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Period: to
Antebellum Period
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Nat Turner's Rebellion
In 1831, Nat Turner (a black American slave) led a rebellion in Virginia. This rebellion would become the deadliest slave revolt in United States History as he and his fellow rebels killed 55-65 white people. Nat Turner's Rebellion led to tougher slave codes and restrictions in the south, as well as a growing fear of other slave uprisings because of how large this revolt became in such a short time of two days. -
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a tactic by abolitionists to help fugitive slaves. These routes and network of safe houses helped assist fugitives to reach the free states in the north. By helping these runaway slaves, free blacks risked re-enslavement, and both white and black "conductors" risked severe punishment, such as death. The Underground Railroad was a vital system of potential freedom and survival for many slaves. -
The Gag Rule
In 1836, the Gag Rule was implemented in the House of Representatives, which meant all antislavery petitions would not even be discussed or considered. With this rule in action, there was a growth of antislavery feelings in the North and many were disgruntled with the violation of the freedom of speech. The Gag Rule further pitted the North and the South against each other in the topic of slavery. -
Wilmot Proviso
In 1846, David Wilmot proposed that there should be a ban on slavery in the territories that the United States gained from the war with Mexico. The proposal of the Wilmot Proviso divided Congress and was eventually rejected. Overall, the proposal led to further sectionalism in the country through the topic of slavery. -
Free-Soil Movement
After the rejection of the Wilmot Proviso, many northerners who opposed slavery believed the southern states where aiming to control the nation's life and they were a danger to the people of the United States. Quickly, those apart of this movement organized the Free-Soil Party. The party thought of slavery as a threat to republicanism and opposed slavery's growth in the United States. -
Compromise of 1850 (Fugitive Slave Act)
In 1850, Henry Clay introduced a series of 5 laws known as the Compromise of 1850 in hopes of preserving the dividing union. The compromise attempted to settle the conflict of free and slave states with California being free, and the other territories would be left to popular sovereignty. Within the compromise, there was also a new Fugitive Slave Act, in which slave catchers would receive federal support. This act was set in place to please South, but it was quite controversial in the North. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852, Uncle Tom's Cabin sparked a renewed discussion of slavery. Her novel was so widely read and wanted that it was the second top-selling book, only below the Bible. The book ignited a greater opposition to slavery in the North by giving slaves a face and telling their side of the story. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
In 1854, Congress passed the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed the two territories to determine the future of slavery in their respective areas based upon popular sovereignty. The act further divided Congress and broke down the Whig party once and for all. Two years later, this act would be the cause of Bleeding Kansas, in which pro-slavery and antislavery forces battled within the territory. -
Dred Scott Case
In 1857, the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford was presented to the Supreme Court. Scott, an enslaved black man, tried to sue for his freedom on the basis that he lived in a free state, which should make him a free man. The court ruled against him and Chief Justice Roger Taney argued that blacks could not be citizens, nor could they sue in court. This caused an uproar due to the fact that many free blacks were already citizens in free states. -
John Brown's Raid
Also known as the raid on Harpers Ferry, John Brown's raid consisted of eighteen white and black men led by John Brown himself. They attempted to seize weapons and ammunition from the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and arm slaves in the South. He hoped to instigate a major slave rebellion, however, he was unsuccessful. Republicans and Democrats were divided on their feelings towards the raid, with the former condemning it, and the latter viewing it with admiration.
