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The Cotton Gin
In 1794 Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. The cotton gin was important at the time because it made cleaning the cotton faster and much easier. This alowed the demand for cotton to increase. -
Embargo Act 1807
The Embargo Act of 1807 was signed by Thomas Jefferson who was president of the United States. This act was to stop American ships from trading in foreign ports. It was important because Britain and France which is who we were trading with, started seizing American ships because we were trying to stay neutral in the war between Britain and France. This event showed conflict because trade was very important to the US and without trade the economy struggled. -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise came about when there was a rise in the pro-slavery and anti-slavery regions of the US. People were worried that this would make the balance of slva and free states unbalanced. William Pickney a senator of the south said that states should be allowed to pick if they want to be a slave or free state. This event was important because this is what led to Missouri becoming a slave state and Maine becoming a free state. -
The Tariff of Abominations
The Tariff of 1832 was to protect producers from foreign competitors, so they put taxes on imported goods. Andrew Jackson signed the bill in 1832, but it wouldn't protect all producers. This event was important because it would reduce the export of products. -
Mexican American War
The Mexican American war began because the Americans thought it was their destiny to expand all the way to the Pacific. The Mexican army was not prepared and in the end they lost t the Americans. This event was important because the US gained California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was for California wanting to enter the Union as a free state, but people didn't like that idea because they thought it would interfere with the balance of free and slave states which could interfere with the balance in the senate. Henry Clay thought of solutions to fix the problem. The importance of this event was that California was able to enter as a free state and it resolved a problem over the territory of New Mexico and Texas. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book that was written about the life of a slave being seperated from their family. Some people thought that the book was overly exaggerated about what happened, while others were very shocked. It sold many copies in the US and Britain. Harriet Beecher Stowe was the women who wrote the book. She got to meet the president which at the time was Lincoln. This event was important because the book made people who didn't know especially in the North see how it is being a slave -
Kansas- Nebraksa Act
The Kansas- Nebraksa act was about popular sovereingty deciding if a state can be a slave state. The idea of this act was brought up by Stephen A. Douglas. This act didn't improve the relationship between the North and South. The importance of this event was the people being able to decide if they want to be a free or slave state. -
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas is the phrase used to explain how Kansas was at the time because it was so much violence. People who supported slavery and those who were against it all entered Kansas to try and persuade Kansas to be free or have slavery. This turned into a death of a few supporters of slavery to deaths of many. This event is important because this lasted for many months, but Kansas chose to be a free state. Even after the decision people were being killed just not as much. -
Dred Scott Case
The case of Dred Scott happened because Dred Scott had moved from a free state to the slave state of Missouri. He lived in the free state as a slave with his owner. The person who had to make the decision was Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, a huge supporter of slavery ruled that no black person has the right to petiton the court for their freedom because they can not gain citizenship. This event was important because this would start the war between the North and South years later. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates talked about slavery and states rights which were big issues at the time. This event was for the re-election of Douglas for his seat in the Senate, but Lincoln wanted his seat which is why they are running against each other. There were 7 debates in all. In the end Douglas won but Lincoln was called to campaign for Republican candidates. -
John Brown's Raid
John Brown's Raid was when he took weapons and ammunition and gave them to the slaves to try and start a rebellion. His planned failed and he was turned into officials of Virginia and was hanged 2 months later. The importance of this event was that people from the north supported his idea. The people from the south didn't support it though. This also made the relationship bewteen the north and south even worse. -
Election of 1860
The Election of 1860 was very stressful. In this election the people of the North thought Stephen Douglas was the best person to win the election, but the people of the south didn't want him to win because they didn't like that he supported popular sovereignty. The other person that was running was Abraham Lincoln. He ended up winning even though in the beginning the southern democrats did not vote on a candidate. -
South Carolina secedes from Union
Soon after the election of Lincoln, South Carolina knew it would be a start of a new nation. There were other states that joined South Carolina in there idea. These states included Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Texas. They also changed where the imaginary line would be drawn. This event was important because this formed the new nation known as the Confederacy.
