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Missouri Compromise
1820, GOV Congress was considering the application from Missouri. At this time there was an equal number of slave and free states in the Union. Henry Clay, KY representative, helped Conngress form the Missouri Compromise. It contained three parts:
1. Missouri = slave state
2. Maine = free state
3. 36º30' - no slavery north This was passed in 1820. -
Zachary Taylor elected President
GOV
In 1848, Zachary Taylor was chosen as Whig candidate, The Free-Soil Party also formed and chose former president Martin Van Buren of NY. They won 10% of the popular vote which helped Taylor win a narrow victory over Democratice opponent Lewis Cass -
Millard Fillmore becomes president
GOV
After the death of Zachary Taylor, Millard Filmore, vice president, became the president of the US. -
Compromise of 1850
GOV
Henry Clay once again rose up and came up with another plan.
1. CA enter as a free state
2. remaining land - slavery decided by popular soverignty
3. Border between TX and NM
4. End slave trade in DC
5. New fugitive slave law.
There were both supporters and opposers immeditately. But, this became law in 1850 and was accomplished. -
Fugitive Slave Act
GOV
The Fugitive Slave Act made it a federal crime to help runaway slaves. It even let officials arrest runaways in places where slavery was illegal. Slaveholders and agents could take suspected fugitive slaves before US commissioners, trying to prove ownership. Commissioners would receive more money if they sent the slave back to work. Many northerners were upset with many parts. So abolitionists led a protest. -
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" published
SOC
An antislavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The Fugitive Slave Act had greatly angered Stowe resulting in her writing a book to show what slavery was really like. It was published in 1852 and in 10 years more than 2 million copies were sold. -
Franklin Pierce elected president
GOV
In 1852, theere were four main candidates for presidency. However, no one could win a majrity of votes. After almost 50 ballots, delegates chose Franklin Pierce from New Hampshire. -
Republican Party Forms
GOV
Unrest between Whigs, some Democrats, Free-Soilers, and abolitionists caused them to join and form the Republican Party. They joined to oppose the spread of slavery in the West. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
GOV
In January 1854, Stephen Douglas introduced what is now the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This would divide the remaining land from the Louisiana Purchase into two territories- Kansas and Nebraska. Slavery would be determined by popular sovereingty. This plan would remove the Missouri Compromise line. However it was signed into law in 1854 -
"Bleeding Kansas"
WAR/REB
In order for Kansas to have a pro-slavery win, many men crossed the border for elections then returnedhome. As a result, the win was pro-slavery. In protest, another government was formed in Kansas what was antislavery. Kansas was divided. Pretty soon, fighting broke out between both sides. -
James Buchanan elected
GOV
The Democrats chose James Buchanan of PA to run for presidency because he was experienced and was not involved with the Kansas-Nebraska dispute. Buchanan won 14/15 slave staees and 5 of the free states and so Buchanan had won the election. -
Dred Scott Decision
GOV
The Supreme Court issued a rulling involving a slave named Dred Scott. He sued for freedom after returning to Missouri because he had lived on free territory. The justices had three main issues - if he was a citizen, if he was able to sue in fed court, and if the ban on slavery in parts of Louisiana Purchase was constitutional. The Chief Justice declared that African Americans weren't citizens and did not have the right to fed court. The Missouri Compromise Line was also unconstitutional. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
GOV
Abraham Lincoln was nominated for a Senate Seat. His opponent was Stephen Douglas. Lincoln took advantage of his opponent's fame and challenged Douglas through debates. There were 7 known as the Lincoln-Douglas debates. In each one, Lincoln stressed the central issue in the campaign involved slaver and its future in the West. Douglas crticized Lincoln on his beliefs on slavery. At the 2nd debate Lincoln asked Douglas to explain a topic and Douglas responded with the Freeport Doctrine. -
John Brown raids Harper's Ferry
WAR/REB
