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American Industrial Revolution
A period of rapid technological advancements that transformed the U.S. economy, leading to increased factory production, transportation improvements, and urban growth. The Industrial Revolution widened the North-South divide. The North industrialized and opposed slavery’s expansion, while the South stayed agricultural and reliant on enslaved labor. These economic and moral differences fueled tensions that led to the Civil War. -
Mum Bett Case
Mum Bett, an enslaved woman in Massachusetts, petitioned for her freedom in court and won, leading to the abolition of slavery in the state. This case set a legal precedent for challenging slavery, inspiring abolitionist movements. It reinforced the idea that slavery was both morally and constitutionally wrong, fueling debates that contributed to sectional divides. -
⅗ Compromise
During the Constitutional Convention, it was decided that three-fifths of a state's enslaved population would be counted for representation and taxation purposes. This compromise was aimed at balancing political power. The Three-Fifths Compromise deepened the divide between the North and South. While Northern states had fewer enslaved people and aimed for abolition, Southern states benefited from increased representation in Congress, strengthening their ability to protect slavery. -
Northwest Ordinance
This law established a process for territories to become states once they reached 60,000 inhabitants. It also prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory, ensuring that new states formed there would be free states. By banning slavery in the Northwest Territory, this ordinance created a geographic split between free states and slave states. The growing number of free states threatened Southern influence, exacerbating tensions over slavery’s expansion. -
Creation of the Cotton Gin
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, a machine that significantly increased the efficiency of cotton processing, making large-scale cotton production more profitable. The cotton gin heightened the South’s dependence on slavery. As cotton production surged, so did the demand for enslaved labor. This economic boom reinforced the South’s commitment to slavery, intensifying conflicts between abolitionists and pro-slavery factions. -
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Second Great Awakening
A religious revival movement that greatly contributed to making religious belief and morals more mainstream in the U.S. This also made lots of southerners believe that it was God’s will for slavery to continue on, and this also reinforced these southerners believed that slavery was morally correct. -
Louisiana Purchase
A land deal between the U.S. and France in which the U.S. bought the Louisiana Territory for $15 million, doubling the nation's size. The purchase added new land where slavery could expand, fueling conflict between Northerners who wanted to limit slavery and southerners who wanted to extend it. -
Missouri Compromise
Addressed slavery in the Louisiana territory because the compromise made a line at the 36 latitude line, and the compromise said that above it, slavery was illegal and below it was slavery was legal. The compromise temporarily eased tensions but highlighted the deepening divide between free and slave states. It showed that the issue of slavery's expansion could not be ignored and set a precedent for future sectional conflicts, increasing mistrust and polarization between North and South. -
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher, led a violent slave uprising in Virginia, killing around 60 white people. The rebellion was suppressed, and Turner was captured and executed. The rebellion terrified white Southerners and led to stricter slave laws and harsher punishments. It increased tensions between North and South as abolitionists in the North praised Turner, while the South felt threatened and more determined to defend slavery. -
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Mexican-American War
A war between the U.S. and Mexico that resulted in the U.S. acquiring a vast amount of territory in the Southwest through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The new territories reignited fierce debates over whether slavery should be allowed to expand westward. This conflict over the extension of slavery further divided the North and South and led to increased sectional tension. -
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California Gold Rush
The discovery of gold in California led to a massive migration of people hoping to get rich. The population grew quickly, making it easy for California to become a state. Since most new settlers wanted California to be a free state, this created tension with Southern states, which wanted to maintain a balance between free and slave states. This added to the growing conflict over slavery. -
Compromise of 1850
A set of laws meant to ease tensions between the North and South over slavery. California became a free state, new territories could decide on slavery, and stricter laws were passed. The compromise increased arguments over slavery. Many Southerners felt like their way of life was threatened, while Northerners grew more determined to stop slavery from spreading. These disagreements pushed the country closer to war. -
Frederick Douglass gives July 4th Speech
Frederick Douglass spoke about the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom in a country that still allowed slavery. He argued that Independence Day meant nothing to enslaved people and called for true equality. His speech deepened the divide between North and South. It inspired abolitionists while angering those who supported slavery, increasing tensions that helped lead to the Civil War. -
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“Bleeding Kansas”
A period of violent conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas. These deadly battles and raids showed how serious the fight over slavery had become. Lots of people saw it as a preview of the Civil War. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
This law allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to vote on whether to allow slavery, overturning the Missouri Compromise. This led to violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups, making tensions worse. Massacres and protests broke out, showing how divided the country was. -
Attack on Charles Sumner
Senator Charles Sumner was violently beaten by Representative Preston Brooks on the senate floor after delivering an anti-slavery speech. Violence in Congress showed how extreme the conflict over slavery had become. It increased Northern anger and made peaceful political debate seem impossible. -
Dred Scott v Sanford
The Supreme Court ruled that enslaved people were not citizens and had no right to sue in federal court, and that Congress could not ban slavery in U.S. territories. This decision increased tensions between the North and the South. This ruling made slavery legal in all U.S. territories, angering the North and making compromise harder. It increased tension over federal vs. state power and deepened sectional divisions. -
Raid on Harpers Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on a federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, hoping to start a slave uprising. The raid failed, but it heightened sectional tensions and made Southern states fear more rebellions. The South saw this as proof that the North wanted to destroy slavery by force. It raised fear and distrust, pushing Southern states closer to secession. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected president without carrying any Southern states, which made many Southerners feel politically powerless. His victory triggered fears that slavery would be abolished. Lincoln’s win without Southern support made the South feel powerless in the federal government. It convinced many that leaving the Union was their only option. -
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Southern Secession
Following Lincoln’s election, several Southern states seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America. They believed secession was necessary to protect slavery and their way of life. Secession broke the Union and was based on protecting slavery and state sovereignty. It directly led to war, as the federal government refused to accept the split. -
Shots fired at Ft. Sumter
This was the official start of the fighting in the American Civil War. Union troops (Northern troops) stationed at Fort. Sumter in South Carolina was attacked by the South Carolina militia. Union lost and surrendered the fort to the Confederate militia. Unlike previous acts of violence, this was the first time violence broke out between organized military units. Fighting in the Civil War would continue for 4 more years after this event.