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Massachusetts Bay Colony Legalized Slavery
It was the first colony to legalize slavery in America. The law was written by Governor John Winthrop. http://historyofmassachusetts.org/slavery-in-massachusetts/)
Picture: http://crosimoto.blogspot.com/2014/03/black-history-massachusetts-bay-colony.html -
Law Passed Making Africans Slaves for Life
Before this law, slaves who converted to Christianity were given their freedom. Until Maryland passed the first law making slavery a lifelong designation. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Virginia Repeals English Law
Virginia also repeals the English law, which allowed slaves who converted to Christianity to become free. The repeal made them slaves for life, just like in Maryland. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Germantown, PA Protest
Quakers organized the first protest against slavery. The Quakers believed: 1. Christians should treat others the way they want to be treated themselves. 2. Slavery was theft because if you bought a slave you were buying something that was stolen, making you a thief. 3. Adultery is a sin, but slave owners were forcing adultery by separating married slaves and forcing them to go to different slave owners. http://afrogermans.us/1688-germantown-quaker-petition-against-slavery/ -
Stono Rebellion
A group of slaves caused a rebellion in Stono, South Carolina. They heard about the Spanish declaration that slaves who were able to escape to St. Augustine, FL would be granted their freedom. Other runaway slaves who made it there did, in fact, receive freedom and land. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp
Picture: https://www.thoughtco.com/what-really-happened-at-stono-rebellion-45410 -
Pennsylvania Abolition Society Founded
The group was founded to protect the rights of slaves. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Declaration of Independence
The document makes the colonies free from English rule. Thomas Jefferson was the main author and one of the men who signed the document, many of whom were slave holders. https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/DeclarInd.html
Picture: https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/DeclarInd.html -
The Original 13 States
The original 13 states are Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Now, states are free to decide the issues of slavery. https://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/colonies.htm
Picture: http://byronbayphotographer.com/17696/13-colonies-us-flag/sweet-13-colonies-us-flag-betsy-ross/ -
Vermont Abolishes Slavery
Vermont was the first colony to abolish slavery. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp
Picture: http://libraries.vermont.gov/law/vt_decisions -
Pennsylvania Abolishes Slavery
Pennsylvania was the first state to abolish slavery. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Massachusetts Abolishes Slavery, Grants Right to Vote
Massachusetts abolishes slavery and grant blacks the right to vote. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Three-Fifths Clause Passed
During the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Congress passed the law that stated each slave is to be counted as three-fifths of a person regarding representation in Congress, strengthening the power of slave states in the House of Representatives for slave states. http://www.blackpast.org/aah/three-fifths-clause-united-states-constitution-1787
Picture: http://www.blackpast.org/aah/three-fifths-clause-united-states-constitution-1787 -
Northwest Ordinance Passed
Congress passed the law, which prevented slavery from existing in new federal territories. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Vermont is the 14th State
Vermont is the first state admitted to the union after the original 13 states in the Constitution. It joins as a free state. https://www.50states.com/vermont.htm -
Kentucky is the 15th State
Kentucky joins the union as a slave state. https://www.50states.com/kentucky.htm -
Fugitive Slave Act Passed
The act allowed citizens to recover runaway slaves. Anyone caught helping a fugitive slave was fined $500. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp
Picture: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fugitive-slave-acts -
Cotton Gin is Created
Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin increased production of cleaned cotton, which made it profitable and increased the need for slaves. Link text
Picture: http://elicottongin.weebly.com/why-should-you-buy-the-cotton-gin.html -
Tennessee is the 16th State
Tennessee joins the Union a slave state. https://www.50states.com/tennesse.htm
Picture: https://www.50states.com/tennesse.htm -
Census of 1800
The results show a population of over 5 million people, 17% of which are slaves. However, there are basically no slaves in the northern states. The majority are in the southern states (42% in South Carolina and 39% in Virginia). http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Slave Rebellion in Virginia
A slave named Gabriel Prosser leads a rebellion of slaves who planned to seize the Capitol Square in Richmond, take a hostage (Governor James Monroe) as a bargaining chip in exchange for their freedom.The rebellion failed and many were executed, including Posser. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Ohio Becomes the 17th State
Because of the terms of the Northwest Ordinance, Ohio joins the Union as a free state. https://www.50states.com/ohio.htm