In 1858 John Brown started a slavery upsrising. He prepped for 2 years and had about 20 men. The night of Oct 16, 1859 the raid began. Brown with his men entered Harpers Ferry, VA. TThe first took the fed arsenal. Brown hoped slaves would join him but none did since they knew the consequences. 8 of his men and 3 local men were killed in a gunfire with white southerners in the area. Fed troops arrived later and 2 more of Brown's men were killed. The remaining were captured. -
Abraham Lincoln elected president
GOV
In 1860, there was a four-man election contest that was more of a pair of two-man contests. Douglas, Bell, and Breckinrige all hoped to at least prevent Lincoln from wnning. However, the failed and Lincoln won. He got less than 40% of the popular votes btu won 180/183 electoral votes in the free states, with no southern states. -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
WAR/REB
Four days after Lincoln's election, South Carolina's legislature called for a convention. Delegates met to consider secession. In 3 days, they decided to secede from the union. -
Confederate States of America form
GOV
By Feb 1, 1861, MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, and TX had seceded from the union. On Feburary 4, 6/7 delegates met from these states and extablished the Confederate States of America -- aka the Confederacy. They passed their Constitution which was very much like US's but included slavery. Jefferson Davis of MS was elected president. -
Jefferson Davis is elected president of Confederacy
GOV
Jefferson Davis of MS was elected president of the Confederacy. He had opposed secession but believed they had a right to secede. But his loyalty to the South overpowered his hopes for peace. He was intelligent but his devotion to his friends clouded his judgement. -
Civil War begins
WAR/REB
When Lincoln had decided to resupply Ft Sumter, SC demanded the troops leave. Confederate guns opened fire and the Civil War thus begun. -
Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln
SOC
Lincoln awaited a northern victory in the East before announcing for all slaves in the Confederate-controlled areas to be freed on Sept 22, 1862. This Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on Jan 1, 1863. This encouraged many southern slaves to escape, resulting in a loss of slave labor which hurt the southern econom. Many northern Democrats were upset since they only wanted to unite the Union again, not end slavery. -
Battle of Gettysburg
WAR/REB
75000 Confederate soldiers faced 90000 Union troops. On July 2, General Lee ordered an attack on the Left side of the Union line. General G. Meade placed more soldiers on the Union Line. General George Pickett commanded the largest unit (for the Confederacy) and charged his men up Cemetary Ridge. The attack was a disaster. Less than hallf of Pickett's troops reached the top of the ridge. The battle had ended now but nobody had known. It was a Union victory. -
Gettysburg Address given by Lincoln
SOC
In order to express the Unioon's sense of confidence and commitment, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address on November 19, 1863. It was short ut moving and one of the most famous in American history. Lincoln spoke of the importance of liberty, equality, and democratic ideals. He reminded listeners that the war was being fought to protect these principles. He dedicated himself and the North to winning the war and preserving the Union. -
Lincoln elected for a second term
GOV
Linoln needed a victory in order to win the re-elction in 1864. After the vvictory of General William Tecumseh Sherman, Lincoln won by a landslide. -
Civil War Ends
WAR/REB
Lee had been trapped and concluded that the situation was hopeless. Union and Confederate leaders met on April 9, 1865. Lee signed the surrender documents which ended the long war. Almost 620,000 Americans had lost their lives. -
Period: to
Reconstruction
Gov/Econ
Reconstruction was the process of reuniting the nation and rebuilding the southern states without slavery. He wanted to offere southerners amnesty (an official pardon) for illeal acts supporting the rebellion. They just had to swear an oath of loyalty 10% of voters make these pledges --> form new government --> readmitted to Union. This was the 10%Plan. An alternative was the Wade-Davis Plan-ban slavery and majority of male adults had to take loyalty oath, but Lincoln disliked it. -
Abraham Lincoln is assassinated
WAR/REB
When Lincoln and his wife attended a performance in Washington, John Wilkes Booth sneaked into his box and shot him. Booth was a southerner and opposed Lincoln's policies. Lincoln was rushed to a bordinghouse and died at 7:30 the next morning. Across the North, people were saddened by his death. -
13th Amendment added to Constitution
GOV/SOC
The 13th Amendment made slavery illegal throughout the US. It was ratified and took place on December 18, 1865.