Civil War

Compromise Of 1850

Jan 29, 1850

In 1850 Senator Henry Clay from Kentucky proposed a compromise in which California would be admitted as a free state. It also said the new territories of New Mexico and Utah would be organized and slavery would be abolished in D.C. Also a new fugitive slave act would be passed. In July of 1850 Henry Clay withdrew from the campaign and Stephen Douglas took over the reins. Recently elected, President Fillmore supported the Compromise and it was passed in September of 1850.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Mar 20, 1852

Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe an abolitionist from the north and a former slave. This novel was written to gain the attention of other females who were fighting for rights. It also stressed that slavery wasn’t just a political contest, but also a great moral struggle. The novel provoked abolitionists to work harder and increase their protests while it also angered southern slave owners.

Republican Party Began

Feb 28, 1854

Opponents of slavery in the territories formed a new political party called the Republican Party. Republicans were reunited in opposing the Kansas-Nebraska act and keeping slavery out of the territories. The Republican Party was made out of many groups such as free soilers, anti-slavery Whigs and Democrats. The Republican Party chose John C. Frémont as their presidential candidate. If he had won the election the south might have seceded right then and there.

Bleeding Kansas

Mar 24, 1855

Supporters and opponents of slavery attempted to populate Kansas in order to win the vote on slavery in the territory. Border Ruffians from Missouri illegally voted and won the majority vote for pro slavery in Kansas. Pro slavery supporters set up a government in Lecompton, Kansas. The abolitionists set up a government in Topeka, Kansas to challenge the pro slavery government. Bloody violence surfaced in the struggle for Kansas giving it the name “Bleeding Kansas”.

Dred Scot Decision

Mar 6, 1857

A slave named Dred Scott whose owner took him form Missouri (slave state) to Illinois and Wisconsin (Free states) and then back to Missouri. Scott appealed to the Supreme Court for his freedom saying that living in a free state makes him a free man. Scott lacked legal standing to sue because he could never be a citizen according to the court’s ruling. Court also ruled that being in a free state never made a slave free because it would deprive the owner of his property.

Harpers Ferry

Oct 16, 1859

http://www.history.com/topics/dred-scott-case/videos#john-brownJohn Brown, an abolitionist, planned a war on slavery starting with a violent raid on the federal arsenal. The attack was unsuccessful and was stopped by marines led by Robert E. Lee. Browns execution by hanging inspired sympathy among Northern abolitionists. Sectional bitterness intensified and led to the American Civil War.

Election of 1860

Nov 6, 1860

Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln against Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas, southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, and constitutional union candidate John Bell. Lincoln appeared to be moderate in his views pledging to halt slavery and saying he wouldn’t interfere with southerner’s slaves. Lincoln won the election with less than half the popular vote and no electoral votes in the south. Southerners viewed him as the enemy and his name didn’t appear on the ballot in most slave states.

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

http://www.history.com/topics/emancipation-proclamation/videos#gilder-lehrman-the-emancipation-proclamationThe Emancipation proclamation announced that all persons held as slaves within rebellious areas “are henceforward shall be free. This didn’t free all slaves in the United States but it did free the slaves in states that were not in Union control. Freeing slaves hurt the south military. Also the newly free slaves were permitted to join the Union army. British support of confederacy declined and the North’s war effort gained support.

13th Amendment

Dec 6, 1865

This Amendment to the constitution declared that “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude except as a punishment of crime where the party shall have been duly convicted shall exist within the United States, or any other place subject to their jurisdiction.” The 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States. It was passed by congress on January 31, 1865 and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865.

Reconstruction

Mar 2, 1867

After the Civil War congress forged a plan for reconstruction of the United States. The plan consisted of
• Creation on five military districts in seceded states
• Each district was to be headed by a military official
• Voters were to be registered as well as recently freedmen
• States were required to ratify the 14th amendment
Due to the end of slavery southern economics were in bad shape. Freed African Americans were assimilated into hostile southern societies.(1865-1867)

14th Amendment

Jul 9, 1868

The 14th Amendment – Amendment that granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the U.S this includes freed slaves. This Amendment expanded the protection of civil rights to all Americans. As a result African Americans were citizens and were equally protected by laws.

15th Amendment

Feb 3, 1870

Amendment that granted African American men the right to vote. “The right of citizens of the United States shall not be denied or abridged by the United States on account of race, color or previous servitude. Although this amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870 African Americans right to vote wasn’t to fully realized until over a century later. This amendment led to The Voting Rights Act of 1965 where the majority of African Americans in the south were registered to vote.