-
First Arrival of African Slaves
Marks the beginning of institutionalised slavery in what would become the United States, setting a foundation for long-term economic and social divisions. -
Boston Tea Party
Colonists, protesting the Tea Act, dumped British tea into Boston Harbour -
Period: to
The American Revolutionary War
-
Declaration of Independence
13 colonies declared independence from Britain on July 4. While proclaiming that "all men are created equal," this document laid an ideological groundwork that contrasted sharply with the continued practice of slavery. -
Treaty of Paris
Officially ended the Revolutionary War; Britain recognised U.S. independence. -
The United States Constitutional Convention
A meeting where delegates from 12 of the 13 U.S. states gathered in Philadelphia to create a new Constitution, replacing the weaker Articles of Confederation. It led to the formation of the U.S. Constitution, establishing a stronger federal government. -
U.S. Constitution Ratified
New federal government formed under the Constitution; George Washington became 1st President. -
Period: to
President Washington
Independent -
Bill of Rights Ratified
First 10 amendments to the Constitution protected individual freedoms. Guaranteed individual liberties; however, these rights were unevenly applied across regions and racial lines, highlighting emerging divisions. -
Cotton gin invented
Invented by Eli Whitney. Before the gin one enslaved person could process 1 pound of cotton a day. With the gin, they could process 50. Dramatically increased the efficiency of cotton processing, thereby intensifying the South’s reliance on slave labor and bolstering its cotton economy. -
First French Abolition of Slavery
In 1794, during the radical phase of the French Revolution, the National Convention abolished slavery in all French colonies. This came after a major slave revolt in Saint-Domingue (Haiti) and growing revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality. However, the abolition was short-lived, as Napoleon reinstated slavery in 1802. -
Period: to
President John Adams
Federalist
Key role in American revolution -
Period: to
President Thomas Jefferson
Democratic-Republicans
Author of the Declaration of Independence
Oversaw Louisiana Purchase (1803) -
Lousiana Purchace
U.S. bought vast territory from France, doubling its size. -
Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
While this did not end slavery, it altered the dynamics of supply and increased focus on internal slaveholding practices. -
Period: to
President James Madison
Democratic Republicans
Father of the Constitution
Led war of 1812 -
American Colonisation Society Founded
Established in 1816, the American Colonisation Society aimed to resettle free African Americans in Africa, leading to the establishment of Liberia. It reflected a controversial view on race relations: while some saw colonisation as a way to reduce racial tension, others, both abolitionists and slaveholders, opposed it, underscoring early disagreements over the future of African Americans in the U.S. -
Period: to
President James Monroe
Democratic Republicans
Monroe Doctrine: Warned European powers against interfering in the Western Hemisphere -
Adams–Onís Treaty
While this did not end slavery, it altered the dynamics of supply and increased focus on internal slaveholding practices. -
Missouri Compromise
Maintained balance between free and slave states; early sign of sectional tension. Established a geographic boundary (36°30’ parallel) to balance the admission of slave and free states, highlighting the sectional struggle over national expansion and the future of slavery. -
Denmark Vesey's insurrection in South Carolina
A planned slave revolt in Charleston(SC) organised by Denmark Vesey, a formerly enslaved man who had purchased his freedom. Vesey and his followers planned to kill slaveholders, free enslaved people, and escape to Haiti. The plot was discovered before it could be carried out, and over 100 were arrested. Vesey and 35 others were executed, and many more were deported or imprisoned. Terrified white Southerners, leading to harsher laws and tighter control over Blacks, increased censorship. -
Monroe Doctrine
Asserted U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere and set a framework for expansion. While focused on European colonialism, it indirectly spurred debates about extending slavery into new territories. -
The Second Part System Was Created
The Second Party System began in 1824 after the Democratic-Republican Party split following a contested election. Andrew Jackson’s supporters formed the Democratic Party, while John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay’s followers became the basis of the Whig Party by the early 1830s. The system solidified national two-party politics, with Democrats favoring states’ rights and expansion, and Whigs supporting federal power and economic development. -
Erie Canal Complete
The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie, linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. It drastically reduced transportation costs, boosted trade, and helped New York City become a major economic hub. The canal also encouraged westward expansion and strengthened ties between the Northeast and Midwest, deepening economic differences with the South and contributing to growing sectionalism. -
Period: to
President John Quincy Adams
Democratic Republicans (later National Republicans)
Son of John Adams
Strong advocate for modernisation -
Period: to
President Andrew Jackson
Democratic
Founder of the Democratic Party
Led country in Indian Removal Act and Nullification Crisis -
