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American Rebels Declare the Independence of Texas
In 1835 Mexico created a constitution to enforce a central government, which lead to frustration amongst Americans in Texas. Being fed up that General Antonio both shot down any proposal of Texas gaining power, and wanted to state national authority, Americans declared Texas’s Independence. After fighting against Antonio’s militia, Texas pleaded to be added to the U.S, but Texas legalized slavery, and many congressmen feared adding it would cause further tension from the North and South. -
Bound Labour Nearly Eradicated in the Northern states
‘Terms slaves’ (slaves that would be freed after a certain number of years), and the emancipation of slaves in Northern states decreased the population of africa american slaves. Subsequently increasing the amount of free black people from 8% (of total african american population) in 1790 to 13% cerca 1830. -
Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a massive movement in the South, and lead to the conversion of white families, and enslaved black people. Until that point most african americans worshipped the gods and practice they would have in Africa. Black Protestantism didn’t involve passages encouraging obedience because this caused many slaves to feel discouraged from converting. It also contributed to the growth of african american culture, as it allowed the to meet together and form a sense of community. -
Free Black People Make a Point to Celebrate August 1st
Though some free black people felt a need to assimilate and appeal to the white population, many acknowledged and honored their ties to slaves. This was reinforced by inequality between free black people and white people, especially in cases of trials, the possibility of being punished via slavery, and white plantation owners who expressed wanting to re-enslave them in 1840. This lead to them celebrating the day slaves got emancipation in the British West Indies, on August 1st, 1834. -
Wilmot Proviso Proposed
Following the Mexican War, Whigs proposed the Wilmot Proviso, which banned slavery any territory gained by the war. Fearing that it would cause much too big of a divide, congressmen quickly denied it. However, it still inspired frustration amongst Democrats who wanted to expand the U.S further west, and took it as an offense against expansion. -
Task System Gains Popularity Amongst slaves in South Carolina
The task system allowed slaves (who usually lived on rice plantations) to finish certain preset tasks, and then be able to do what they wished for the rest of the day. This let slaves produce their own crops and save up any money they may have gained from selling it. However some sugar and cotton planation owners set up bans on slaves growing their own crops, as they claimed it would lead to workers trading with others and inevitably wanting to seek freedom. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott pleaded in the Supreme court that since he lived in Illinois and above the Missouri compromise line for a period of time with his owner, he should be made free since both the state and territory were free. The 2biggest (and controversial) arguments being that 1. Black people, free or enslaved, couldn’t be citizens, and he had no right to sue in federal courts. And 2. That because of the 5th amendment congress can’t prevent slave owners from taking their property to free states. -
5% of Southern Whites own >50% of Slaves in the South
The top fifth of whit families that owned slaves in 1860, owned twenty or more. That 5% also harbored over 50% of the South’s slave population, and grew half of the South’s cotton. Those slave owners made about $56,000, while the average white farmer earned about $3,200. -
The South’s Planation Economy Reflects Poorly on the Average Worker
In 1860, the South had a higher per capital income amongst white men than France and Germany. While most people praised it at the time for it’s wealth, as the average white southern man earned 80% more than his North counterpart, the economy created problems, as the non-slave wealth was only 60% percent of the North’s. Many prosperous slaveowners declared that urban growth was what would inhibit their wealth. This built up to a dependance on agriculture, refusing to add manfacturing. -
Crittenden Compromise
With the threat of southern states succeeding from the union, Senator John Crittenden proposed the Crittenden compromise. The part that congress approved, stated that federal forces could not interfere with slavery in a state that already allowed it. The part that was objected to, was for the western expansion of the U.S , as well as the extension of the Missouri compromise line (allowing states above the line to be free, and below slave). Lincoln refused for fear of imperialist ventures.
