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Virginia is one of the 1st states to have African indentured servants
Virginia getting Africans affected the Civil War by sparking the idea of slavery and having others work your fields. Virginia also introduced the idea of buying and selling the African indentured servants. Which essentially is one of the main reasons that the Civil War started. -
1663
Maryland becomes the first colony to enact laws that recognize slavery for life. Also Maryland proposed that any slave that converts to Christianity or identifies as a Christian will be granted freedom. -
1667
Virginia passes a law that repeals the law that states that any slave that converts to Christianity is granted freedom. Given, that Virginia was one of the first states to approve slavery this event sort of foreshadows the Civil War by creating the argument that slaves are not equal to the average man/Christian. During that time period, people often used God as a way to validate slavery. -
Germantown Protest
The first organized protest against slavery in the United States of America was organized by a group of Quakers in Germantown, PA. This event became later known as the Germantown Protest, it argued that Christians should do treat others how they would like to be and that slavery is wrong because you are buying something/someone that is stolen therefore it is not yours to keep. They also argued that adultery between slave and slave master was wrong. -
1739
In Stono, South Carolina several slaves started an uprising. Previous runaway slaves had made their way to Florida, where they had been given freedom and land. The Spaniards proposed that any slave that escaped to Florida would be granted freedom. -
The Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society
In 1745, the Abolitionist Society was created to help support the rights of blacks who were illegally enslaved in America pre-Civil War. This contributed to the start of Civil War by helping the free blacks stay free and the blacks that were illegally held become free which was the main cause of the Civil War. The South wanted slavery and the North believed that blacks should be free. -
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The Cotton Gin is invented
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin to become a more efficient way of picking cotton. This invention was not invented to replace the work of slaves, but to help make the process faster for supply and demand purposes. This relates to the Civil War because slaves were then forced to work longer since they had a faster process of picking cotton. -
The Declaration of Independence
The colonies declare independence from the British by creating The Declaration of Independence. Written mostly by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal." Jefferson and many of the signers of the document were slaveholders. Therefore, the Declaration of Independence is contradicting itself and the overall sense of equality and freedom that the United States is supposed to stand for. -
Pennsylvania abolishes slavery
Pennsylvania became the first state to abolish slavery. -
1783
Massachusetts abolishes slavery and grants voting rights to blacks and Native Americans. -
1787
Congress passes the Northwest Ordinance, preventing slavery from existing in the new federal territories. -
1791
Vermont becomes the fourteenth state and enters the Union as a free state. It was the first state to be admitted after the creation of the Constitution by the 13 original states. -
Kentucky becomes the first state to abolish slavery
This was a major advancement in the pre-Civil War movement. By being the first state to abolish slavery it started a wave of northern and midwestern states abolishing slavery. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Congress passes the first Fugitive Slave Act. The act allowed for the recovery of runaway slaves and authorized the arrest or seizure of fugitives. The act also created a fine of $500 for any person who aided a fugitive. This made slaves more of a money maker especially if they escaped and were caught. -
Tennessee enters the Union as a slave state
Tennessee becomes the sixteenth state to adopt slavery and enters the Union a slave state. -
Gabriel Prosser leads a rebellion
Slave Gabriel Prosser leads a group of armed slaves in a rebellion. His plan involved seizing Capitol Square in Richmond, Virginia and taking Governor James Monroe as a hostage, in order to negotiate his freedom and the freedom of other slaves. At the end, Gabriel along with many of the slaves that followed him was captured and killed. -
No new slaves are allowed in the United States
Congress halts the immigration of any more slaves into the United States. This helped the population of slaves remain stable or decrease. This contributed to the start of the Civil War by leaving the South at a disadvantage for getting more slaves and essentially making more money. Which in turn helped the North have somewhat more of an advantage even though the South had more people. -
1810 census
As a result of the 1810 census a total population of 6,807,786 including 1,130,781 slaves or 17% of the population. Slaves are virtually non-existent in northern states and as high as 47% in southern states like South Carolina and Georgia. -
Illinois becomes the 19th state and enters the Union as a free state