Picture: https://www.50states.com/ohio.htm -
New Jersey to Emancipate Slaves
New Jersey's announces that it will gradually emancipation slaves. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Importation of Slaves Banned in America
The law that Congress passed, which bans the importation of slaves into the United States, goes into effect. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
1810 Census
The census results show a population of almost 7 million people with slaves making up 17% of the population. There are basically no slaves in the northern states. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Louisiana is 18th State
Louisiana joins the Union as a slave state. https://www.50states.com/louisian.htm -
Indiana Becomes the 19th State
Indiana joins the Union as a free state. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp
Picture: https://www.50states.com/indiana.htm -
Mississippi Becomes the 20th State
Mississippi joins the Union as a slave state. https://www.50states.com/mississi.htm
Picture: https://www.britannica.com/place/Mississippi-state -
Illinois Becomes the 21st State
Illinois joins the Union as a free state. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp
Picture: http://www.sportsdestinations.com/destinations/illinois/21st-century-infrastructure-drive-illinois%E2%80%99-econom-7552 -
Alabama becomes the 22nd State
Alabama joins the Union as a slave state. https://www.50states.com/alabama.htm
Picture: https://www.50states.com/alabama.htm -
Census of 1820
The American population is just over 10 million people. Of that number, 15% are slaves with as many as 51% in South Carolina and 45% in Louisiana. The northern states basically don't have any slaves. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
The Missouri Compromise
In order to maintain the balance of free states vs. slave states in the Union, Maine enters as a free state and Missouri enters as a slave. The compromise creates a dividing line between free and slave areas of the territories, as well. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp
Picture:
https://unitedstateshistorylsa.wikispaces.com/Missouri+Compromise -
NY Abolishes slavery
New York becomes the next state to abolish slavery. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Tariff of Abominations
In an attempt to protect agriculture in the north and west from overseas imports, Congress passed the tariff. The tax on goods raised the standard of living in the south and decreased the New England industrialists' profits. John Quincy Adams signed the bill and subsequently lost the presidential election to Andrew Jackson that same year. The tariff continued to destroy relationships between free and slave states. http://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/36974 -
Census of 1830
The United States population was almost 13 million, 16% of which were slaves living primarily in the southern states. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
First Issue of the Liberator
The first issue of the weekly abolitionist newspaper, The Liberator, is published by William Lloyd Garrison in Boston. Garrison was a strong supporter of immediate abolition and made his views well-known. The abolitionist movement was loud and strong and gaining support. http://www.accessible-archives.com/2015/09/the-liberator-a-race-for-liberty/ -
Tariff of 1832
The Tariff Act of 1832 reduced taxes. However, the South was still extremely unhappy, so they threatened to succeed from the Union. South Carolina's legislature also declared that the tariffs were null and void. http://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/36974 -
Compromise Tariff Act
The purpose was to gradually reducing the tariff rates over the next 10 years. The compromise was proposed by Henry Clay with John C. Calhoun's cooperation. This compromise was meant to avoid the Nullification Crisis and avoid confrontation between the free and slave states. http://www.american-historama.org/1829-1841-jacksonian-era/compromise-tariff-1833.htm -
The Brits Abolish Slavery
The British Empire abolished slavery. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
1st House "Gag Rule"
The house implemented the first ever gag rule. This gag rule forbid the House from hearing any anti-slavery petitions and no more actions would be taken in opposition of slavery. John Quincy Adams vocally fought against it and was finally able to repeal it in December 3, 1844. http://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1800-1850/The-House-of-Representatives-instituted-the-%E2%80%9Cgag-rule%E2%80%9D/ -
Arkansas Becomes 25th State
Arkansas joins the Union as a slave state. https://www.50states.com/arkansas.htm -
Michigan Becomes the 26th State
Michigan joins the Union as a free state. Whenever a slave state joins within a year or so, a free state joins maintaining balance between free and slave states within the Union. https://www.50states.com/michigan.htm -
Abolitionist Lovejoy is Murdered
Abolitionist, publisher and Presbyterian minister Elijah Parish Lovejoy was murdered by a pro-slavery mob in Alton, IL. Lovejoy died while defending the site where his anti-slavery paper The St. Louis Observer was published. Lovejoy's death angered abolitionists and furthered strengthened their movement against the pro-slavery south. http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/reform/jb_reform_lovejoy_1.html
Picture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_Parish_Lovejoy -
The Underground Railroad is Born
