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The American Colonization Society Forms
This society was founded by Henry Clay, John Randolph, Charles Fenton Mercer and Richard Bland Lee in effort to free the slaves and return them back to Africa. Some of the abolitionists believed this was morally right while others believed that freed slaves would not be able to take care of themselves in America so they needed to go back to their homeland. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement brought forth by Henry Clay. The agreement was to let Missouri enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. This Compromise also split the Lousiana territory into two - the north was free states and the south were slave states. -
The American Antislavery Society Forms
The American Antislavery Society was founded by William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison was wrote the organization's formal declaration that stated they "condemn slavery" and the slave owners are sinning. -
The Liberty Party Forms
The Liberty Party was to stand for the abolishment of slavery in the United States. They broke from the American Antislavery Society because they believed that the Constituion was an anti-slavery document. The American Antislavery Society believed the Constitution was created with pro-slavery views. -
The Mexican-American War Starts
Mexico and America started their war because Mexico still believed Texas was part of their territory. The Mexican government thought Texas was still theres, just trying to rebel. When Texas was annexed in 1845, Mexico declared war. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was an amendment to a bill put forth to the House of Representatives during the Mexican-American War. It was introduced by David Wilmot. It provided two million dollars to settle border disputes with Mexico and any new territory acquired in the war wasn't allowed to use slavery. The bill was eventually passed, but with three million dollars and the slavery part was taken out. -
The Free Soil Party Forms
The Free Soil Party was active in the 1848 and 1852 elections . The members were from the Whig and Democrat party and were anti-slavery. They wanted to stop the expansion of slavery to western states. -
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush occured when James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The Gold Rush brought in thousands of people in search of gold from Latin America, Australia, Europe and Asia. -
The Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 had five main agreements.
1. California would enter the United States as a free state.
2. New Mexico and Utah were given the choice to be free or slave states.
3. The Republic of Texas gave up lands that is now present day New Mexico and recieved 10 million dollars to pay off it's debt to Mexico.
4. Slave trade was abolished in the District of Columbia.
5. The Fugitive Slave Act- This act stated that any federal offical who did not arrest a runaway slave had to pay a fine. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is Published
Uncle Tom's Cabin was an anti-slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book depicted the harsh reality of slavery in the south. Many historians believe this novel was very influentual for the start of the Civil War. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act occured when these two states' borders were determined. They were given the right to chose whether or not they wanted to be a slave state. This caused conflict because many people went to these states from both sides to argue this out. -
The Sumner-Brooks Affair
Senator Preston Brooks from the south attacked Senator Charles Sumner from the north with a gold-tipped wooden cane until he was unconscious. Brooks resigned from the Senate after this happened but immediately was put in South Carolina's government because he was considered a hero. -
The Dred Scott Decision
This case was ruled by the Supreme Court that people of African descent could not be considered U.S. citizens and were not protected under the Constitution. Dred Scott, a slave who lived in Illinois (a free state) appealed to the court for his freedom. This case was led under Cheif Justice Roger B. Taney, a supporter of slavery. He said that because Scott was black, he had no rights as a citizen to be able to sue. -
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
These debates were a series of seven between Abraham Lincoln (Republican) and Stephan Douglas (Democrat). They were both running for control of the Illinois legislature. Douglas won control. The main topic in these debates was slavery. -
The Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 was held basically between the North and the South (Constitutional Union Party). The North got enough votes to put Abraham Lincoln as the president. After this occured, seven southern states delcared secession.
