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Slaves First Come To America
The first slaves to arrive in America were brought by a Dutch ship to the American colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. They were brought there to harvest the tobacco crops. From that moment on, slavery spread throughout the American Colonies. Source: http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance or "An Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States North West of the Ohio River" was adopted by the Confederation Congress on July 13, 1787. This guaranteed that newly added states would be equal to the original 13 colonies. The Northwest Ordinance also protected civil liberties and banned slavery in the new territories. Source: https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/northwest.html -
The Liberator
In 1831, a man by the name of William Lloyd Garrison, who was the voice of Abolitionism, published the first copy of The Liberator. The Liberator would not have been successful if there were not any free slaves. Source: http://www.ushistory.org/us/28a.asp -
The Birth of the Republican Party
The Republican Party were first known as "Whigs". It didn't get it's name until a guy by the name of Horace Greeley typed in a newspaper saying, "We should not care much whether those thus united (against slavery) were designated 'Whig,' 'Free Democrat' or something else; though we think some simple name like 'Republican' would more fitly designate those who had united to restore the Union..." Source: http://www.ushistory.org/gop/origins.htm -
Abraham Lincoln Takes Office
In 1856, Lincoln joined the Republican Party. Lincoln chose a strong cabinet which was made up of many of his political rivals. He said, "Hold your friends close and your enemies closer." Before his inauguration, seven Southern states broke off from the Union. Source: http://www.biography.com/people/abraham-lincoln-9382540 -
American Civil War
When Lincoln ordered the U.S. military to resupply Fort Sumter, Confederate's took fire leading to the first shots of the Civil War. The Union general was Ulysses S. Grant and the Confederate general was Robert E. Lee. On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinates Abraham Lincoln. The Civil War officially ends on April 26, 1865. Source: http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/american-civil-war-history -
Emancipation Proclamation
On September 22, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This said that all slaves still in states of rebellion will be free on the date of January 1, 1863. Source: https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=40 -
Amendment is Passed By the House of Representatives
The passage of the amendment would be harder to pass through the House due to the large amount of Democrats who favored states' rights over federal action. The House passed the amendment on January 31, 1865. Source: https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=40 -
Amendment is Passed By the Senate
With Republicans having the majority number in the Senate, the amendment was easily passed April 8, 1865. Source: http://www.history.com/news/congress-passes-13th-amendment-150-years-ago -
Amendment is Ratified By the States
The ratification of the 13th amendment came eight months after the Civil War. Georgia was the last to ratify putting the 13th amendment in action on December 6, 1865 ending slavery once and for all. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/13th-amendment-ratified
