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Mum Bett Case
In Massachusetts, a woman named Mum Bett sued for her freedom and won, leading to the abolition of slavery in the state. -
⅗ Compromise
The U.S. Constitution counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for purposes of taxation and representation. -
Northwest Ordinance
Established procedures for territories to become states and prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory. -
Creation of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, a machine that efficiently separated cotton fibers from seeds. -
American Industrial Revolution
A period of rapid industrial growth in the North, characterized by advancements in manufacturing and infrastructure. -
Louisiana Purchase
The U.S. acquired approximately 828,000 square miles of land from France, doubling the nation's size. -
Second Great Awakening
A religious revival movement emphasizing individual responsibility and the potential for social reform. -
Missouri Compromise
Admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance between slave and free states; also prohibited slavery north of the 36°30′ parallel. -
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
A violent slave uprising in Virginia led by Nat Turner, resulting in the deaths of approximately 60 white individuals. -
Mexican-American War
Conflict between the U.S. and Mexico, resulting in the U.S. acquiring vast territories in the West. -
California Gold Rush
Discovery of gold in California led to a mass migration to the state, accelerating its admission to the Union. -
Compromise of 1850
A series of laws aimed at resolving disputes over slavery, including admitting California as a free state and enacting a stricter Fugitive Slave Act. -
Frederick Douglass gives July 4th Speech
Douglass delivered a speech highlighting the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom while enslaving millions. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Allowed territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether to permit slavery, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise. -
“Bleeding Kansas”
A series of violent confrontations in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. -
Attack on Charles Sumner
Senator Charles Sumner was physically assaulted on the Senate floor by Representative Preston Brooks after delivering an anti-slavery speech. -
Dred Scott v Sanford
Supreme Court decision stating that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories. -
Raid on Harpers Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown led an armed raid on a federal arsenal in Virginia, aiming to incite a slave revolt. -
Southern Secession
Eleven Southern states seceded from the Union after Abraham Lincoln's election, forming the Confederate States of America. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected President without carrying a single Southern state. -
Shots fired at Ft. Sumter
This was the official start of the fighting in the American Civil War. Union troops (Northern troops) stationed at Fort. Sumter in South Carolina were attacked by the South Carolina militia. Union lost and surrendered the fort to the Confederate militia.