Indian Removal Act
Authorised the forced relocation of Native American tribes in the Southeast, thereby opening new lands for agriculture and slave-based plantation economies, further intensifying regional conflicts. -
Nat Turner's Revolt
Slave uprising in Virginia intensified national debate over slavery. -
The Founding of the Liberator
The Liberator was founded in 1831 by William Lloyd Garrison, a radical abolitionist. Published in Boston, it became one of the most influential anti-slavery newspapers in the U.S. Garrison demanded the immediate emancipation of all enslaved people and rejected gradualism or compromise. The paper galvanised the abolitionist movement in the North and alarmed the South, increasing tensions over slavery and contributing to sectional conflict. -
Nullification Crisis
South Carolina’s confrontation with the federal government over tariff policies underscored early strains regarding states’ rights and federal authority - issues that would later be linked to the defence of slavery. -
The Positive Good Speech
Delivered by Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina. In it, Calhoun argued that slavery was not a necessary evil, as some had claimed, but a "positive good" for both enslaved people and slaveholders, claiming slavery provided a stable and civilising influence for Black people and was essential for the prosperity of the Southern economy, defending the South’s way of life against growing Northern criticism and abolitionist movements. Reflected the deepening divide between North and South. -
The founding of the American Anti-Slavery Society
The American Anti-Slavery Society was founded in 1833 by William Lloyd Garrison and other abolitionists. It called for the immediate abolition of slavery across the United States and used moral persuasion, petitions, and publications to spread its message. The society grew rapidly, especially in the North, but faced fierce opposition in the South. It played a key role in increasing anti-slavery sentiment and deepening sectional tensions. -
'Democracy in America' (De Tocqueville) Published
Democracy in America was published in two volumes (1835 1840) by Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker. Based on his travels in the U.S., the book analysed American democracy, praising its equality and civic participation while warning of the potential dangers of majority tyranny. Tocqueville also noted the contradictions between democratic ideals and the existence of slavery, highlighting tensions that would later erupt in the Civil War. -
Texas Revolution and Independence from Mexico
The Texas Revolution (1835–1836) was a conflict between American settlers in Texas and the Mexican government. Tensions grew over issues like slavery, autonomy, and immigration restrictions. After key battles—including the Alamo and San Jacinto—Texans, led by Sam Houston, defeated Mexican forces and declared independence. Texas became the Republic of Texas in 1836 and later joined the U.S. in 1845, fueling sectional conflict over slavery’s expansion. -
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a major financial crisis triggered by bank failures, collapsing land prices, and the end of easy credit. It led to a severe economic depression lasting into the 1840s. The South was hit hard as cotton prices fell, exposing the region's dependence on slave-based agriculture. This deepened sectional tensions by highlighting the economic divide between North and South. -
Period: to
President Martin Van Buren
Democratic
Faces 1837 Panic (financial crisis that leads to depression) -
Amistad Case
A group of enslaved Africans aboard the Spanish ship Amistad rebelled and were captured off the U.S. coast. Their case reached the Supreme Court, where abolitionists argued for their freedom. The Court ruled in favour of the Africans, stirring national debate about slavery and bolstering the abolitionist cause. -
Formation of the Liberty Party
Formed in 1840, the Liberty Party was the first political organisation in the U.S. solely dedicated to abolitionism. It sought to influence national policy against slavery through the electoral process, providing a platform for anti-slavery candidates and setting the stage for future movements like the Free Soil and Republican parties, thereby contributing to the intensifying sectional debate. -
Period: to
President William Henry Harrison
Whig
Died 31 days into office -
Period: to
President John Tyler
Whig (later Independent)
Annexed Texas
Assumed office after Harrison's death -
Prigg vs Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court ruled that states could not block enforcement of federal fugitive slave laws. This decision struck down state protections for escaped slaves and strengthened Southern slaveholders’ power. In response, some Northern states passed personal liberty laws, deepening sectional tensions over slavery and states’ rights. -
Annexation of Texas
Texas joined the Union as a slave state, intensifying the debate over the balance of power between slave and free states. -
Publication of Frederick Douglass' Narrative
In 1845, Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, published his powerful memoir exposing the brutal realities of slavery. His narrative became a cornerstone of abolitionist literature, swaying public opinion in the North and deepening the national debate over human rights and slavery. -
Period: to
President James K. Polk
Democratic
Oversaw annexation of Texas and Mexican-American War (territorial expansion) -
Period: to
Mexican-American War
