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Invention of The Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin, a machine the revolutionized the production of cotton by greatly speeding up the fiber by the mid-19th century, cotton had become america's leading export. more info -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an effort by congress to diffuse the sectional and political rivalries triggered by the request of the Missouri compromise late in 1819 for admission as a state in which slavery is permitted. more info -
Underground Railroad
Network of secret rules and safe houses established in the US during the early-to-mid 19th century, and used by African American slaves to escape into free states and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. -
The Liberator is Published
In 1831-1865 was an American Abolitionist Newspaper founded by William Lloyed Garrison and Isacc Knapp. Lloyed lived long enough to see the Union come apart under the weight of slavery and to see President Abraham Lincoln issue the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War. -
Compromise of 1850
Senator Henry Clay introduced a series of resolutions on January 29, 1850 in an attempt to seek a compromise and avert a crisis between north and south. As a part of the compromise of 1850 the fugitive slave act was amended. more info -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Passed by the U.S. Congress. It allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. Served to repeal Missouri Compromise. more info -
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Bleeding Kansas
Bloody Kansas or the border wae was a series of violent political confrontations in the U.S. between 1854 and 1861 involving anti slavery "Free Staters and pro slavery". "Border Ruffian" or the "Southern" elements in Texas. -
Dred Scott Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court issues a decision in the Dred Scott case, affirming the right of slave owners to take their slave owners to take their slave owners to take their slaves into western territories, there by negating the doctrine of popular sovereignty and severely undermining the platform of the newly created republican party. -
John Browns Raid On Harpers Ferry
John Browns raid on Harpers Ferry was an effort by armed abolitionist, John Brown to initiate an armed slave revolt in 1859 by taking over a United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. -
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Secession of Southern States
Convinced way of life was threatened based on slavery. Was irretrievably threatened by the election of President Abe Lincoln, the 7 states of Deep South seceded from union during the following months. -
Election of 1860
Republican Abraham Lincoln defeated southern democrat John C. Breckinridge, Democrat Stephen A. Douglas and constitutional union candidate John Bell. The electoral split between Northern and Southern Democrats was emblematic of the severe sectional split, particularly over slavery, and in the months following Lincoln’s election. -
Fort Sumter Is Fired Upon
Early in the morning of April 12, 1861 the confederate guns opened fire on the habor opened fire on fort Sumter. At 2:30 pm April 14, major Robert Anderson, Garrison commander, surrenendered at the fort and was evacuated the next day. The union would not recapture fort Sumter for nearly 4 years.
