederate States of America Formed
The Confederate States of America is formed, with Jefferson Davis of Mississippi as the President. The CSA incorporated thirteen South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky -
Civil War Begins
A civil war erupts after the leading events between the Union and Confederacy of the United States on the issue of slavery spark heated debates. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln issues the "Emancipation Proclamation" Freeing all slaves from slaveowners -
Battle of Gettsburg
Gen. Robert E. Lee invades Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. After 3 days of harsh fighting, the Union defeats the Confederate Army. This battle held the highest number of casualties among all other battles fought in the war. This was the last attempt by Gen. Lee to invade the North. -
General Robert E. Lee surrenders to the Union
One of the last few battles fought in the war, at Appomattox, Virginia. Gen. Robert E. Lee made a final attempt to break the Union lines but realized he had to accept surrender. -
President Lincoln is Assassinated
5 days after the end of the Civil war, President Licoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's theatre. The next day, Lincoln is prounounced dead. Across the country, Northeners and Former slaves grieve Lincoln's death while for the South it is a calamity. -
13th Amendment abolishes slavery
The 13th Amendment is adopted. Slavery is officially "outlawed" across America, now acording to the Constitution -
Civil War officially over
Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston and his armies become the last Confederate armies to surrender. A year later on Aug. 20 President Andrew Johnson declares the war officially over. -
14th Amendment added
The 14th Amendment is proposed and passed by Congress. It protected the Civil Rights Act of 1866 by adding it to the Constituion. As one of the Reconstruction Amendments, it addressed citizenship rights and equality to Former Slaves. -
Reconstruction Act
The Reconstruction Act is put into motion. President Johnson quickly worked to merge the South back with the North, but it would be years before Reconstruction actually ended. -
15th Amendment added
The 15th Amendment is ratified, giving former black male slaves the right to vote. -
Transcontinental Railroad completed
Reaching from San Fransisco, California to Omaha, Nebraska, the first Transcontinental Railroad played a big role in westward expansion by bringing many settlers to Western United States. The discovery of Gold in California also encouraged many people to take the train ride to the west. -
Financial Panic
America experiences a "Great Depression" as the world's economy takes a sharp downfall. here were several underlying causes of the financial panic. After the Railroad boom, workers were laid off to increase profit and big investors failed to gain money from the Railroad companies. Add post-war inflation and its a disaster -
Reconstruction Ends
Americans gradually stopped supporting civil war because they thought they civil war had ended slavery. The election of 1876 was the big cause to the end of the Reconstruction Era. Democratic Samuel J. Tilden was clearly going to win the election with 184 votes. 1 more vote and he would win; however his opponent , Rutherford B. Hayes, managed to earn 185 votes when a deal was struck with the four remaining states that held electoral votes. In return, troops occupied in the South were pulled out.