The war yielded vast new territories. The question of whether slavery would be allowed in these areas deepened the national divide and fueled disputes over federal policy. -
Compromise of 1850
Tried to ease tensions between North and South; included stricter Fugitive Slave Law. -
Wilmont Proviso
Although it failed in Congress, this proposal aimed to ban slavery in territories won from Mexico, highlighting the growing sectional battle over the expansion of slavery. -
Second French Abolition of Slavery
In 1848, the Second Republic permanently abolished slavery in all French colonies. This followed growing abolitionist pressure, revolutionary unrest in Europe, and the work of campaigners like Victor Schœlcher. Unlike the first abolition, it was not reversed. It marked a shift toward human rights and was part of broader reforms after the fall of the July Monarchy. -
Free Soil Party Established
The Free Soil Party was established in 1848 by anti-slavery advocates who opposed the expansion of slavery into the newly acquired territories from the Mexican–American War. Emphasising “free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men,” the party helped forge a political identity among Northerners that paved the way for future anti-slavery political movements. -
Harriet Tudman Escapes Slavery
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery in 1849, fleeing from Maryland to Philadelphia. After gaining her freedom, she became a key conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping hundreds of enslaved people escape to the North. Her daring missions and leadership made her a symbol of resistance to slavery, and she later served as a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War. -
Period: to
President Zachery Taylor
Whig
Dies in office, succeeded by Filmore -
Fugitive Slave Act Passed
Part of the Compromise of 1850, this law required citizens to assist in the capture of runaway slaves and penalised those who helped fugitives. It outraged Northerners, increased abolitionist activity, and brought the brutality of slavery into free states, intensifying sectional tensions. -
Period: to
President Millard Filmore
Whig
Signed 1850 Compromise -
The Christiana Riot
The Christiana Riot occurred in 1851 in Christiana, Pennsylvania, when a group of African Americans and white abolitionists resisted the capture of escaped slaves under the Fugitive Slave Act. Armed with weapons, they fought back against a Maryland slaveowner and his posse, leading to the death of one man. The incident resulted in several arrests, but it demonstrated the growing resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act, highlighting the tension between the North and South over slavery. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s influential novel depicted the brutal realities of slavery, galvanising anti-slavery sentiment in the North and deepening Southern resistance through its emotional portrayal. -
Publication of Aunt Phillis’ Cabin
Published in 1852 as a pro-slavery counter-narrative to Uncle Tom's Cabin, Mary Henderson Eastman’s Aunt Phillis’ Cabin aimed to depict a positive view of slavery in the South. The novel portrayed enslaved people as content and loyal to their masters, arguing that slavery was a benevolent institution. Its publication reflects the South’s attempt to defend slavery against the growing abolitionist movement and to present an alternative, idealised vision of the system. -
The Gadsden Purchase
The U.S. bought land from Mexico (southern Arizona and New Mexico) to facilitate a southern transcontinental railroad. Though relatively small, the purchase rekindled fierce debates over slavery in new territories and reflected expansionist goals tied to sectional interests. -
Period: to
President Franklin Pierce
Democratic
Supported Kansas-Nebraska Act
Led to Bleeding Kansas -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Allowed territories to decide on slavery; led to violent conflict (“Bleeding Kansas”). -
Topeka Constitution
The Topeka Constitution was drafted in 1855 by anti-slavery settlers in Kansas as a response to the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution. It aimed to establish Kansas as a free state and was a direct challenge to the legitimacy of the pro-slavery government. Although it was never recognised by the federal government, it symbolised the intense conflict over slavery in Kansas and the growing divide between North and South. -
America Party Founded
The American Party was founded, emerging from nativist and anti-immigrant sentiments. It opposed the increasing influence of immigrants, esp Catholics, and was seen as a reaction against the growing diversity in the U.S. The party's members, aimed to limit the rights of immigrants and pushed for stricter immigration policies. Not directly focused on slavery, but its rise contributed to sectional tensions, especially as the party struggled to define itself on issues like slavery expansion. -
The Founding of the Republican Party
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed for the possibility of expanding slavery into the western territories. It emerged as a coalition of anti-slavery Whigs, Free Soilers, and abolitionists, who were united in their opposition to the spread of slavery. The party quickly gained strength in the North and became a major force in American politics, with Abraham Lincoln becoming its first elected president in 1860. -
Anthony Burns Mob