Robert Purvis, a black abolitionist, founded the Underground Railroad, which was a secret network of black and white people who helped escaped slaves from the south by offering them aid and shelter. It successfully lasted through the Civil War. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/underground-railroad
Picture: http://www.johnhaycenter.org/tag/underground-railroad/ -
Census of 1840
The United States has a population of about 17 million people, 15% of which are slaves living in the southern states. There are basically no slaves in the north. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Florida and Texas Join the Union
Both a slave states, Florida (in March) and Texas (in December) become the 27th and 28th states in the Union. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Frederick Douglass is Published
Frederick Douglass was an intellectual, abolitionist and human rights leader. The former slave and presidential adviser had his autobiography titled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass published. He was also the first black American to hold a high rank in the government, among his many other achievements. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-Douglass
Picture: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-Douglass -
Iowa Becomes the 29th State
Iowa joins the Union as a free state. https://www.50states.com/iowa.htm
Picture: https://www.50states.com/iowa.htm -
Wisconsin Becomes the 30th State
Wisconsin joins the Union as a free state. States continue to be added to the Union pretty evenly between free and slave states to maintain balance. Despite this, the struggle between abolitionists and the pro-slavers is becoming more intense. https://www.50states.com/wisconsi.htm -
Harriet Tubman Escapes Slavery
Tubman escaped slavery in Maryland to freedom in the North and returned to the South 19 times to bring back over 300 slaves as an important part of the Underground Railroad. Tubman was an abolitionist leader, worked as a spy during the Civil War and fought for women's rights. Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the U.S. $20 bill. https://www.biography.com/people/harriet-tubman-9511430
Picture: http://www.businessinsider.com/transformers-the-last-knight-harriet-tubman-2017-6 -
Census of 1850
The US population is just over 23 million with 14% being slaves with practically all of them living in the southern states. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise included 5 laws, which were: California as a free state in the Union, the New Mexico and Utah territories organized with no slavery restrictions, the slave trade is abolished in the District of Columbia and a modification of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793, which allowed slaveholders to retrieve slaves in northern states and free territories. https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Compromise1850.html
Picture: http://www.ushistory.org/us/30d.asp -
California Becomes the 31st State
California joins the Union as a free state and part of the Compromise of 1850. https://www.50states.com/california.htm
Picture: https://www.50states.com/california.htm -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
An anti-slavery book published by Harriet Beecher Stowe as a response to strengthened fugitive slave laws. The book had a major influence on the abolitionist movement. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/uncle-toms-cabin-is-published
Picture: http://www.common-place-archives.org/vol-09/no-03/winship/ -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The act opened up the Northern territories to slavery, which overturned the Missouri Compromise because it allowed the people of the territories to decide whether or not they would have slaves. Settlers moved into the area from the anti-slave and the pro-slave sides in an attempt to strengthen their hold over the areas. http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/kansas.htm -
Bloody Kansas
Border Ruffians from Missouri entered the territory to vote and turn result in the favor of the pro-slavery movement. But abolitionists didn't accept the results due to fraud and held their own elections. President Pierce sent in troops, which created the Bloody Kansas period due to the violence that occurred because of the duplicate constitutions. http://www.historyplace.com/lincoln/kansas.htm -
Sumner is Beaten
Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner verbally attacked pro-slaver South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler. Butler's nephew, South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks, beats Sumner on the Senate floor with a cane. Brooks did not get in trouble, but it took Sumner three years to recover. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Caning_of_Senator_Charles_Sumner.htm
Picture: https://www.americaninno.com/boston/boston-history-may-22-the-caning-of-senator-charles-sumner/ -
Tariff of 1857
This act angered the North and was popular in the South because it lowering tax rates to 20%, the lowest they'd been since 1812. https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Tariff_of_1857.html/ -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave who was brought into a free state, which should've made him a free man. In the case of Scott vs. Sandford, the Supreme Court ruled that blacks are not U.S. citizens giving slaveholders the right to take existing slaves into free areas of the county and therefore keeping Scott a slave. It is considered the worst decision ever made by the Supreme Court. https://www.britannica.com/event/Dred-Scott-decision
