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Second Great Awakening
This was a Protestant movement in New England that gained popularity and momentum in the 1820's to the 1840's. Puritains and separatists began creating new colonies in New England, attempting to create utopian societies. This movement included groups such as the Mormons, led by Joseph Smith in New York, and the Shakers, founded on the teachings of Ann Lee. -
Gabriel's Rebellion
In August of 1800, Gabriel Prosser planned to take over the capital and armory, and hold the governor hostage with a group of 25 slaves. However, news got out about the rebellion and it never happened. Yet Gabriel and his 25 followers were all still tried for it. All 26 of them were hung as punishment. Because of this, many connected slavery to the American Revolution. People thought that the slaves might want to be freed from their owners just like America did from England. -
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Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a series of routes that led from the slave states in the south to the free states in the north. Safe houses were set up on these routes to help runaway slaves in their quest to freedom. On of the main, most important people to the Underground Railroad was Harriet Tubman. In 19 missions, Tubman led over 300 slaves to freedom in the North. There were many codes/terms that were used to help slaves escape and know when and where groups would be leaving for the North. -
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Adrew Jackson Presidecy
Democrat -
Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner led a group of rebel slaves through the Southhampton County of Virginia, killing over 60 white people. This was the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history. Because of this, many white people began to kill random black people, free or slave. Over 200 blacks were killed because of this, and Nat Turner was hung. -
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Martin Van Buren Presidency
Democrat -
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William Henry Harrison Presidency
Whig -
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John Tyler Presidency
Whig/Independent -
Prigg vs. Pennsylvania
In 1842, Edward Prigg was convicted of kidnapping and attempting to sell a black woman and her children into slavery. The woman, Margaret Morgan, had been a slave at one point, but was then living in Maryland. She had never been formally emancipated, and Prigg was hired to catch her and bring her back. Prigg was convicted of kidnapping, but appealed the decision, saying that the Fugitive Slave laws were unconstitutional. In the end, Prigg won, and his conviction was overturned. -
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James K. Polk Presidency
Democrat -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmort Proviso, introduced by Congressman David Wilmot, would have restricted slavery in the territories aquired in the Mexican-American War or aquired otherwise. He proposed that none of the territories would allow slavery to be instituted. The Proviso passed the House, but did not in the Senate. The Proviso was again intoduced in 1847, with the same result. There was then an attempt to make it part of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, however that failed as well. -
Gold Rush
On January 24th, 1848, John Marshall found gold particles near present day Sacramento. Because of this, word gets out that money could be made in California through gold. This attracted thousands of people to California in hopes of becoming rich. However, people came from everywhere, not just the U.S. By 1850, 40% of Californias population was foreign. Many become rich because of the gold mine, but most are not very sucessful. This led to a takeoff in agriculture, and a raise in population. -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildago
This treaty, signed in Guadalupe- Hidalgo, ended the Mexican-American War and gave the U.S. land in the Southwest including a border to Texas, and the territories of todays New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, as well as others. . It also gave the U.S. control over the land of California, giving them access to the Atlantic Ocean. Despite this treaty, there was still a lot of hostility between Mexico and the U.S. -
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Zachary Taylor Presidency
Whig -
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Millard Fillmore Presidency
Whig -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 marked the end of disputes over the territories gained from the Mexican-American War. Drafted by Henry Clay and Stephen Douglas, this compromise made California a free state in the U.S. Also, it set the border of Texas, and kept state sovereignty in New Mexico and Utah, allowing the states to decide for themselves. Lastly, the compromise outlawed slavery in Washington D.C. -
Fugitive Slave Act
As a part of the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act is possibly the most controversial parts to the Compromise of 1850. This act made it so that any runaway slave would be returned immediately to their owners. Regardless of where in the country they were found, they were required to be sent back to thier owners. This was very controversial, as well as one of the many causes to the Civil War. -
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Franklin Pierce Presidency
Democrat -
The Republican Party
Comprised of anti-slavery Whigs, Democrats, and Free Soilers, the Republican party gained popularity in the mid 19th century when the two National Parties (Whigs and Democrats) began to split. 25% of the Democratic party was lost to the Repulicans, and they began to take control in the North. Dedicated to keeping slavery out of the territories and the support of homesteaders, Republicans slowly became a National Party, gainng a majority of the house seats in the North. -
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Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was a series of battles and fight between anti-slavery and proslavery groups. These groups were fighting in the Kansas territory because of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. This bill made it so that the territories were based on popular sovereignty, meaning that the people decided whether the territory would be pro or anti-slavery. This event marked a prelude and start to the American Civil War. -
Kansas-Nebraska Bill
Designed by Stephen Douglas, the Kansas-Nebraska Bill repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowing slavery above the Missouri border. This bill created the territories of Nebraska and Kansas, which were instituted with popular sovereignty. This meant that the people of these territories would decide whether the territory would be a free or slvae state. Although it was designed to calm arguements between the two sides, this bill led to war within the territory of Kansas, a prelude to the Civil War. -
John Brown
John Brown, an American Abolishonist, led abolishonist forces during the Bleeding Kansas conflict. He cammanded forces in the Battle of Black Jack and the Battle of Osawatomie. Later, in 1859 Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry. In this unsuccessful raid, Brown was captured. His trial ended in his coviction, and execution as punishment. -
The Panic of 1857
The Panis of 1857 was an economic crisis in the U.S. due to slowed international encomony and trade. This led to overexpansion in the domestic economy of the U.S. Many blame the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company for the panic because of their failure and seizing of operations because of bad investments. Because of the failure of this company, as well as many others, the railroad industries suffered too, firing hundreds of workers. -
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James Buchanan
Democrat -
Dred Scott Decision
In 1847, Dred Scott went to court to sue for his freedom. In this case, Dred Scott won, however there was a retrial called by the judge due to suppossed hearasy. He was retrialed in 1857 before the United States Supreme Court. In this case, Cheif Justice Taney determined that Scott was not a citizen according to the Constitution. Dred Scott therefore, was not determined a citizen of a free territory or state and given back to his preivous owner. -
Lecompton Constitution
The Lecompton Constitution was the constitution proposed to the U.S. government to propose Kansas as a slave state and install it into the Union. This proposition was denied. Then, President Buchanan endorsed the Constitution, and it was proposed again as the exact same constituion in 1858. Again, it was denied, with the people voting almost 10,000, to 200 in favor of denying the constitution. Eventually, in 1861 Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state.