In 1854, Anthony Burns, an escaped slave from Virginia, was arrested in Boston under the Fugitive Slave Act, which required runaway slaves to be returned to their owners. The arrest sparked outrage among abolitionists and led to a mob of anti-slavery activists attempting to free Burns. However Burns was still forcibly returned to slavery. This incident highlighted the growing resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act in the North and intensified tensions between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. -
The Ostend Manifesto
The Ostend Manifesto, issued in 1854, was a document drafted by U.S. diplomats in Belgium, advocating for the acquisition of Cuba from Spain, by force if necessary. The manifesto argued that Cuba was vital for the United States’ security and economic interests, and that its annexation would be beneficial for the expansion of slavery. The manifesto provoked outrage in the North, as it appeared to be an effort to expand slavery, deepening sectional tensions between North and South. -
Outbreak of Bleeding Kansas
Violent conflicts erupted in Kansas over whether it would permit slavery, serving as a microcosm of the national struggle and foreshadowing wider conflict. -
Caning of Charles Sumner (Bleeding Sumner)
Abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner was brutally attacked on the Senate floor by pro-slavery Congressman Preston Brooks, symbolising the deepening partisan and personal animosities in Congress. -
First Republican Convention
The first Republican National Convention was held in 1856 in Philadelphia. It marked the first formal national gathering of the Republican Party, where they nominated John C. Fremont as their candidate for president. Fremont ran on a platform opposing the expansion of slavery into the western territories. Although he lost to Democrat James Buchanan, the convention was a significant milestone in the Republican Party’s rise as a major political force. -
Keitt vs Grow Brawl
The Keitt vs. Grow brawl took place in 1856 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Preston Brooks of South Carolina (an ally of Keitt) attacked Charles Sumner, a Massachusetts senator, on the Senate floor after Sumner delivered an anti-slavery speech. The attack was a response to Sumner’s criticism of pro-slavery forces in Kansas, particularly Brooks' relative, Senator Andrew Butler. The violent incident deepened the rift between North and South and illustrated the growing tensions. -
Dred Scott Decision
A landmark Supreme Court ruling that denied African Americans citizenship and declared that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the territories, deepening Northern outrage and further polarising the nation. -
Lecompton Constitution
Drafted in 1857 by pro-slavery forces in Kansas, the Lecompton Constitution proposed admitting Kansas as a slave state. It was widely seen as illegitimate, sparking outrage among anti-slavery Northerners and deepening mistrust. President Buchanan supported it, but Congress rejected it after fierce debate. The crisis highlighted how violent and unstable the issue of slavery in the territories had become. -
The Panic of 1857
The Panic of 1857 was a major economic downturn triggered by a decline in international trade, falling grain prices, and the failure of banks and railroads. It hit the North and West hardest, while the Southern economy, based on cotton, was less affected. This deepened sectional tensions, as Southerners claimed their system was superior, while Northerners pushed for stronger economic policies. The panic increased political divisions leading up to the Civil War. -
Election of Abraham Lincoln
Republican Abraham Lincoln won the presidency without carrying a single Southern state. His election signaled to the South that slavery’s expansion was in jeopardy. In response, Southern states began seceding, with South Carolina leading the way in December 1860. -
Publication of 'The Impending Crisis' (Hinton Rowan Helper)
Hinton Rowan Helper’s The Impending Crisis of the South was published in 1857 and argued that slavery was economically backward and harmful to Southern society. The book stirred controversy by attacking the institution of slavery on economic grounds, intensifying sectional debates and influencing public opinion in the North. -
Period: to
President James Buchanan
Democratic
Inability to address sectional crisis over slavery contributed to the secession of Southern states -
Period: to
President James Buchanan
-
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858 were a series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas during the Illinois Senate race. They focused on slavery’s expansion into the territories, with Lincoln opposing its spread and Douglas advocating for popular sovereignty. Though Douglas won the Senate seat, the debates elevated Lincoln’s national profile, making him a key figure in the Republican Party and setting the stage for his 1860 presidential run. -
Freeport Doctrine
During the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Stephen Douglas stated that territories could exclude slavery by refusing to pass local laws supporting it, even after the Dred Scott decision. This stance angered Southern Democrats, weakening Douglas’s support and deepening the party’s divide. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
An attempt by the radical abolitionist John Brown to initiate an armed slave revolt by seizing a federal arsenal. The raid heightened national tensions by symbolising the extremes to which some were willing to go to end slavery. -
South Carolina seceded
-
Attack on Fort Sumter
Confederate forces attacked the federal fort in South Carolina, marking the beginning of open hostilities that would soon engulf the nation in Civil War. -
Period: to
President Abraham Lincoln
Republican
Led nation through Civil War -
Lincoln was inaugurated