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Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance abandoned the 10 districts made in 1784 and created the Northwest Territory with land north of the Ohio River. Territory would be divided into 3-5 different states. A population of 60,000 would be required for statehood and slavery would be outlawed in this region. Social Event. Red -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri compromise was created in 1820 and ended in 1854. It is further discussed on the Missouri Compromise time span. -
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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise admitted Maine as a free state and Missouri as a slave state to keep the balance of free and slave states. This also set up the 36°30 latitude line to divide potential future free and slave territories. This act was repealed in 1854 by the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and was declared unconstitutional 3 years later by the Dred Scott decision. Political Event. Red -
Nat Turner Rebellion
This rebellion happened in Southampton County, VA and Jerusalem, VA. Nat Turner had visions that he felt meant to revolt and attack white people, including a vision of a bloody conflict between the two and a solar eclipse that he took as God telling him it was time to rebel. Nat Turner and the other rebels killed 60 white men, women and children. Rebellion ended on August 23rd, 1831 as they were overpowered by whites, state militia and federal armed resistance. Social and Political Event. Red -
Gag Rule
The gag rule in the house of representatives began on May 26, 1836. Ended on December 3rd, 1844. Picture below is of John Quincy Adams. Further discussed in time span on Gag Rule. -
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Gag Rule
The first instance of the gag rule, which automatically tabled action on any and all petitions relating to slavery without hearing them, was implemented in 1836 with a proposal from James Hammond to implement it. John Quincy Adams was able to get enough votes to repeal in on December 3rd, 1844. Political Event. Green -
Amistad Case
44 slaves were purchased illegally on a Cuban plantation. These slaves staged an uprising and killed the crew of their ship. They were later found by the United States Navy and were arrested. Once found out that they were purchased illegally, they were acquitted of the murders. Martin Van Buren pushed for these individuals to be recognized as slaves. Political and Social Event. Red -
Annexation of Texas
Thousands of Americans had moved to Texas by the mid 1830s due to a colonization law passed by Mexico that encouraged American immigration to the territory. Due to friction with the Mexican government, they declared independence. Texas appealed for statehood multiple times and on December 29, 1845 their statehood was accepted. Political Event. Red -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott's battle to become free in the courts began in 1846 and ended in 1857. Further discussed in time span of Dred Scott decision. -
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Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott files his first lawsuit at St. Louis Circuit Court. He ends up winning his freedom from this court in 1850. But, the decision is reversed by the federal court and United States supreme court, saying that, as property, the federal government couldn't take away property due to the 5th amendment. Political and Social Event. Red -
Mexican War
The war began on May, 25 1846. It ended on February 2nd, 1848. Further discussed in Mexican War time span. -
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Mexican War
Mexican-American relations had dissolved after Texas had become a state. Dispute arose over the boundary between Texas and Mexico and war was declared by Congress on Mexico in 1846. This led to increased sectional divisions as opposition to the war arose. The United States ended up receiving the disputed Texan, Californian and New Mexico territories as a result of the war. Political and Social Event. Red -
Wilmot Proviso
An amendment to James Polk's appropriation bill for newly acquired territories. Prohibited the expansion of slavery into any territory acquired from Mexico as a result of the Mexican-American war. Narrowly passed in the House of Representatives and was defeated in the Senate. Instrumental in dividing the Democrcatic party and nation over the issue of slavery. Political and Social Event. Red -
California Gold Rush
Began on January 24th, 1848 and ended in 1855. Further discussed on California Gold Rush time span. -
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California Gold Rush
Traces of gold were found in the Sierra Nevada mountains, news of this discovery spread eastward attracting hundreds of thousands of Americans, Europeans, Chinese and many others, called 49ers to California. Conflicts in California put pressure on the government to resolve the status of slavery, and it was eventually admitted to the Union as a free state. Social Event. Red -
Compromise of 1850
This compromise admitted California as a free state. It formed territorial government in lands acquired from Mexico, without restrictions on slavery. Abolished the slave trade in D.C. It also established a new, and more effective fugitive slave law. Poltiical and Social Event. Red -
Fugitive Slave Act
A part of the compromise of 1850. Slaves were required to be returned to their owners, even if they were in a free state. This act declared the federal government responsible for returning and trying any escaped slaves. Social, Political and Economic Event. Red -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
Anti-slavery novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Novel severely effected attitudes towards African Americans and slavery in the United States. This book help lay the groundwork for the civil war. Social Event. Red -
Kansas Nebraska Act
This act allowed for the people in Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves as to whether they would be free or slave states. The Kansas Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise from 1820. The territories of Kansas and Nebraska were created because of this act and fighting ensued, especially in Kansas as both pro slavery and anti slavery forces clashed trying to influence the territories decision on slavery, resulting in Bleeding Kansas. Political and Social Event. Red -
Ostend Manifesto
Document written in 1854 that said the United States should purchase Cuba from Spain, and if they refused they should declare war and seize Cuba by force. Antislavery northerners were enraged by this as they felt it another attempt to add a new slave state to the Union. Political and Social Event. Red -
Raid on Harpers Herry
John Brown was an abolitionist who was a key part to the Pottawatomie Massacre and the Raid on Harpers. The Raid on Harpers Ferry is often referred to as the dress rehearsal to the civil war. Brown and a crew of 22 men planned to seize the armory to give weapons and ammunition to slaves. The raid lasted about 2 days and caused more divide between the north and the south. After the failed raid, John Brown was convicted of treason, murder and inciting a slave insurrection. Social Event. Red -
Crittenden Compromise
This compromise was supported by most southern congressmen and some senators. It was made by John Crittenden. This compromise proposed 6 amendments and 4 congressional resolutions. It would reinstate the Missouri compromise, extending the line westward, it guaranteed the slavery's existence in southern states and satisfied southern demands on the fugitive slave act and slavery in D.C. It also said that these amendments can't be repealed or modified in the future. Political and Social Event. Red
