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The invention of the cotton gin
The cotton gin was a very important invention that would enadvertantly set off a chain of events causing the civil war. Eli Whitney came up with the idea to invent the cotton gin after touring a cotton plantation in Georgia and decided to help the slaves. The cotton gin was a very useful invention that the slaves would put in the cotton they have picked and it will comb out of the seeds. This invention cause the production of cotton to rapidly increase, and the need for slaves increased as well. -
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The Civil War
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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a compromise that resolved the conflict in which Missouri wanted to be admitted in to Union as a slave state, however, in doing so this would through off the balance of the power. As a resolution Maine was admitted into the union also as a free state, to keep the balance of power. Henery Clay, "The Great Compromiser" was the one who composed this compromise and in addition to the admittion of both the states, it is also stated that there shall be no slavery north of -
Missouri Compromise
the 36 30 line in the Louisiana Purchase territory. -
Early 1800's Underground railroad
The Undergroud Railroad was an organized system that helped many slaves of the South escape to the safety of the North. The Undergroud Railroad was lead by such leaders liike Harriet Tubman who helpped lead slaves to the North, along the long and dangerous journey there would be safe houses that the runaways could stay, eat, and rest to get ready to back out on their journey. The ultimate goal of the railroad was to get to Canada and legitimate safety. The Railroad helped to free countless -
The Undergroud Railroad cont...
slaves, however, it is hard to determine an exact amount of people that were helped because no records where kept. -
Wilmont Priviso
The Wilmont Priviso was an attempt to prevent the spread of slavery in the territories aquired from Mexico. Pennsyalvaian congressman David Wilmont introduced the bill to congress and as a result he inadvertantly lead to the creation of the Republican Party. The Wilmot Priviso although passed by the House never made it through the Senate and there for never ratified. -
Compromise of 1850 (fugitive slave act)
Henery Clay drew up this compromise that addresses quite a few issues. In this bill Clay proposes that California would be admitted as a free state and New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah would be admitted as states with the option to choose where they were free or slave, this concept was known as popular soventrey, This Compromise also introduced the Fugitive Slave Act which was very contriversical, -
Compromise of 1850 (fugitive slave act)
the Fugitive slave act which any citizen would be held accoutable fot helping recapute runaway salves. If a citizen did not abide by this law they became subject to punishment such as heavy fines, jailing, and sometimes tourture. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe the daughter of famous preacher Lyman Beecher wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin which when relased in 1852 became a best seller. Stowe's feelings against slavery stared when she was very young, living in Ohio she was around many slaves and runawyas. Stowe's book was such a huge success because it gave a face to slavery, someone the world could sympathize with. Aside from being a key factor in triggering the Civil War, her book also convinced over two million people to committe to the -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
abolistionist cause all around the world. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
sent him canes printed with "Hit him again" on them. After his nearly two year recovery Sumner returned to the senate and continued to work on his antislavery movement. -
Caning of Charles Sumner
In delivering his "Crimes Against Kansas" speech Massachusetts Repulican senator Charles Sumner called out two senators whom he blames slavery, Stephen Douglas and Andrew Butler. He alludes that Butler has a mistress, "the harlot: slavery" and that made the senator and his kin very upset. Two days later Representative Preston Brooks, kin to Butler, enters the Senate chambers and proceeds to beat Sumner in the head. Brooks was censured from his office but soon re-elected, many of his supporters -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott was a slave to a military leader who moved him from Missouri to Illinois, Wisconsin and then eventually back to Missouri. When his master died Scott wanted to petition the court for his slavery. This matter went all the way to the Supreme Court where seven of the nine justices ruled blacks where not allowed to be free or even considered citizens. This decision also repealed the Missouri Compromise and declared it unconstitutional; it was also a big set back for the abolitionist cause. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
In 1858 the Illinois senate seat election was down to two opponets Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. Douglas was a strong proponate of popular sovereignty and also aided in the creation on the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Douglas pretty much sealed the deal at the Freeport debate, his answer went on to be known as the Freeport Doctrine, Douglas basically endorsed popular sovereignty. Douglas won the Senate seat but later Lincoln would beat him out in the 1860 Presidential election. -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown, a radical abolitionist who believed in using what ever means needed to end slavery, even violence; organized mnay raids and attacks to help end slavery. His most famous and final raid was that on Harper's Ferry, VA. Brown devised a plan to capture the fedral arsonal and utilize the weaponary and surrounding slave population to create a mass rebellion. After 36 hours of fighting with U.S. Military forces Brown was taken in to custody, tried and convicted of treason, murder, and -
Raid on Harper's Ferry
and conspiracy to lead a slave rebellion. On December 2, 1859 Brown was hanged and soon thereafter the rest of his coconspiritors were hanged aswell. -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 is one of the most important in the history of the United States. The Democrats suffered a blow due internal dissagreements, spliting into two groups, the Northern Democrats who supported Stephen Douglas and his popular soveregnitry stance and the Southern Democrats who supported John Breckinridge and his proslavery stance. The Rupublicans nominated Abraham Lincoln and he became the next president winnig 180 electoral votes, none of which came from the South, -
Formation of the Conferderate States of America
The seven newly secedded southern states came together in Montgomery, Alabama to draft thier new constitution as the Confederate States of America. It is some what ironic that the C.S.A constitution is very similar to the U.S one, word for word exact in some places. However, there were some great differences like, a unicameral legilature, a president with a single 6 year term and no tariffs, and obviously to slavery was legalized by their constitution. The first and only Confederate president -
Formation of the C.S.A
