1840-1860

By JcbFlks
  • Nat Turner's Rebellion

    Nat Turner's Rebellion
    Slave Nat Turner leads a revolt in Virginia and kills 60 white people. Results in less rights for slave, including losing the right to education.
  • Texas becomes a State

    Texas becomes a State
    Texas admited as a slave state, giving more power to the south.
  • Period: to

    Polk presidency.

  • Wilmot Proviso

    Wilmot Proviso
    David Wilmot (of Pensylvania) proposes amendment outlawing slavery in any land aquired from Mexico during the war, which upsets Southerners who believe that all men have the right to move their "property" into any territory.
  • Gold discovered in California

    Gold discovered in California
    Gold discovered in Calfornia, causing the California gold rush. California eventually becomes a state.
  • End of Mexican War

    End of Mexican War
    US gains lots of land in the American Southwest, debates occour over whether this terrotory should allow slavery or not.
  • Fugivite Slave Act

    Fugivite Slave Act
    Act passed, forcing a fine on any northerner who does not return a runaway slave. Abolistionists rave and defy the law, because slave should have freedom in the north.
  • Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Uncle Tom's Cabin
    "Uncle Tom's Cabin" published as an attempt to display the evils of slavery. A best seller, the book had a large impact of slavery as veiwed by the North.
  • Anthony Burns

    Anthony Burns
    Abolistionist Wendell Phillips attemps to rescue fugitive slave Anthony Burns from the federal courthouse. Attacks fail and Burns is returned to his master. President Pierce futher inforced the slave act as a result
  • "Bleeding Kansas"

    "Bleeding Kansas"
    Kansas-Nebraska Act passed, allowing seperate parts of Kansas and Nebraska to choose whether to allow or ban slavery. Nicknamed "Bleeding Kansas" because of the violence between pro and anti-slavery forces.
  • Garner Case

    Garner Case
    Slave Margaret Garner escapes to Ohio with her children, whom she attepts to kill to protect them from a potential life of slavery. Sent back to south due to Fugative Slave Act.
  • Charles Sumner Beating

    Charles Sumner Beating
    During "Bleeding Kansas", Sumner gives a speach arguing that Kansas should be ammited free and denouncing slave power, and souhterner Preston Brooks proceeds to beat him with a cain. The north rallies behind Sumner, and the south to Brooks.
  • Dred Scott Case

    Dred Scott Case
    Scott argues in court that he sould be free, being a slave whose owner moved into a slave state. The court denies his petition, furthing abolistionist causes in the north.
  • LeCompton Constitution

    LeCompton Constitution
    Though supported by president Buchanan, the constitution delcaring Kansas a slave state is denied, rendering Kansas free. Kansas proceeds to be admited into the union in 1861
  • John Brown Raid

    John Brown Raid
    Radical Abolitionist Brown raids arenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, in an attempt to start a slave uprising. He his caught and hanged for treason, which helps grow the abolitionist cause.
  • Election of Lincoln

    Election of Lincoln
    Republican Abraham Lincoln elected, South Carolina secedes from the union, followed by 6 more states.