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Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was a plan which stated that Missouri may be entered into the Union as a slave state only if they had a free state to keep the balance. The count of free states would then go from 11 to 11, to 12 to 12. Maine was admitted as the balancing free state. This compromise also banned slavery in the rest of the Lousiana Purchase territory north of the 36-30 latitude line. -
"54-40 or Fight"
Fifty-Four Forty or Fight
James K. Polk's presidential platform was run on this slogan. The latitude of 54-40 was the line serving as the northern boundary of Oregon. Polk vowed to go to war over this territory, which never happened. However, through negotiations, the boundary between the U.S and British Canada was established at the 49th parallel. -
Texas Annexation
Texas
After the Texan war for independence from Mexico, President van Buren decided not to annex Texas after the Mexicans threatened war. Annexation was not brought up again until 1844 when President John Tyler started negotiations with Texas. This caused Mexico to sever diplomatic ties to the U.S. His first attempt at annexation was shot down in the Senate, but a year later he tried again and was successful. -
Wilmot Proviso
Wilmot Proviso
On this date, Wilmot introduced that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude should ever exsist" in the lands that the U.S gained from Mexico. This was because Wilmot and other northerners were angry with President Polk. They felt that anything would be done to maintain the southern way of life. This bill was passed in the house several times but was always shot down in the Senate. -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Under the terms of this treaty, which ended the war with Mexico, we recieved what is now Arizona, New Mexico, parts of Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Mexico gave up all claims to Texas and recognized the Rio Grande River as the southern boundary of the U.S.The United States paid Mexico $15 million and assumed the claims of citizens against Mexico. -
Compromise of 1850
Compromise of 1850
This compromise was prompted by California wanting to enter the Union as a free state which would upset the balance. This led to a series of resolutions introduced to avert a possible crisis between the North and South. California was admitted as a free state, the slave trade in Washington D.C was abolished, a fugitive slave law was created, and Texas lost the New Mexico territory. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This novel changed how people viewed slavery. It wanted the United States to keep it's promise of the equality and freedom of all. The book was a motivation for the abolitionist movement and one of the problems that contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. -
Gadsden Purchase
Gadsden Purchase
The Gadsden Purchase was an agreement between the United States and Mexico in which the U.S aggreed to pay $10 million for 29,670 sq miles of land. This land would complete the lower U.S and be used to create a railroad. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Primary Documents in American History
This act repealed the Missouri Compromise which stated that no slavery would be allowed in the territory north of the 36 30 latitude line. This stipulated that the citizens in each territory would decide on the issue of slavery. -
Brooks-Sumner incident
Brooks-Sumner
Three days before the incident happened, Senator Charles Sumner was giving a speech and insulted a family member of Representative Preston Brooks. Representative Brooks heard about it and instead of challenging him to a duel, he chose to cane him. Brooks beat Sumner unconscious. Both men became heroes in their regions. -
Harper's Ferry Raid
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown was an extreme abolitionist who set out with a group of friends on a misson to capture the federal armory and aresenal. His plans were to incite a slave rebellion. Although he succeeded in capturing the arsenal, this rebellion never happened. He was quickly caught, given a trial, and sentenced to death. -
Election of 1860
Election of 1860
The central issue of the election of 1860 was slavery. This election was ran between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. Lincoln won doing very well in the Northern states although he had less than 40% of the popular vote. This election came at a time of crisis for the nation and was one of the factors leading to the secession of the south. -
Firing on Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
The civil war began when the Confederated fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. After South Carolina's Succession, the fort had been a source of tension for months with Union officials refusing to turn it over to the Confederacy. Since negotiation failed, the Confederates decided to take the fort by force. At 4:30 A.M Confederate forces opened fire. Union forces soon surrendered. -
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
The first major land battle of the Civil War was located Manassas Junction, VA. Union troops marched from the capital and planned to attack the Confederates. The rebels fought back and were able to break through Union lines sending them in retreat. This victory for the Confederates gave the South confidence and shocked many Northerners. This made them realize that the war would not be won easily. -
Monitor v. Merrimack
After defeating two enemy boats the previous day, the Merrimack set it's sight on the Minnesota. Not noticing a new sleeker ship coming up it's side. -
Battle of Antietam
Antietam
At dawn, Union forces staged an attack on the Confederate army near Shapsburg, Maryland. The Union and Confederate Armies were in a power struggle back and forth until the Union managed to force a retreat. This was the victory Lincoln needed before delivering the Emancipation Proclamation. This battle is often called "the single bloodiest day in American history." -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg Summary
This was a major battle in the Civil War. The two armies met around the town of Gettysburg and ensued in a battle that lasted two days with an ending total of over 51,000 soldiers from both armies either dead, injured or missing or captured. Four months after the battle, President Lincoln used this war site to give his famous Gettysburg Address. -
Sherman's March
Sherman's March
Union General William T. Sherman around 60,000 soldiers on a 285-mile march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. The purpose of this was to frighten the civilians of Georgia to give up on the Confederate cause. The soldiers did not destroy any towns, but stole food, livestock and burned the house of people who tried to fight back. -
Appomattox Court House
Battle of Appomattox
Early on April 9, General Lee of the Confederate Army was determined to escape the closing in Union army and reach his supplies in Lynchburg. The Confederates advanced gaining ground, until the Union army arrived and stopped them. Surrounded on 3 sides, Lee surrendered to General Grant. This was the last battle of the war in Virginia.