With the constant incline of both, states becoming free and slave states the North is trying to get more of an advantage regarding a number of people they have. -
1820 census
As a result of the 1820 census a total population of 10,037,323 including 1,529,012 slaves or 15% of the population. Slaves are virtually non-existent in northern states and are as high as 51% in South Carolina and 45% in Louisiana. As you can see the percentage of slaves in South Carolina has exponentially increased since the 1810 census. This contributes to the Civil War by showing how slavery is steadily increasing. This then continues to put the South at an advantage. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise contributed to the Civil War by helping fulfill the request of Missouri and Maine. The Missouri Compromise was a policy to help balance the power between slave and free states. Missouri requested to be a slave state and to balance it out Maine became a free state. The Missouri Compromise balanced Congress’ power which made each both states requests possible. It was later repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. -
Congress Raises Tariffs
Since the rise of tariffs goes to industry and machinery which is very profitable in the North the North is now given an advantage. By raising tariffs Congress is helping the North get more money to fight the South. Which ultimately, will help the North when it comes to weapons and other machinery that will be needed for the war. -
1830 census
As a result of the 1830 census a total population of 12,754,289 including 1,987,396 slaves or 16% of the population. Slaves are virtually non-existent in northern states and are as high as 54% in South Carolina and 51% in Louisiana. Since 1810 the percentage of slaves in the South has increased 7%. This contributes to the Civil War by showing how the number of slaves in the United States has increased over the course of ten years. -
William Garrison publishes, The Liberator
The Liberator was a journal about how slavery should be abolished and actually in this newspaper Garrison supported the John Brown's raid. The journal was banned in many bookstores and was very hated by Southerners. This contributed to the start of the Civil War by giving both the North an opinionated paper that supported their beliefs. Which gave them an advantage. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner's Rebellion was a catalyst for the Civil War because it was one of the first major uprisings from the slaves. As a result of the slave rebellion 50 to 65 people were killed which was the highest number of casualties for any slave rebellion at that time. Also, as a result of the slave rebellion, over 50 slaves were tried and executed for their participation in such a bloody event. -
The Tariff Act of 1832
The Tariff Act essentially protect the industry in the North. This gave the North more of an advantage material wise for the war. -
Slavery abolished in the British Empire
The British Empire abolished slavery so the North was hoping that if the South saw that outside land was abolishing slavery that they would see the error in their ways. -
Elijah Lovejoy is murdered
Abolitionist publisher Elijah P. Lovejoy was murdered in Alton, Illinois and his printing press is thrown in the river. He had been calling for an end to slavery. This relates to the Civil War because many abolitionist or just everyday people that were against slavery were often killed. The fact that he was killed in Illinois, a free state, was unusual. -
The Underground Railroad is organized
The Underground Railroad being organized by Robert Purvis, a black abolitionist, was a major catalyst for the Civil War because it was the main escape route for slaves. By slaves becoming free that means the South is losing their main source of income. Harriet Tubman, one of the main leaders of the Underground Railroad, freed more than 300 slaves. She is often recognized for her contribution to the movement of freeing slaves. -
1840 census
As a result of the 1840 census a total population of 16,987,946 including 2,482,546 slaves or 15% of the population. Slavery is still steadily increasing. The 1840 census resulted with almost no slaves being in the north and over 55% of the population in each slave state being slaves. That means that there were more slaves than regular people in the south. This relates to the Civil War because the number of slaves had grown and slave states were just choosing to secede from the Union. -
Frederick Douglass publishes his own autobiography
Frederick Douglass published his autobiography which was one of the first autobiography's to be published by a slave. Also, his autobiography was one of the first slave accounts to be published. His novel is the first direct view of slavery from a slave's perspective to be published. -
Harriet Tubman escapes slavery
When Harriet Tubman escaped slavery that sparked a movement of abolitionism and uprisings. It was as if her persistence and determination helped other slaves feel confident enough to escape slavery, and find a better life. -
1850 census
