The South (1780-1860)

Eli Whitney invents cotton gin

Oct 28, 1793

The cotton gin increased the production of cotton.

Congress outlaws the slave trade

Jan 1, 1808

The Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves of 1807 stopped the slave trade and went into effect in 1808.

Removal of Native Americans spurs expansion of cotton production

May 28, 1830

This is the day that Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. There is no exact date that can mark the time when people first began to notice and connect the removal of the natives to the expansion of the cotton industry. It is said to be in the early 1800s.

Nat Turner leads rebellion in Virginia

Aug 21, 1831

Nat Turner's Rebellion, or Southampton Insurrection, was a slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia from August 21 - 22.

The South remains largely rural and dependent on cotton

Mar 23, 1840

This date is not accurate. Around the 1820s to 1860s the South remained rural and began to be more dependent on cotton.

Arkansas orders free African Americans to leave

Feb 12, 1859

Act 151 of 1859 of Arkansas forced free African Americans to leave the state and required them to leave the state by January 1, 1860, or face sale into slavery for a period of one year.

Population of Baltimore reaches 212,000

Jun 1, 1860

This population data was collected using the census of 1860 which was taken beginning June 1, for five months