-
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions written
Political statements in favor of the States' rights. Written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. These resolutiions attacked the Alien and Sedition Acts which argued that the federal government had no right to exercise power not specifically delegated to it in the Constitution. http://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/primary-source-documents/virginia-and-kentucky-resolutions/ -
Hartford Convention meets during war of 1812
New Englanders Gather in Hartford to discuss the problems that war was bringing. These people were called federalists. The federalists were unhappy with the financial measures that the National government had taken so far in war. -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri wanted to join the United States as a Slave State but there was already 11 slave and 11 free states so the balance of power would be uneven. So they added Maine to the union as a free state and created the 30 36 line. Under that line slavery could happen, above it slavery could not. -
Tariff of Abominations Passed
The Tariff of Abominations was a tax that tried to help the Northerners economy by taxing important items. -
South Carolina tries to nullify
South Carolina tried to nullify the Tariff of Abomination because they thought it was unfair. They thought it was only made to help the North and it was hurting them. -
James Polk elected
James Polk was a Democratic Politician whos main goal was expansion. He wanted to occupy Oregon and fought for the annexation of Texas. He beat his opponants unexpectadly and was therefore called the "Dark Horse" -
Mexican War
James Polk wanted to expand territory so he offered Mexico a large sum of money to purchase Northern Mexico. The mexicans were very offended that they would ask and didnt even bother to discuss. So Polk sent troops to Rio grande. There were many casualties on both sides. The United States eventually won and payed only half of what they offered in the first place. -
Wilmot Proviso
The land gained from the Mexican War was undecided whether to go to slavery or be free. The Wilmot Proviso was highly supported by Northerners because many of them wanted to end slavery. It never passed but it did cause discussion about whether slavery should be legal. -
California Enters the Union
The Treaty of Guadalupe led to California Entering the United States. California was against slavery as decided by Popular Sovereignty. -
Fugitive Slave Law Enacted
This law made Northerners responable for capturing and returning runaway slaves to the South. -
Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin
A book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.A white woman who thought of slavery as being really bad.Her book was extremely popular and helped with the anti-slavery movement. This made the North think worse of the South. And the South had to protect their image. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act passed
It allowed people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders.The Kansas-Nebraska Act infuriated many in the North who considered the Missouri Compromise to be a long-standing binding agreement. In the pro-slavery South it was strongly supported. People rushed over to Kansas to vote which resulted in violence. -
Formation of Republican Party
The republican party was formed out of the people of the North. Rebulicans opposed slavery and the spreading of it. -
Border Ruffians attack Lawrence
Groups of Border Ruffians (Pro Slavery supporters) entered Lawrence to illegally vote for Kansas to becaome a slave state, They caused a commotion and violence started. -
Charles Sumner attacked
Charles Sumner, an anti-slavery supporter blamed Andrew Butler in a speech for knowing about the plans of the border ruffians and not doing anything to stop them. After a few days Roger Brooks, a South carolina Representative went and beat Charles Sumner unconsious with a cane as revenge. -
Pottawatomie Creek
To get revenge on the attack on Lawrence, John Brown and a group of other abolitionists went to Pottawatomie Creek. When there they took five men in favor of slavery out of their house and killed them. This sparked Southeastern Kansas to break out into a massive feud. -
Dred Scott Decision announced
Dred scott was a slave who like others was suing his master for his freedom. Scott claimed that because his master took him to a free state it justified his reasoning that he was a free man. The Supreme court, however, thouyght otherwise. Roger B. Taney said that because he was considered property the government cold't just take him away.He said that Scott wasn't a citizen. -
Lecompton Constitution passed
The Lecompton constitution gave a slaveholder more rights over their slave. It also stopped slaves from being deported to Kansas. By having this document it meant that your state was a slave state. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln were both running for the U.S. senate. Lincoln was in favor of stopping the spread of slavery. However, Douglas supported popular sovereignty. Douglas ended up winning the senate seat but that allowed Lincoln's name to get out there which later helped him win presidency. -
Raid at Harper's Ferry
John Brown, an abolitionist went to Harpors Ferry witha group of 21 men (five of whom being his sons). to capture the arsenal so slaves could rebel against their owners and slavery would end. -
Formation of the Constitutional Union Party
This party's main purpose was to adhere to the guidelines of the constitution. It formed just before the Election of 1860. They had a meeting in which over 20 delegates from different states attended. At that meeting they decided to have bell run for president for their party. -
Democrats split in 1860
This split was due to the two sides disagreeing over popular sovereignty. The democrats believed that popular sovereignty was a good thing people it gave the power to te people so if they wanted slavery they could have it. The republicans weren't in favor of it because it didn't effectivaly stop the spread of slavery. -
Election of 1860
The canidates in this race were John bell, Stephen douglas, John breckinridge, and Abraham lincoln. The north mostly voted for Lincoln because he supported their veiws of slavery being wrong. Lincoln ended up winning the election with just a mere forty percent for the popular vote.
