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Nat Turner Slave Revolt
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William Lloyd Garrison Publishes "The Liberator"
Abolitionist newspaper which increases support for abolition of slavery and women's rights -
American Anti-Slavery Society Begins
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Henry Highland Garnet's "Address to the Slaves of the United States of America"
Garnet encourages rebellion in the black population of the US at the National Negro Convention, his speech failing to be endorsed by one vote. -
Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls
Feminist convention leading to the drafting of Declaration of Sentiments. -
Harriet Tubman Escapes from Slavery
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery, going on to carry out thirteen missions to rescue slaves (esp. family and friends) through the Underground Railroad. -
Compromise of 1850
A series of agreements arranged by Henry Clay which attempted to decrease hostility between free and slave states. Made California a free state. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Part of the 1850 compromise, required captured slaves to be returned to their masters, including in free states. -
Sojourner Truth Delivers her "Ain't I a Woman" Speech
Speech which demanded equal rights for women and blacks -
Harriet Beecher Stowe Publishes "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
Uncle Tom's Cabin shows the realities of slavery and humanizes the struggle against slavery -
Bleeding Kansas
A series of violent civil confrontations resulting from the establishment of Kansas over the legality of slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Caused vehement debates over legality of slavery, resulting in "Bleeding Kansas" -
Radical Republicans Established
A faction of Republican Party politicians who rallied for the eradication of slavery without compromise. -
Dred Scott Decision
Declared that blacks could not be citizens and therefore could not have power in federal courts. -
Panic of 1857
Financial panic caused by over-expansion (i.e. gold rush) of US's domestic economy -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
A series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas prior to the election for Illinois senator, focusing mainly on slavery. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
Attempt by John Brown to begin a slave revolt by taking over a U.S. Arsenal at Harper's Ferry -
Democratic Party Splits into Northern and Southern
The Democratic party faces a schism on the issue of expanding slavery, splitting into the Northern and Southern Democratic Parties. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina is the first to secede from the union, beginning the American Civil War. -
Confederate States of America Founded
The confederacy is formed from slave states in opposition to northern efforts to abolish slavery. One of the combatants of the Civil war. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
Abraham Lincoln is elected President and leads america through the civil war, abolishes slavery, improves economy, etc. -
Firing on Fort Sumter
The attack on Fort Sumter (South Carolina) which began the Civil War and lead to SC's secession -
Battle of Antietam
Civil war battle which resulted in the single bloodiest day in US history. -
Sarah Grimke's "Letters on the Equality of Sexes and the Condition of Women"
Writings showing relationship between Feminism and Christianity in the 1800s -
Emancipation Proclomation
A declaration issue by Abraham Lincoln which classified all enslaved people in the South as legally free, so that they were encouraged to escape to the North. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Most important civil war battle - Lee loses to union, retreats into virginia and pennsylvania -
Gettysburg Address
A speech delivered by Lincoln following the Union victory, at the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg. -
Ulysses S. Grant Takes Control of Union Troops
US Grant becomes a Commanding General of the US Army and goes on to procure victory for the north in the civil war. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
A Union military campaign which involved the destruction of Confederate military and industrial fixtures from Atlanta to Savannah. -
Abraham Lincoln Re-Elected
Abraham Lincoln is elected president for a second term. -
Lincoln Assassination
Lincoln is assassinated by confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth. -
13th Amendment Passed
Constitutional Amendment which outlawed slavery in the US. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders to U.S. Grant
Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrenders, marking the beginning of the end of the Civil War. -
Andrew Johnson Elected President
Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln -
Ku Klux Klan formed
The KKK is formed by Confederate veterans after northern victory in the Civil War. -
Freedmen's Bureau Established
Established to aid former slaves and poor white citizens in the aftermath of the Civil War. -
Civil Rights Act is Enacted Despite Johnson's Veto
Congress overrides veto by Andrew Johnson and enacts the civil rights act of 1866, declaring all citizens equally protected by US law. -
Scalawags and Carpetbaggers Arrive in the South
Northerners move South after the Civil War in hopes of making an economic profit from Southern land. -
First Congressional Reconstruction Act
Legal document which outlined the conditions under which the South would be readmitted to the Union. -
14th Amendment Passed
Grants citizenship to anyone "born or naturalized in the United States," specifically freed slaves. -
Andrew Johnson Impeached
Andrew Johnson is impeached by congress, mainly because of his removal of secretary of war Edwin Stanton in favor of US Grant. -
15th Amendment Passed
Gives voting rights to all citizens (males) regardless of race. -
Ulysses S. Grant Elected President
U.S. Grant elected president after serving during the civil war -
"Redemption" Period Following Civil War
A movement in which Southern Democrats believed themselves to be "redeeming" the South by gaining political power. -
Slaughterhouse Cases
Established the 14th amendment to apply to privileges granted by US citizenship, not to state citizenship. -
U.S. v. Cruikshank
Supreme Court decision declaring the 1st and 2nd amendment rights apply only to the Federal government, not necessarily to the states. -
Compromise of 1877
An informal deal which settled the 1876 presidential election and resulted in the U.S. pulling its troops out of the South, ending Reconstruction.
