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Levi Coffin
Born; 1798 Died;1877
Levi Coffin was known as the Father of the Underground Railroad. In 1821 he wanted to start a school for slaves, but their owners didn't allow them to attend. He moved to Newport, Indiana in 1826. There he helped ofer 3,000 slaves escape North. Soon after he moved to Cincinati, Ohio. He opened a store selling items made by freed slaves. That store was closed in 1857. Coffin wrote a book called the "Reminiscences of Levi Coffin" which was published in 1876. -
The Missouri Compromise
After the Missouri territory applied for statehood, there were many questions that would come into play. Should Missouri be allowed to have slaves? Congress came to the conclusion that if they allow Missouri to have slaves, the U.S. would no longer be a union of equal states. This was resolved in a two part compromise, The Missouri Compromise. Missouri would enter the Union as a slave state. Also, Maine was admitted to the Union as a free state. Finally, the 36' 30' line was established. -
Nat Turner's Rebellion
Nat Turner was a leader of a slave rebellion that took place in Virginia. He lead from 60 to 70 slaves on a rebellion, killing about 60 plantation owners, including the ones that owned Turner, the Travis'. After that, Nat Turner was put in jail. He went to court and was found guilty. He was excuted by a hanging. -
The Underground Railroad
There was no official starting date for the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was neither underground nor a railroad. It was named this because it was very secret and it was a series of paths leading North. Many slaves would runaway from their plantations and travel up North and often into Canada for freedom. Most traveled on foot while some were stowaways on boats. On their way they would often stop at "safehouses" to get a fresh change of clothes, food, water, and shelter. -
The Compromise of 1850
During the Compromise of 1850 California joins the Union as a free state. This adds two more anti- slavery senators to the senate. Next, the slave trade is abolished in Washington, D.C. Then, the Fugitive Slave Act is passed. This act states that runaway slaves had to be returned to the plantations they ran away from. Also, people were paid for every runaway slave they turned in. Anyone who did not turn in a runaway slave was fined or put in jail. Finally, more slaves run away to Canada. -
The Kansas- Nebraska Act
The Kansas- Nebraska Act allowed people in Nebraska and Kansas to decide if they wanted slavery in that territory. This act worked against the Missouri Compromise or the Compromise of 1820. This act infuriated many in the North who considered the Missouri Compromise to be a long- standing binding agrement. Many in the South strongly supported the Kansas- Nebraska Act. After the act was passed, many people settled into the new territory of Kansas to affect the first election held there. -
Bleeding Kansas
As the death toll rose in the Kansas territory, the territory as nicknamed "bleeding Kansas." After that, President Franklin Pierce was forced to send in Federal troops to halt the violence and scatter the anti- slavery legislature. When another election was called, the pro- slavery supporters won. Again they were charged with election fraud. In turn, Kansas was not permitted into statehood. In the end, pro- slavery settlers were outnumbered and Kansas was admitted as a free state to the Union. -
The Dred Scott Case
Dred Scott was a slave who married another slave, Harriet Robinson. A few years later the Scotts' decided to sue for their freedom. Although the first time was not as successfull, the second time the Scotts' sued they one. That was appealed to the State Supreme Court and was overturned. Dred and his wife did not want to give up. An Abolitionist lawer agreed to represent his case before the State Supreme Court. Dred and his wife became free. -
The Presidential Election of 1860
In this election there were four people running for president. These include Abraham Licoln (Republican), Stephen Douglas (Democrat), John Breckinridge (Democrat), and John Bell (Constitutional Union). Both John Breckinridge and John Bell were pro slavery. However, Stephen Douglas wanted to rely on popular soventry. Abraham Lincoln thought slvery was bad but he did not want it to expand. In the end, Lincoln became the President of the United States. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was located on an island just off of Charelston, South Carolina. There were two Confederate forts, Fort Johnson and Fort Moultrie located around the union fort. Also, there were eight Confederate gun batteries located all around Fort Sumter. On April 12, 1861, in the early morning, Confederate troops attacked the union fort. Therefore, resulting in the begining of the war against the North and the South, The Civil War.
