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Fugitive Slave Act
Constitution article 4, has a clause that stated all runaway slaves must be returned to their owner. This was largely unenforced and many slaves were running to the northern states to become free. The 1850 fugitive slave act punished people who harbored slaves. Act enacted by the 31st United States Congress. This event is important because it lead to the Union fighting back and causing the Civil War. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fugitive-slave-acts -
Uncle Toms Cabin
A fictional book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe illustrated the effects of slavery in its pure form. It showed northerners what slavery was truly like, and its horrible effects. Characters discussing why slavery is happening, racism, and other flaws in the system. The book was the second most purchased book right after the bible. Stowe later meeting Lincoln. This anti-slavery book cause northerners to fight for the rights of slaves. -
Fredrick Douglass
Fredrick Douglass was born a slave who later ran away when only 20 years old. He became a activist for anti-slavery and African American rights. He gave speeches and bridges gaps between slavery, escaping and being free. Douglass wrote two autobiographies, the second being My Bondage and My Freedom. An autobiography that tells us about the racial segregation in the northern states.
http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/frederick-douglass -
South Carolina Withdraws from the Union
December of 1860 South Carolina withdrew from the Union, when this happened fort Sumter because who's property? The northern states thought it was theirs and North Carolina thought it belonged to the new Confederacy. This leads up to the start up of the war in 1861 -
First Battle of Bull Run
Union runs into Confederate troops, when the union soldiers are on their way to take over the Confederate capital in Virginia. The two armies meet by a creek known as Bull Run. The battle was very unorganized and in the beginning it seemed as if the Union would win. Later the Confederates took over and the Union was defeated. This is when soldiers knew it would become a long war.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/first-battle-of-bull-run -
Bloodiest War Begins
On April 13, 1861 the bloodiest war in American history begins. Due to North Carolina withdrawing from the Union and joining the new confederacy. The Confederacy on April 13 opens fire on Fort Sumter, shooting around 13,000 shells in three and a half days. -
Fort Donelson
One week after taking over Fort Henry Union Brigadier General Ulysses Grant decides to attack on Fort Donelson. The Confederacy surrenders Fort Donelson just as they surrendered Fort Henry. This ensured that the Union would keep Kentucky. -
Battle of Fort Henry
The Battle of Fort Henry is the first significant win that the Union had. The Union starts the battle to try and get control of the rivers and water lines that were west of the Appalachian. Union Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant and Commodore Andrew Foote set in motion his troops attack Fort Henry. Fort Henry was not guarded as well as other forts that Confederates had. The Confederates evacuated and surrendered to the Union. -
Battle of Gettysburg
On July 1, 1863, Confederates move their men into Union territory. his plan was to destroy as many forts as they can. The Union is defending Washington at this time. As the men of the Confederacy move toward the north but get into a battle in Gettysburg. The union soldiers withdraw to cemetery ridge, a perfect place to hide. The union gets help from reinforcement in that was in DC. The confederates withdrew on July 4. More than a 3rd of the confederate army died in this battle -
Emancipation Proclamation
All of the states in rebellion, the confederates were freed. The Confederate slaves were helping the Confederates with war by digging trenches, being hospital attendants, cooking. So by freeing slaves of the rebelling states he was helping the north cause. He was helping the Union by signing the Emancipation Proclamation.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/emancipation-proclamation -
Gettysburg Address
The famous words, "Four score and seven years ago." were said in a speech given by President Lincoln in 1863 after the Battle of Gettysburg. The speech was given to honor the Union soldiers who died in battle. Also to remind soldiers of their purpose and reason for sacrifice. This speech was almost forgotten during Lincoln's lifetime but now the words are very popular and famous. -
Abraham Lincoln's Election
In 1960 Abraham Lincoln was elected to be the President of the United Stated. His name was not on many southern state ballots. Lincoln was a republican and his party was against slavery. This being the reason for being left of many southern state ballots. This scaring many southern states. -
The Re-Election of President Lincoln
In 1964 President Lincoln was re-elected as the president of the United States. He was running against Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, who's campaign was run on peace. The Union helped with President Lincolns campaign by using the slogan, “Don’t change horses in the middle of a stream.” -
13th Amendment Ratified
The 13th amendments that abolished slavery, was passed by congress in January of 1865 and was ratified in December of 1865. This was 8 months after the war ended. -
President Lincoln's Assassination
President Lincoln was assassinated the night of April 4, 1865. Before the end of the Civil War. Leaving President Johnson as the President. -
The End of the Civil War
In late 1865 Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith surrenders to the Union to end the Civil War by signing the terms given by the Union. After smiths surrender there were no more confederate armies. -
Reconstruction Acts of 1867
With President Lincoln being assented, it was now President Johnson's job to make two enemies friends again and start the reconstruction of the United States. This act was to help get the southern states readmitted into the Union. The 14th Amendment helped with this by giving former slaves citizenship. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment ratified. The amendment giving African Americans born in the United States Citizenship and privileges. -
15th Amendment Ratified
The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870, giving African American Males the right to vote. This Amendment was not reinforced in a lot of southern states. -
Jim Crow Laws
Jim Crow Laws enforced segregation in the United States. It said that all people of color would go to different schools, use different drinking fountains, sit in the back of the bus. This law was abolished when the civil rights act was signed in the 1900's.
