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Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise Rap
22 states (11 free and 11 slave states)
Missouri declared a slave state and Maine, a free state and there would no longer be slave states north of Missouri
Temporary solution
Slave abolitionists try to take advantage of this by declaring territory from mexico "free". Taken as a direct threat from the South -
The Steel Plough & Other Farming Technologies
The invention of the steel plough (John Deere, 1837) with the combination of the reaper (McCormick, 1831) and the use of windmills to pump groundwater made it easier for farmers to irrigate crops
After these inventions, a farmer could plant and tend 15 times the crops he/she could before
This prompts the government to promote farming with the development of agricultural colleges -
The Compromise of 1850
Quick Summary
Texas gives up their claim on huge land mass for debt relief
The gold rush pulls huge amounts of people to California which has it apply to be a state BUT it is half above and half below the Missouri Comprimise Line
California is declared a "free" state
Washington D.C. bans slave trade
Left over territory decides slave laws by popular vote -
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The Crisis of the Union
Americans face a crossroad when the topic of slavery comes up. For the South it is vital to their economy and way of life, BUT for the North which is more indusrty based, there is no need for slavery. The laws in the Constitution are put to the test and the Civil War breaks out. With Brother fighting Brother, the North comes out on top. America is devastated and scars are created that run deep and only fade with time. -
Fugative Slave Act Passed
Law allowing escaped slaves to be returned to their owners
This infuriates abolitionists which doubles the efforts to help escaped slaves find freedom
Southerners consider this just protecting their "property" -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Best-selling novel that gave readers an insightful look at slave life in the 1850's
Supported the Abolition of salvery
Was acknowledged by Lincon in 1863 at the peak of the Civil War
Banned in many Southern communities -
Kansas - Nebraska Act of 1854 "Bleeding Kanas"
Senator Stephen Douglas establishes two new staes, Kansas and Nebraska with slavery by populr vote under the assupmtion slavery will not pass
A war over the territory erupts be tween pro-slavery supporters and anti-slavery supporters
Extremist and abolitionist, John Brown rallies 21 troups, seizing the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry
U.S. forces led by Robet E. Lee capture Brown and execute him
200 are left dead after the attacks -
Election of 1860
Lincon's Election Democrat vote is divided between Breckinridge and Douglas
Border states form the Constitutional Union party which suports a demcratic comprimise
Republicans support Lincoln who supports anti-slavery movements
Lincoln wins the electoral vote and is elected President -
Seceding from the Union and the Creation of the CSA
Confederate States of America "Commercial" South Carolina secedes from the Union (Dec. 20th) with the North and within the following weeks, six other states follow by suit
Febrauary 1861, the CSA (Confederate States of America) is formed in Alabama by the seceded states
Jefferson Davis is chosen as the President -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter in Depth
Lincoln and Davis have been preparing for War since the southern states seceded
Davis orders his army to capture the Fort
Lincoln wants peace but calls for backup ships from the North. They take too long to respond and there is massive bloodshed
Union loses Fort Sumter
Lincoln will not give in, this marks the begining of the Civil War -
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The Civil War
Separated by their differences the North and the South go to war after the election of President Lincoln. This war would result in pushing them farther away from eachother and creating wounds that still exists in today's society. This war would also result in a massive number of csualties on both sides that would total to more than those of any war fought by Americans to this day. -
Bull Run to Antietam
Union strategy to cut off supplies to the South BUT the Union army is defeated and they flee back to Washington
Lincon presses his commander to attack
Confederates led by Robert E. Lee are victorious and Union army retreats (Seven Day's Battles)
Dec. 1862, Union army attacks at Fredericksburg, Virginia
Union army failure results in 12,000 casulties -
The Homestead Act
Offered new farmers 60 hectares of land cost-free if they lived on it for 5 years and irrigated crops on it
But, many land grants did not support farming and/or did not support crops that could support a family
Most settlers gave up on the plains because of the infertile lands and bought land from prospectors who were selling fertile land that could support them
Act was a failed attept at bringing settlement into the West -
Emancipation Proclamation
The History Channel: Emancipation Lincoln declares the emancipation of 3 million slaves across the South to encourage them to join the war effort to gain more man power
The Civil War was a war of attrition and the North wanted all the man power they could get
Approx. 200,000 black men enlisted to be a apart of the war effort -
The Battle at Gettysburg
The Aftermath of Gettysburg Largest battle in terms of casualties (Approx. 51,000 dead Union and Confederate soldiers)
Battle raged 3 days
Union army win because of their high-ground -
The Gettysburg Adress
More Information Abraham Lincoln adresses and comemorates the casualties at the battle of Gettysburg
Shortest speech given by a President in American history
Lincoln tries to motivate Union Soldiers by saying these men should not die for nothing -
After Gettysburg
Ulysses S. Grant
