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Missouri Compromise of 1820
Congress made an amendment to make slavery in Missouri, but the institution will be prohibited slavery from any more territory north of 36º30' latitude. -
Nat Turner Rebellion
Nat Turner was a fellow slave who led a slave rebellion in the south; 70 whites are killed in the uprising. -
Compromise Tariff of 1833
Senator Henry Clay creates a successful compromise measure in Congress to lower the 1832 tariff. -
Texas Declares Independence
The Texas Declaration of Independence is enacted, creating the Republic of Texas. The U.S. government refuses to recognize Texas because it does not want to agitate sectional strife. -
Potato Famine Immigration
The great potato famine in Ireland forces large numbers of Irish to emigrate. -
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise admits California as a free state, while voters in New Mexico and Utah territories are granted the right to decide whether to allow slavery. -
Texas Enters as a State in America
Texas formally enters the United States. -
US Declares War on Mexico
The United States declared war on Mexico, causing the American-Mexican War. -
Mexican-American War Ends
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican-American War. California, Nevada, Utah, most of New Mexico and Arizona, and the disputed regions of Texas are all obtained by the United States -
Fugitive Slave Act
A new and much harsher Fugitive Slave Act is passed. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
In effect, the bill repeals the Missouri Compromise and its prohibition of slavery in the Northwest by authorizing settlers to determine for themselves the status of slavery in their communities -
Dred Scott v. Sanford
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Dred Scott v. Sandford that slavery is protected by the Constitution, and that a ban on slavery in the territories is unconstitutional. -
Lincoln Douglas Debates
Abraham Lincoln engage in a series of fiery debates. -
John Brown Raid on Harpers Ferry
Radical abolitionist John Brown planed to incite a massive insurrection by arming local slaves with weapons from the federal arsenal. -
Lincoln Elected
Abraham Lincoln is elected president of the United States. -
South Caroline Secedes
The South Carolina legislature votes to secede from the Union. Casuing other southern states to follow as well to then create the Confederate States of America -
Beginning of the Civil War
The Confederate States of America fired the first shots on Fort Sumter officially beginning the Civil War.