As a result of the 1850 census a total population of 23,054,152 including 3,200,600 slaves or 14% of the population. Slaves are virtually non-existent in northern states and as high as 58% in South Carolina and 51% in Mississippi. By this time period, slavery has declined about 3% which is good given how many people were in favor of it. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin contributed to the Civil War by "helping lay the groundwork for the Civil War." Uncle Tom's Cabin was one of the first novels to address the reality of slavery. Also, Uncle Tom's Cabin touched on the religious view of slavery. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act nullifies the Missouri Compromise
This repealed the Missouri Compromise which prohibited slavery in the north. This gave the South somewhat more of an advantage which gave them somewhat of an upper hand in the Civil War. -
Bloody Kansas
As Kansas prepares for elections thousands of Border Ruffians from Missouri enter the territory in an effort to influence the election. This begins the Bloody Kansas period with duplicate constitutional conventions, separate elections and constant and violent attacks. -
Charles Sumner's Speech
Senator Charles Sumner has a speech speaking against slavery supporters. This of course, enrages the South. In Sumner's speech he singles out South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, and two days after his speech Butler and his nephew beat Sumner with a cane. Sumner's speech contributed to the start of the Civil War by it being one of the first attacks a government figure has made on another government figure. -
Dredd Scott Decision
Dred Scott Decision - The Supreme Court rules in Scott v. Sandford that blacks are not U.S. citizens, and slaveholders have the right to take existing slaves into free areas of the county. The Dredd was nationwide known case against black people saying that no matter how long they had been slaves here they are not United States citizens. -
1859
Oregon becomes the thirty-third state and enters the Union as a free state in 1859. -
John Brown's Raid
Abolitionist John Brown's raid against slave masters was one of the bloodiest raids in American History. This raid was a catalyst for the Civil War by causing the South to become enraged and react to such a violent uprising with just as much force if not more. This also sparked more and more uprisings throughout the South. -
1860 census
As a result of the 1860 census a total population of 31,183,582 including 3,950,528 slaves or 13% of the population. Slaves equal 2% of the population in what would be Northern Aligned States and 39% in Southern Aligned States. 57% of the population in South Carolina were slaves and 49% of the families in Mississippi owned slaves. -
The Election of Lincoln
The Election of the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, is often tied to the Civil War because Lincoln's presidency is known as the presidency that ended slavery and free blacks everywhere. Abraham Lincoln was adamant about freeing the blacks and having America truly be free. Although many states did not support his views which caused the Civil War Lincoln's efforts were a success. -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
On December 20th South Carolina convention passes ordinance of secession thus seceding from the Union. -
Mississippi secedes from the Union
On January 9th an unarmed merchant ship, Star of the West, arrives in Charleston Harbor with troops and supplies to reinforce Ft. Sumter. The ship is fired upon and retreats. Also on this day, Mississippi secedes from the Union. The Declaration of Secession for Mississippi states, "Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - the greatest material interest of the world..." -
Lincoln leaves and Jefferson Davis become President of the Confederacy
Jefferson Davis unanimously elected President of the Confederacy by delegates to the Montgomery convention. Confederacy is the new name for the United States, and that also contributes to the name Confederates which is the name of the soldiers for the South. -
The Crittenden Compromise
The Crittenden Compromise, one of the several failed attempts to ease tension between the North and South. The compromise contained six proposals for constitutional amendments, and four proposals for Congressional resolution including the re-application of the north/south boundary from the Missouri Compromise, stated that the federal government could not interfere with slavery where it already existed and could not interfere with the recovery of slaves from any part of the Union. -
Georgia secedes from the Union
Georgia secedes from the Union. On January 29th Georgia's Declaration of Secession is approved stating, "For the last ten years we have had numerous and serious causes of complaint against our non-slave-holding confederate States with reference to the subject of African slavery. They have endeavored to weaken our security, to disturb our domestic peace and tranquility, and persistently refused..." -
Provisional Constitution of the Confederacy
Provisional Constitution of the Confederacy adopted in Montgomery, Alabama. This appealed mostly to the Confederate states which gave them somewhat of an upper hand. -
Texas secedes from the Union
The Texas Legislature votes to secede from the Union. In a general election, held on February 23, 1861, voters ratified secession by a better than three to one margin. In the Texas Declaration of Secession, it states,"In all the non-slaveholding States, in violation of that good faith and comity which should exist between entirely distinct nation..." Texas was the largest state to secede from the Union and economically hurt the United States very badly.