Picture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dred_Scott -
Minnesota Becomes the 32nd State
Minnesota joins the Union as a free state. https://www.50states.com/minnesot.htm
Picture: https://www.50states.com/minnesot.htm -
Oregon Becomes the 33rd State
Oregon joins the Union as a free state. This makes the 5th free state in a row. https://www.50states.com/oregon.htm
Picture: https://www.50states.com/oregon.htm -
Brown Attacks Harpers Ferry, VA
Abolitionist John Brown attacked a Federal armory in Harpers Ferry (now West Virginia) after unsuccessfully trying to start a slave rebellion. After Brown's attack, Robert E. Lee led the troops who captured him. Brown was hanged along with two other members of his group, who were black. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/john-browns-raid-on-harpers-ferry
Picture: https://www.missedinhistory.com/podcasts/john-browns-raid-on-harpers-ferry.htm -
Free vs. Slave States and Territories in 1860
In 1860, there were 19 free states and territories, 16 slave states and territories and 4 territories open to slavery. The country was extremely divided over slavery. https://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/2008 Map: Joshua Brown, American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning, “Map of Free and Slave States in 1860,” HERB: Resources for Teachers, accessed February 11, 2018, https://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/2008. -
Abraham Lincoln is Elected the 16th President
Lincoln received 40% of the popular vote and 59% of the Electoral votes without even being on the ballot in the deep south becoming the first Republican voted into the office. Lincoln was against slavery. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/abraham-lincoln-elected-president
Picture: https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-civil-war-of-2017 -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union after voting at their convention. http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/south-carolina-secedes-union -
Troops are Moved into Ft. Sumter
U.S. Major-General Robert Anderson moved his troops into Ft. Sumter from Ft. Moultrie, in Charleston, South Carolina. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Ship Fired Upon, Mississippi Secedes
Unarmed merchant ship, Star of the West, which brought reinforcements to Ft. Sumter is fired upon, so it retreats. Mississippi becomes the second state to secedes from the Union. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/star-of-the-west-is-fired-upon
http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Florida Secedes
Florida becomes the 3rd state to secede from the Union. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Alabama Secedes
Alabama becomes the 4th state to secede from the Union. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Crittenden Compromise Fails
It attempted to resolve tensions between the North and South which were escalating with each secession, the compromise included the re-application of the north/south boundary from the Missouri Compromise. Also, in the compromise, the federal government could not interfere where slavery existed nor interfere with slave recovery from anywhere in the Union. http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/crittenden-compromise -
Georgia Secedes
Georgia becomes the 5th state to secede from the Union. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Louisiana Secedes
Louisiana becomes the 6th state to secede from the Union. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Kansas Becomes the 34th State
Kansas joins the Union as a free state, making it the 6th free state in a row. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Texas Secedes
Voters ratified the decision on February 23, 1861. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Provisional Constitution Adopted
The Confederacy adopts the Provisional Constitution in Montgomery, Alabama. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
Davis Becomes President of the Confederacy
At the Montgomery convention, Jefferson Davis was unanimously elected President of the Confederacy. https://www.biography.com/people/jefferson-davis-9267899
Picture: https://www.biography.com/people/jefferson-davis-9267899 -
Davis is Inaugurated
Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as the first President of the Confederacy. http://www.csaconstitution.com/p/president-jefferson-davis.html
Picture: http://www.csaconstitution.com/p/president-jefferson-davis.html -
Lincoln is Inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the sixteenth president of the United States. The country had a anti-slavery president. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincoln-inaugurated
Picture: http://pdxretro.com/2013/01/bible-used-for-another-inauguration/ -
The South Builds an Army
The Confederacy allows an army of volunteers to organize. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp -
War Begins
At 4:30 am Fort Sumter is fired upon by the Confederates. This is the first act of war. The next day, U.S. Major-General Anderson surrenders Ft. Sumter. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp
Picture: http://civilwardailygazette.com/the-firing-and-fires-of-fort-sumter/ -
Lincoln Calls for Troops
President Lincoln announces that the firing on Ft. Sumter is an "insurrection," and requests 75,000 troops from the Union militia. http://www.civil-war.net/pages/timeline.asp
