-
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
There was conflict between Mexico and the United States about border control and certain lands that belonged to Mexico, this led to war between the two countries. Officially ended the Mexican American War, adding an additional 525,000 square miles to the United States territory, including Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wyoming. -
Free-Soil Party (1848)
A short-lived political party in the United States formed by an anti-slavery group in the North. Although unsuccessful in presidential elections, the group was successful in spreading the awareness of antislavery and advocated federal aid for internal improvements -
Compromise of 1850
slavery becomes outlawed in Washington D.C. Meanwhile, California is admitted as a free state, and Utah and New Mexico will determine if slavery is allowed through popular sovereignty. The Fugitive Slave Law is also put into action. -
Fugitive Slave Law (1850)
These were laws that provided for return of escaped slaves to owners. However, the north did little to enforce such an act which heavily angered southerners, further increasing tensions that eventually led up to state secession -
Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852)
An anti-slavery novel written by Harriett Beecher Stowe that had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery. -
Republican Party (1854)
Organized in 1854 by a combination of anti-slavery Whigs, Democrats, and Free Soilers in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
A compromise that suspended the Missouri Compromise by allowing slavery north of the 36-30 line in the Kansas and Nebraska territories which would be decided upon by popular sovereignty. The idea angered many northerners which greatly increased sectional tensions. -
Period: to
"Bleeding Kansas" (1855-1856)
A sequence of violent events involving abolitionists and pro-slavery elements in Kansas. Some events include the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Pottawatomie Massacre, and the Wilmot Proviso. -
Dred Scott v. Stanford (1857)
1) black people could not sue in federal court
2) because black people were considered an owner's property, they could be moved anywhere under a master's control without being free
3) Congress had no power to ban slavery in any territory -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)
The two candidates argued over important issues including the use of popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska, the Lecompton Constitution, and the Dred Scott decision. Although one was the winner, the other would gain much needed attention to lead to his eventual success in the election of 1860. -
John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry (1859)
He was a militant abolitionist who seized a United States arsenal at Harper's Ferry where he planned on ending slavery by massacring white slave owners. -
Election of 1860
In this election, Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln defeated the two Democratic candidates Stephen Douglas and John C. Breckenridge along with the Congressional candidate John Bell. -
Formation of the Confederate States of America (February 1861)
Formed on February 4, 1861, the states farthest south where slavery dominated formed the Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as president. -
Morrill Tariff Act (1861)
This tariff superseded the low tariff of 1857 and increased duties by 5-10%. It also included two additional tariffs that raised much needed wartime revenue. -
First Battle of Bull Run (July 1861)
The first major land battle in Virginia where the Union army under Irvin McDowell marched from Washington to face Confederate forces. -
Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861)
This was a sea fort in Charleston, South Carolina notable for its two battles during the Civil War. It is classified as having high structural integrity with high walls and notable masonry. -
Antietam (September 1862)
This battle ended Lee's first invasion of the North. It was known as the bloodiest day in the Civil War, and led to the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Emancipation Proclamation (January 1863)
Lincoln's 1863 declaration that freed slaves in the Confederacy following the Battle at Antietam. -
Battle of Gettysburg (July 1863)
On July 1, two great armies met accidentally. It was an incredibly bloody battle that left Lincoln infuriated, but it was a major victory for Union forces. -
Period: to
Battle of Vicksburg (May-July 1863)
General Grant led Union forces where they defeated two Confederate armies and destroyed the town of Vicksburg where they would have full control of Mississippi only 5 days later. -
13th Amendment (1865)
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction. -
Freedmen's Bureau (March 1865)
Established by Congress to help the millions of freed slaves and poor white southerners during the period of reconstruction. -
Assassination of Lincoln (April 14, 1865)
He was assassinated in Ford Theater on April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth. Booth also attempted to assassinate General Ulysses S. Grant and other major political leaders. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
This was the first United States law to assign citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law. With this came the ratification of the 14th amendment -
Reconstruction Acts of 1867
This organized the south into 5 military districts that must have had a political leader from the north. It also stated that all southern states must remove black codes and they must ratify the 14th amendment. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
This was meant as a response to civil rights violations towards African Americans with the purpose of protecting all citizens in their civil and legal rights -
Compromise of 1877
This settled the heavily disputed 1876 United States presidential election. It involved Democrats who controlled the House of Representatives who allowed the decision to be made by the Electoral Commission.