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U.S. Constitution - 3/5th Compromise
The 3/5th Compromise was when three-fifths the population of slaves would be counted toward of the total population of the state. The 3/5th Compromise was important, because Southerners wanted to court all of their slaves towards population even though they considered them property. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance allowed territories to establish an assembly when they had 5,000 men, and at 60,000 people they could apply for admission as a state into the Union. The Northwest Ordinance was important, because it provided a government for territory. -
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Act required the governments and residents of free states to enforce the capture and return of fugitive slaves. The Fugitive Act was important, because it was highly unpopular in the North, which helped to convert many Northerners to antislavery. -
Invention of the Cotton Gin
The Cotton Gin reduced the amount of time and cost of separating cotton seeds from fiber. The Cotton Gin was important, because with more farms in the west, and increasing industrialization in the North, which had a growing demand for cotton, the cotton production surged. -
Ban on Slave Importation
The Ban on Slave Importation stated that no new slaves were permitted to be imported into the United States. The Ban on Slave Importation was important, because it stopped more slaves from coming the U.S. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a settlement dispute between slave and free states. The Missouri Compromise was important, because Maine became a free state and Missouri became a slave state, so there was an equal amount of slave and free states. The Missouri Compromise was also important, because it established the 36 degree, 30 North line. This line stated that all the states above the line were free and all the states below the line were slave. -
Nat Turner Rebellion
The Nat Turner Rebellion was a slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia. The Nat Turner Rebellion was important, because it was the largest and most deadliest slave uprising killing 55 to 65 people. -
South Carolina Nullification Crisis
The South Carolina Nullification Crisis was when South Carolina declared that the Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 were unconstitutional and nullified them. The South Carolina Nullification Crisis was important, because South Carolina thought they would not have to pay the taxes by saying they would leave from the union. -
Organization of Underground Railroad
The Organization of the Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by African American Slaves to escape into free states. The Organization of the Underground Railroad was important, because it helped free many slaves in the South and get them into free states. -
Wilmot Proviso
Wilmot Proviso proposed a law to ban slavery in territory acquired from Mexico in the Mexican War. Wilmot Proviso was important, because the ban on slavery in the territory from Mexico would be brought up in every session for the next 15 years. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the Mexican American war. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was important, because the U.S. gained New Mexico and California in exchange for leaving Mexico City and giving Mexico $15 million, which was half of what the U.S. was going to give Mexico. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a Free State, in the Utah and New Mexico territories the slavery issue would be decided by popular sovereignty, and the slave trade was outlawed in Washington, D.C. The Compromise of 1850 was important, because it created the new strict fugitive slave law, which stated that citizens could be fined or imprisoned if they assist a fugitive slave. The Compromise of 1850 was also important, because Texas gave up the claim to New Mexico for $10 million. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin (published)
Uncle Tom's Cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and follows the lives of three slaves, speaks about their mistreatment and demoralization. Uncle Tom's Cabin is important, because Northerners took Stowe's book as a rule rather than an exception for what was happening in the South, which made Northerners more willing to attempt to stop slavery. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed popular sovereignty to decide whether to allow or not allow slavery. the Kansas-Nebraska Act was important, because this act repealed the 36 degree,30 North line of the Missouri Compromise. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was lead by John Brown, a stern evangelical abolitionist. John Brown lead several New Englanders to a pro slavery settlement near Pottawatomie Creek, they killed five men. Bleeding Kansas was important, because it sparked raids and counter raids throughout Kansas, and it showed Northerners were not afraid to fight for what they believed in. -
Charles Sumner Attacked
Charles Sumner was attacked by Preston Brooks, a Southerner and a member of the House, after making a speech which angered Brooks, who then two days later, Brooks beat Sumner with a cane on the house floor. The Charles Sumner Attack was important, because it showed how popular sovereignty in Kansas was affecting people all around the U.S. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott believed he and his wife became free when his master took them into a free territory. The Dred Scott Decision was important, because the Supreme Court considered slaves property and not citizens of the U.S., so they were demonizing slaves -
John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry
John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry was when John Brown attacked a Federal Arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia and tried to start a slave rebellion. John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry was important, because it showed that someone really cared about what was happening in the South and made a stance to try and stop slavery. -
South Carolina Secedes from Union
South Carolina's secession came after Lincoln won the election without one vote from the South. South Carolina's secession was important, because after South Carolina left the Union, then six other states also followed during the next four weeks. -
Lincoln's Election
Lincoln's election was in 1860, against John C. Breckinridge, Stephen Douglass, and John Bell. Lincoln's election was important, because it was the election right before the Civil War, so the next president would have to try to keep the Union from falling apart.
