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Abolitionist Movement
The Movement happened over a gradual amount of time, but ended in freeing the slaves. Pennslyinia and Massachuees were a few of the first states to declare all men equal. It started in the North, and then evantually to the South, however each state had different laws and a varied amount of freed slaves. -
Fugitive Slave Act
Also known as the Underground Railroad, the Fugitive Slave Act was gradual just like the Ablionist Movement. The Underground Railroad helped as many as 100,000 slaves escape. However, this number is debated since it was hard to document slaves and everything was done it secert. Since it was against their relgious beliefs, the Quakers were heavily involved in the Underground Railroad. -
Missouri Compromise
This act resulted in Missouri and Maine to be declared as free states. This however, as demonstated by the Dred Scott descion, didn't make it easy for African Americans living in that state, since they still had no rights. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
This novel revealed the harsh reality of being a slave. Since it was written by a white women harvard graduate, it made people listen more. It discussed that Christainty could help overcome the harst reality of slavery, thus provoking christians to advocate against slavery. -
Caning of Senator Charles Sumner
Abolitionist Sumner was ruling for Kanses to be a free state. During his speech, he blamed 2 democrates. Brooks who was a Senator of South Carolina was upset, and hit Sumner on the head with his cane. He resigned from office but was reelected soon after. Both men were admired by the region they were from, and brought a lot of attention to the topic. -
John Brown and Bleeding Kansas
There was an uproar when Kansas decided to not be a free state during the Missouri Compromise. There was a lot of violence and small armies of people. John Brown; a white abolishinaist, led attacks on pro-slavery houses. His life came to a tradigic end-- he was captured during a raid and hanged soon after. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was enslaved and taken to Illinois which was a free state. Scott went to the surpreme court to try to sue for his freedom. The Surpreme Court ruled against him, and said that African Americans weren't citizans and therefor had no rights to be in the surpreme court. This decision was ruled unconstitutional, and made the North angry and full of dissent. Evantually, 10 years later, the 14th amendment was made which stated that all African Americans we're citizans. -
The Election of 1860
During the election of Lincoln, anti-slavery policatians needed someone that could carry the North and win electrol vote. They needed someone that could win Indiana, New Jersey, and Illinios and Pennsylivina. Lincoln won in the end, even though he only got 40% vote, which is exactly what he had planned.
