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Period: to
History
social movements/influential people/migrarations -
Frederick Douglas publishes the first issue of "The North Star"
Frederick Douglas, a former slave and prominent abolitionist, published his first issue of "The North Star" in 1847. After being inspired by the writtings of William LLoyd Garrison, Douglas decided to create his own newspaper speaking out against the evils of slavery. -
Free Soil Party formed
The free soil party was a short lived political party active in the 1848 and 1852. The party was against the expansion of slavery in western territories and considered to be "truely Democratic". The party was short lived and largley absorbed by the Republican party in 1854. -
Seneca Falls Convention
The Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's right convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York. The two day affair was lead by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. It inspired women's right movements all across the country. -
Major Chinnese immigration
In 1849 the United States recieved an influx of Chinnese immigrants, due to the famous California Gold Rush. Many of these immigrants did not intend to settle in the U.S, only to require gold and return to China, however they were still heavly disliked by many of the Americans for taking jobs and gold. In 1850 California enacted the Foreign Miners Tax, charging $20 a month to foreing miners, compelling many Chinnese to return back to China. -
Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery
Harriet Tubman ecsaped from slavery in the fall of 1849, after her escape she set up the Underground Railround, a passage to Canada and freedom for the enslaved. She became the "conducter" of the system, and is attributed to have helped around 300 slaves gain freedom. -
start of the railroad boom
Although there had been rail transport previous to the 1850s, it was around this time that rail transport dramaticly increased. In 1855, 192 million acres of land was granted to the railroad system. Railroad soon replaced turnpikes and canals, and increased industry, mostly in the north. -
Harriet Beecher Stowe writes "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
Harriet Beecher Stowe, a female abolitionist, wrote the anti-slavery novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in 1852. The book is based of the story of a long suffering slave and highlights the realities of slavery. The book became the best selling novel of the 19th century and is credited in helping the abolistionist cause of the 1850s. It is even believed that the book helped the leading up of the Civil War. -
the Know Nothing party forms
The Know Nothing party was a short lived political party, thats major influnce lay in the mid-1850's. The party originated from a semi-secrect organization and was focused on purifying politics by limiting and ending immigrant influence, especially that of the Irish-Catholics. Most members were middle-class, white protesant men, who lacked great power. The party eventually split based on beliefs on slavery and dissolved soon after -
Elmira Female College formed
In 1855 the Elmira College was formed. It was founed in Elmira, New York, and was the first women institution to grant degrees to women. When it first formed it was an all girls school, and all though it had a rocky begining, it was the first form af high education offered to women. -
John Brown leads attack at Harpers Ferry
On on October 16, 1859, white abolitionist John Brown led a armed raid in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown and his son hoped to sieze control of the arsenal in the town and to start a slave rebellion. However they recived much less support than planned and eventually were captured after resisting surrender for around two days. Brown was later convicted of treason and sentenced to death, but lived on as a martyr in the eyes of the north. -
Polish immigration
During 1860 the United States encountered one of the largest waves of Polish immirgants in history. Many of the immigrants (known as "za chleben") came to America in search of better ecomomic life, as well as to escape religious persecution. During a short times span nearly 2 million Poles came to the United States
