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Northwest Ordinance- P + E, R
The first two ordinances favored land speculators. Ordinary settlers could not afford the set price of land. The new ordinance abadoned the 10 districts created in 1784, instead creating a Northwest Territory that could be further divided into three to five territories later on. It specified a minimum of 60K for statehood, guaranteed freedom of religion and the right to a trial by jury, and forbade slavery. -
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Missouri Compromise P + S, G
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Missouri Compromise- P + S, G
When Missouri applied for statehood there was 11 free states and 11 slave states. Shortly after Maine applied for statehood. Henry Clay knew that if the North blocked Missouri from becoming a slave state the south would stop Maine from becoming a free state. The compromise allowed both states to be admitted (Maine= Free, Missouri = Slave). An amenment was proposed to prohitbit slavery North of the Missouri's southern border (36'30 line). -
Nat Turner Rebellion- S, R
Nat Turner was a slave and a preacher. He believed he was sent a message from God to kill as many white people as possible. He enlisted around 70 others to rebel against the oppression of slavery. In Southampton County, VA, Turner and his followers killed 60 men, women, and children. The rebellion lasted until August 23rd when it was stopped by militiamen. Turner and his followers were hanged two months later. -
Gag Rule- P + S, G
A Congressional rule that stopped the consideration and discussion over the issue of slavery. Slavery prevented the discussion of other important political issues. It was the result of abolitionist petitions to end slavery and tried to appease slavery supporters. Congress faced a lot of pressure from the Amerian Anti Slavery Society. It was eventually repealed in 1844. -
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Gag Rule- P + S, G
It was proposed in Dec. of 1835, instituted in May of 1836 and repealed in Dec. of 1844. -
Annexation of Texas- P + S, R
Americans living in Texas hoped for annexation by the US. Sam Houston send a delegation to D.C. offering to join the Union. Supporters of expansion welcomed and encouraged the idea. Northerners did not like the Texas would become a large slave territory which would increase the South's power in Congress. Annexation was denied, so Texas declared independence on their own. Texas applied for statehood again in 1844 and it was rejected again. Texas became a state on December 29th, 1845. -
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Annexation of Texas- P + S, R
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Amistad Incident- P + S, R
Portuguese slave hunters abducted a large number of Africans and sold them to two Caribbean plantation owners, Montes and Ruiz. The Africans took control of the ship and attempted to steer back home but ended up in Long Island. Montes and Ruiz were freed and the Africans were imprisoned. The CT District Court ruled that since the Africans had not been fully legalized as slaves the property claims were illegitimate and the Suprem Court agreed. -
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Amistad Incident- P + S, R
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Dred Scott Case- P + S, R
Dred Scott was a slave and his owner took him to Illinois and Wisconsin. When the owner died Scott sued the owner's widow for freedom because he resided in free territory. The Missouri Court decided the Scott was free. Later on the widow's brother, John Sanford, claimed ownership of Scott and said that he had no right to sue since he was not a citizen. The Supreme Court ruled that under the 5th amendment the court could not interfere with citizens' property. -
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Dred Scott Case- P + S, R
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Mexican War- P + S + E, R
After Texas was admitted to statehood the Mexican government broke ties with the US. Relations grew worse with a dispute over the Texas border. The US claimed it was the Rio Grande, but Mexico claimed it was the Nueces. Polk ordered forces to move across the Nueces. Mexican refused to fight at first but eventually war started. the US won the war and gained the territory of California and New Mexico in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. -
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Mexican War- P + S + E, R
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Wilmot Proviso- P + S + E, R
President Polk asked for 2 million from Congress to try and achieve peace with Mexico. David Wilmot introduced and amendment that would prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico. Passed the House, but failed in the Senate. It was called up and debated on in future years. -
California Gold Rush- S + E, R
James Marshall found traces of gold at Sutter's Mill. By that Summer news spread across the US. Hundreds of thousands went to California. Population increased from 14,000-220,000 by 1852. Forty-niners abandoned their whole life in a desperate search for gold (few found large amounts of it). Those who failed grew the urban and farming economy in California. Led to some of the first Chinese immigration and the enslavement of many Native Americans. -
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California Gold Rush- S + E, R
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Compromise of 1850- P + S, R
The compromise included five main points. They were California would be admitted as a free state (upset the slave to free state balance), territory gained after the Mexican-America war could choose whether or not to allow slavery, abolished the slave trade is Washington D.C., created a strong fugitive slave law, and left the option of deciding the legality of slavery to the New Mexico and Utah territories. -
Fugitive Slave Act- P + S, R
Part of the Compromise of 1850 that strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. Gave the federal government an active role in finding, returning, and trying escaped slaves. Required all slaves be returned even if they had made it to a free state. The act fined people who hid runaway slaves. Southerners saw the act as a victory but it faced harsh Northern opposition. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin- S, R
Portrayed good and kind slaves being victimized by a cruel system. The book tied together the emotional thoughts on slavery to the political ideas of abolition. Stowe became an inspiration in the North and despised by the South. Uncle Tom's Cabin sold 300,000 copies within a year and remains an important work of literature. -
Kansas Nebraska Act- P + S + E, R
A bill proposed by in January of 1854 and ratified that May Stephen Doulgas to open territory to white settlement and the transcontinental railroad. It allowed for a popular vote on slavery's existence and repealed the Missouri Compromise. It divided Whigs and Northern Democrats and led to the formation of the Republican Party and Free Soil Ideology. It took seven years for the status of slavery to be decided in Kansas (Lecompton Constitution). -
Ostend Manifesto- P + S + E, R
President Pierce wanted to buy Cuba from Spain. The Manifesto stated that the US should seize Cuba by force. It was leaked to the public and enraged many antislavery northerners as they thought the government was trying to create a new slave state. The South would only support it if Cuba became a slave state. -
Bleeding Kansas- P + S, R
Slavery supporters won the majority in the election (Missourians had swelled the vote). Free staters held their own Constitutional Convention but were denied statehood by President Pierce. Pro slavery forces attack and arrest free staters. Preston Brooks caned Charles Sumner in the Senate (image). John Brown leads the Potawatomie Massacre against and kills 5 slavery supporters. Guerilla warfare ensued between the two sides leading to increased sectional tensions. -
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Bleeding Kansas- P + S, R
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John Brown and the Harpers Ferry Raid- P + S, R
John Brown and 18 followers tried to gain control of the national armory in Harpers Ferry. John Brown's ultimate goal was to inspire slave rebellions throughout the South. The event lasted two days but John Brown and his group were stopped by federal and state militia. John Brown and 12 followers were hanged. The other five escaped. -
Crittenden Compromise- P + S, G
Proposed by Senator Crittenden. Called for constitutional amendments which would guarantee slavery's existence in slave states. Included a proposal to reestablish the Missouri Compromise line in all territory of the US. Southerns were willing to accept it, but Republicans didn't want to let slavery expand. None of the proposals passed.