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Period: to
Jan. 1st 1831- April 12th 1861
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Nat Turner’s Rebellion
In August of 1831, a slave named Nat Turner brought an uprising that spread through several plantations in southern Virginia. Turner and roughly 70 "cohorts" killed around 60 white people. 55 slaves, including Turner were tried and executed for their role in the bloody murder. Yes small-scale slave uprisings were really common in the American South Turner's was the bloodiest. Virginia lawmakers reacted to this crisis by taking back what few civil rights slaves and free black people had. -
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis in the U.S. that lead to a major depression, which lasted until the mid-1840's. Profits, prices, and wages went down, unemployment went up. This had a impact leading up to the civil war because one cause of this was the sharp decline in cotton prices and slaves. This meant that slaves were forced to work harder to produce more cotton then usual and also making it easier to buy slaves due to the drop in price, which then had more blacks being taken. -
The Mexican War Ending
With the end of the Mexican War in 1848 and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, America was ceded western territories. This created a huge problem. As the new territories would be admitted as states, the real question is if they would be free states or those that practiced enslavement. This created a huge argument because more and more southern states would practice enslavement which was a huge deal leading up to the Civil War. -
The Fugitive Slave Act Passes
The Fugitive Slave Act was passed as part of the Compromise of 1850, this act forced any federal official who did not arrest a freedom seeker to pay a fine. This act led to many North American 19th century Black activists to increase their efforts against enslavement. Also having more activity along the Underground Railroad as freedom seekers made their way to Canada. -
'Uncle Tom's Cabin' Is Published
"Uncle Tom's Cabin or Life Among the Lowly" was written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe, an activist who wrote the book to show the evils of enslavement. This book impacted the way that Northerners viewed enslavement. It also helped further the cause of Black activism, and Abraham Lincoln recognized that this book's was an event that led to the outbreak of the Civil War. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, created two new territories, and allowed for popular sovereignty. It also produced a violent uprising known as “Bleeding Kansas,” as pro-slavery and antislavery activists flooded into the territories to bring up the vote. This act was involved to flair up the Civil War because a big part of the war was slavery. -
Dred Scott Loses His Case to Be Free
Dred Scott lost his case that argued that he should be free because he had been held as an enslaved person while living in a free state. The Supreme Court ruled that his petition could not be seen because he didn't own any property. The case went on further. stating that even though he had been taken by his 'Owner' into a free state, he was still an enslaved person. This decision furthered the cause of North American 19th-century Black activists to increase their efforts to fight enslavement. -
Kansas Voters Reject the Lecompton Constitution
When the Kansas-Nebraska Act passed, Kansas was allowed to determine whether it would enter the Union as a free state or one that practiced enslavement. Pro-enslavement forces supported by President James Buchanan attempted to push the Constitution through the U.S. Congress for acceptance. It was sent back to Kansas for a cote. It was delayed but Kansas voters rejected the Constitution to become a free state. Which helped the end towards slaves and having them be welcomed and not taken. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown supported violent action against the South to end slavery and played a major role in starting the Civil War. So after the Pottawatomie Massacre during the Bleeding Kansas, he plotted a far more threatening act. Him and 19 supporters, armed with "Beecher;s Bibles" led a raid on the federal armory and arsenal at Harper's Ferry in Virginia. He would distribute weapons to slaves and begin armed battles. Brown was later captured and hanged in Charles Town on December 2. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
Several federal forts, including Fort Sumter in South Carolina, suddenly became outposts in a foreign land. Abraham Lincoln had a skillful strategy by sending fresh supplies to ships. This causing confederate warships to turn back the supply convoy to Fort Sumter and opened a 34 hour bombardment on the stronghold. Abraham strategy forced the South to fire the first shot which then led to the start of the Civil War.
