Mississippi

Mississippi Studies 1720 - 1855 (Events that effected Mississippi)

  • Carolina Divided

    Carolina Divided
    Territory of Carolina divided into North and South Carolina
  • New Orleans Founded

    New Orleans Founded
    New Orleans founded by French
  • French Institute Black Code

    French Institute Black Code
    These laws, which applied only to blacks, gave only basic rights. Marriage, the ownership of property, travel, and gathering in groups were all restricted. However, they did offer some protections. When owners sold slaves, they could not separate husbands and wives, or children under 14 from their parents. Owners could not mistreat slaves or free them when they are old and sick and leave them helpless. Slaves could not be forced to work on Sundays or religious holidays.
  • Georgia Founded

    Georgia Founded
    Colony of Georgia founded
  • Cotton Gin Invented

    Cotton Gin Invented
    The cotton gin made it easier to separate cotton seeds from cotton fibers. A traveler brought a sketch of Whitney's gin to Natchez in 1795. Baniel Clarke, Sr., a planter who had received land grants from both the British and Spanish, gave the sketch to several slaves, including one named Barclay. They designed and built the first gin in MS.
  • Steamboat Invented

    Steamboat Invented
    Robert Fulton invented the steamboat. Steamboats carried cotton and other goods on the Mississippi River and on the smaller rivers like the Yazoo, Big Black, Pearl, and Tombigbee.
  • Battle of New Orleans

    Battle of New Orleans
  • Andrew Jackson

    Andrew Jackson
    Married in MS Territory. He fought with, and negotiated treaties with, Native Americans in MS. The Democratic Party was organized around him and the Whig party was formed by his opponents. His three campaigns for the presidency (1824, 1828, & 1832) were among the most heated in history. He had no inherited wealth and little formal education.
  • Baltimore and Ohio Railroad

    Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
    Baltimore and Ohio Railroad began operation
  • MS New Constitution Ratified

    MS New Constitution Ratified
    Many of the provisions of the 1814 constitution were upheld, but several important changes were made. Judges were elected by the people for specific terms instead of being appointed for life. Most state offices also became elective. Representation in both houses of the legislature was determined only by population. Banned importing slaves in MS if they were to be sold.
  • Specie Circular Issued

    Specie Circular Issued
    Required that government land be paid for with specie rather than with paper money.
  • Governor's Mansion Built

    Governor's Mansion Built
    A capitol was built for the legislature and a mansion for the governor. The governor still lives in the mansion on Capitol Street. The Old Capitol, replaced by the "New Capitol" at the beginning of the 20th century, is now a museum.
  • University of Mississippi

    University of Mississippi
    University of Mississippi opened in Oxford
  • Japan Opened

    Japan Opened
    US Navy opened Japan to the Western world