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The New Constitution
The 42 delegates finally heard the final draft of the new constitution. Four months earlier in May, 55 delegates from 12 states gathered in Philadelphia to modify the Articles of Confederation. The plans for the new government, which was arranged by James Madison, was presented to the delegates by the governor of Virginia.
On this day, 39 of 42 delegates signed the document, which was then sent to the states for ratification. Delaware was the first state to ratify the new constitution -
The Constitution Becomes Effective
On this day, New Hampshire ratified the Constitution, and was the ninth state to ratify it, causing the Constitution to become effective. -
The Missouri Compromise is Passed
The Missouri Compromise, with the exception of Missouri, made slavery illegal in the Louisiana Territory north of the 36degree 30' latitude line. The Missouri Compromise also stated that Maine was a free state. **In the Library of Congress, the exact date that the Missouri Compromised was passed was not given (all it said was 1820), but the day, month, and year is required in order to create an event. -
The Compromise of 1850
On this day, Senator Henry Clay tried to settle the problem of slavery between the Northern and Southern colonies, so he proposed a series of resolutions. Later in September of 1850, the Compromise of 1850 was passed. It was composed of 5 laws that dealt with the problem of slavery. -
The Missouri Compromise is Repealed
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 repealed the Missouri Compromise. **In the Library of Congress, the exact date that the Missouri Compromised was repealed was not given (all it said was 1854), but the day, month, and year is required in order to create an event. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The passing of this act led to violence between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers because it repealed the Missouri Compromise. The violence that erupted was setting the stage for the Civil War -
The Missouri Compromise is Declared Unconstitutional
The Supreme Court, in the Dred Scott decision, declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. **In the Library of Congress, the exact date that the Missouri Compromised was declared unconstitutional was not given (all it said was 1857), but the day, month, and year is required in order to create an event. -
The Dred Scott Decision
On this day, the Supreme Court issued the decision Dred Scott v. Sandford. It announced that slaves were not citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in certain territories. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The debate that took place on this day was the first of seven political debates that Lincoln and Douglas agreed to debate on in a campaign to be one of the two Senators from Illinois. Even though Lincoln lost, the serires of debate played a role in his election as president. -
John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry
After having been delayed for a year, John Brown and 21 of his men acted on their plan to help slaves, but failed. Even though most were killed or caught, and later executed, their anger towards slavery motivated a lot of people, and caused the Civil war to approach faster. -
The Election of 1860
This election was the most significant and divided one in history. There were four candidates, and Lincoln, who opposed the expansion of slavery, won. This paved the roads to the Civil war. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
On this day, Abraham Lincoln released the Emancipation Proclamation. Even though it did not end slavery right then, it did change nature of the Civil War. It also allowed African Americans to be Union soldiers.