was Jefferson Davis and his vice president was Autsin Stephens. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was the last Union controlled fort in the South. Gen, Anderson and his garrison remained in the fort and continued to protect it until they ran out of supplies. The Confederate Gen, Beaureguard ordered his troops to open fire on the fort. The next day Anderson surrendered and retreated back to the North. This was the beginning of the firering of the Civil War. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run took place near Manassas Junction, VA and was the first head to head battle of the Civil War. The Union with just about 35,000 troops meet up with the 20,000 Confederate troops and the fighting began. In a suprising twist the Confederates where able to attack the Union in a weak spot. The defeated Union, retrreated to D.C. and soon realized this would be harder than they thought at first. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was a very grusome battle and saw the lose of Confenderate General Johnston. This battle served the strength of numbers, Grant was able to overwhelm the Confederates and eventually make them retreat to their stronghold in Corinith. This was a key victory for the Union and renewed their faith. -
Battle of Antietam
From the 16th to the 18th of September, Union forces led by McClellan and Confederate forces led by Lee clashed at Sharpsburg, Maryland. Hooker's corps mounted an assult on the dawn of September 17th that began the bloodiest day in American history. Both sides fought until Lee ordeered his army across the Potomac. Even though Lee retreated, the outcome of the battle was seen as a draw. The battle led Abraham Lincoln to propose the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Siege at Vicksgurg
Form May to June of 1863, Union forces led by Grant converged on Vicksburg, Mississippi. Grant laid siege to Confederate forces in Vicksburg led by Pemberton. On July 4th, Pemberton surrendered vicksburg. The surrender gave the Union the Mississippi River and effectively split the Confederacy in two, completing ine of the final stages of the Anaconda Plan. -
Battle of Gettysburg
In July, 1863, Confederate forces led by Robert E. Lee converged on the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania from the west and north and attacked Union forces led by Meade. On July 2nd, Lee attacked Meade, but the Union forces were able to hold off part of the assult. The next day, the confederates lost their last foot-hold on Culp's Hill. The day after that, Lee retreated his army back to the Potomac. The Union's victory crushed Lee's hopes of a Confederate victory in the North. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued shortly after the Battle of Antiam but was not enacted until the next year. The Proclamation declared that all slaves were free in states at war with the Union. The Confederacy rejected this and did not abide by this law. Also, as a result of their coopreation the boarder states got to keep their slaves. -
Gettysburg Address
President Abraham Lincoln presented the Gettysburg Address to honor the soldiers that died in the Battle of Gettysburg. He dedicated part of the battlefield as a national cementary for the soldiers who had lost their lives. This went on to become one of the most famous speeches of all time. This was a very respectable speech and still is very well known today. -
Election of 1864
The election of 1864 was a very important election because it took place during the Civil War. Lincoln was runnig for his second term as the Republican nomine and Mclellan as the Democrat. Mclellan was a former Union general but he very storngly disliked Lincoln. When the actual election took place Lincoln won with over half of the majority vote, and Mclellan barely got twenty precent of the vote. -
"March to the Sea"
Sherman's March to the Sea was because of total war. It destroyed most of Atlanta so that the South would be so tired of war that they would stop the fighting. Sherman spread all of his men all across the South and began to march forward, burning everything in their path. The concept of total war was meant to wipe out entire towns so the troops would go home to protect their families instead of fighting. -
Freedman's Bureau
The Freemen’s Bureau was began on March 4th1865. The U.S. government created the Freedmen’s Bureau temporarily. It was created to help the ex-slave. The Bureau fed, clothed, and educated the ex-slave African Americans. They built hospitals for the freed slaves and gave direct medical aid to more than 1 million of them. The Freedmen’s Bureau built and staffed more than a 1,000 African American schools -
Siege of Richmond
After many battles and previous attempts by the Union to caputure Richmond and fufill the anachonda plan, Ulysses S. Grant finally was able to penetrate Confederate forces and march into Richmond. The Union then sieged the Confederate capitol, the confederates did put up some what of a fight but soon after President Davis and other official gathered on the last Southern railroad and retreated to the deep south. Before leaving many Confederates set fire to Richmond. -
Appomattpx Courthouse
General Robert E. Lee was completly surrounded The confederates were outnumbered by over 100,000 men. Robeert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant. It took place in Virginia. This surrender virtually ended the civil war. Surrender terms were signed in the parlor of a house belonging to Wilmer Mclean. The South realized that the Union had overwhelmed them and they knew it would only get worse if they continued to fight. -
Assassination of Lincoln
Soon after the war ended President Lincoln went out with his wife to see the play "Our American Cousin" at the Ford Thearter. While he was sitting in his box John Wilks Booth came up behind him and shot him in the back of the head, he then jumped on the stage and then ran out to escape. Lincoln was taken to a hotel and two days later died. Booth was eventually caught and killed for the assassination. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment was ratified on December 6,1865. The ratification officially ended the institution of slavery. The ratification took place 8 months after the end of the war. It was ratified in Virginia. This addition to the constitution was largely fought over and contiversial. However it finally ended the long battle for freedom. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment granted citizenship to enslave people and to their babies. This amendment has long since been misinterpreted. This amendment was very important because it granted the newly freed slaves rights they didn't have before. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment gave the rights to all men to vote. This was a major step toward the equality that blacks had been striving for. This also allowed for many black people to run for offices and get elected because the rest of the black population voted for them.
Soon after this amendment the U.S. saw a great incline of colored office holders. -
Election of 1876 (Compromise of 1877)
It took place in November of 1876. Republicans could not nominate Grant becasue of scandals.The republicans nominated Rutherford B. Hayes. The democrats nominated Samuel Tilden. Neither candidates recieved majority. A special commission was formed to decide, After several democrat support Rutherford b. Hayes won. The compromise of 1877 allowed for the government to stay out of the affairs of the South and in turn Hayes won their crucial votes.
