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American Revolution
The American Revolution was a huge way for slaves to break free of there bondage to there slave owners and start on a path to freedom. When the American Revolution rolled around, it gave slaves the opportunity to enroll in the army and fight for America. Although joining the army wouldn't give slaves any more rights, it would direct them to freedom. -
The United States Constitution
The U.S. Constitution abolished slavery, but only in certain places. The only states that slavery was abolished in were the states where slavery was not technically legal. So all of the border states or any other states that had technically legalized slavery, were not affected “slave wise” by the constitution. -
Compromise of 1820
The Compromise of 1820, or the Missouri Compromise, was an agreement between the pro-slavery and the anti-slavery groups inside the congress. It prohibited slavery in the Louisiana territory north of the parallel 36 30 north except within the boundaries of Missouri. But when it was brought to the House of Representatives, it was turned down. After a long time arguing, Missouri was finally given an act. The act was the Missouri Compromise. -
Peculiar Institution
The Peculiar Institution was a term that was used by southerners in the 1830’s, to describe slavery in the south. It was used by people that were defending the southern position. The term was more commonly known as “Our peculiar institution” because it was describing what was going on in the south just after slavery had been abolished in the North. -
The Nullification Crisis
The citizens of South Carolina were upset with the federal laws that were passed. The colonies in the North were becoming richer while South Carolina was becoming poorer. The people of South Carolina came up with the idea that a state could nullify or disregard a federal law that has been passed. The power of the state supersedes the power of the federal government was what John C. Calhoun had come up with because of the unfair laws passed by the government that only affected the south. -
Compromise of 1850
Five bills were used to control the spreading of slavery.
1. California was entered as a free state
2. Popular sovereingnty decided if Utah and New Mexico would be a slave state
3. Texas gave up their claimed lands in New Mexico and were given 10 million dollars to pay off their debt to Mexico.
4. The slave trade was abolished in the District of Columbia.
5. Fugitive Slave Act-officials were fined for not arresting runanway slaves. Abolititionists increased their anti-slavery efforts. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
It became law as of May 30, 1854. The act repealed the Missouri Compromise. The compromise stated that any land above Missouri could not be a slave state. Abolitionists became frustrated that slavery was now permitted everywhere in the nation. People for and against slavery moved to Kansas to try and get more people on their side for popular sovereingty. Violence broke out, which gave Kansas its name, "Bleeding Kansas." This act moved the nation closer to the civil war. -
Dred Scott Decision
Chief Justice Roger B. Taney declared the Missouri compromise unconstitutional, thus permitting slavery in all the states of the nation. He also declared that all slaves could never become a citizen. Dred Scott (a black slave) tried to sue the government because he had lived in non-slave states (Wisconsin and Illinois) before moving back to the slave state of Missouri and had not been granted his freedom. Abolitionists were very frustrated because slavery was now permitted everwhere. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order made by president Abraham Lincoln on 1863. The proclamation freed 3.1million out of the 4million slaves in the U.S. and immediately freed 50,000. In 1862, Abraham announced he would make an emancipation that would free all the slaves in the confederate states that did not return to the union control by 1863. And since none of them returned, a huge population of the slaves were freed.