After the disapointing outcome at Gettysburg, Lincoln relives McClellan and appoints Ulysses S. Grant as general the Union forces; heis known as the "butcher of men" due to his merciless war tactics. The damage Grant inflicts totals to $100 million ($1.4 billion today)
Grant's army closes in on Richmond
General Robert E. Lee to Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia April 9th
The Civil War ends -
Lincon's Second Inaugural Address
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Instead of gloating like people expect him to, Lincon delivers another short speech recapping the reasons for war and the steps to reconcile with the South
DEcember 1863, Lincon is already making headway to reconcile with the South, starting with repairing damages in Louisiana
His plan is "to bind up the nations wounds" -
The Asassination of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln's Assassination Story
The Life of Abraham Lincoln
Five days fter Lee's surrender, President Lincoln is shot in Ford's Theatre, Washingotn by a man named John Wilkes Booth
Apparently, Booth was a part of a conspiracy involving assassinating other political figures such as Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant to avenge the South's defeat
Lincoln is the only one who dies -
Andrew Johnson Becomes President
As Lincoln's successor, Johnson becomes President after his assassination
Johnson was a Southerner who was loyal to the Union and he was opposed to slavery BUT he didn't care about the slaves. He thought that the profits from slavery supressed lower clss white people from political and economic power -
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Reconstruction and Expansion
The Civil War is over and America is whole again but the casualties from the war and the shame of loss will never be forgotten by the South. The President is assassinated and the country is put into the hands of incapable leaders. Blacks are granted more rights, but at cost. Racism is rampant and a new terrorist group (The Ku Klux Klan) forms. America expands its territory and new innovators step forward that will change the dynamic is the American dream forever. -
The 13th Ammendment
The 13th Amendment Explained The 13th Amendement is ratified, ending slavery in America BUT this does not mean that extreme racism stops
Racism and segragation throughout America (primarily in the Southern States) will continue for many years -
The 14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment Explained A new law representing the basic human rights of black Americans -
The Klu Klux Klan
The History Channel : The Klu Klux Klan A secret terrorist group focused on the attacks of newly freed black Americans
Made up primarily of Civil War Veterans who were upset about the turnout of the war
This rebel group acted as the law in southern towns and at one time held approx. 4 million members -
Purchasing Alaska
The idea of Amifest destiny continues with Alaska as America continues to try to expand its territory
Alaska is purchased from Russia for $7.2 million ($106 million today)
Alaska proves to be a great investment with access to furs, gold and eventually oil -
The 15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment Explained
Declared that no merican man could be prevented from voting because of his race
Also allowed the Federal Government to interfere with voting practices to ensure that all black men were being given the right to vote
Inspired the rebellion for women's rights on the baisis that if men were to not be discriminated by colour, why should women be discriminated by their sex? -
Merging of the Union Pacific and Central Pcific Railroads
Six years earlier work had begun on this railroad
The federal Governemnt subisidized the cost to encourage construction
Railroad's become one of America's largest employers
New access to travel leads to the expansion of the West -
Depression of 1873
With the expansion west and the sudden boom in the economy, it crashes in 1873
Railroad expansion and speculation in bonds had a large roll to play in the collapse
Almost all railroads go out of service
Banks close and the Stock exchange is hit hard
National unemployment rate reaches 15 percent
Unemployed workers travel from town to town for work known as "tramps"
First ever economic crisis for the United States -
The Centennial Exhibition
A lavish exhibition held in Philadelphia celebrating American achievements
Attempts were made to make peace with Natives by displaying many Aboriginal exhibits
Symbolized an optimistic future for America and the end of Reconstruction -
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877
Due to the Depression Major Railroad wages had to be cut and people had to be laid off
Workers were angry that their wages were not increasing with inflation and the cost of living which caused several strikes
These strikes spread across the U.S. which stopped production by railroad companies
Several cities experianced attacks by crowds of strikers (approx. 100 deaths) and extensive damaged were infliced on railroads (upwards of 80 million)
Workers come to realize workers unions are needed -
Founding of the American Red Cross
More Information Founded by Clara Barton who volunteered as a critical care nurse for ill soldiers and set up make-shift hospitals on battlegrounds
1864, she was hand-picked by Abraham Lincoln to help trace missing Union soldiers -
Carnegie and the Invention of Steel
A young entrepreneur (Carnegie) established mills in Pittsburg and Western Pennsylvania
Steel became a hot comodity. making Carnegie very wealthy and gaining him the title "the richest man in the world"
Carnegie sells his company in 1901 for $225 million ($5.8 billion today) -
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Adventures of Huck Finn TrailerPublishing of famous and controversial book by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) about an impoverished boy growing up before the Civil War in Missippi
Had a huge impact on American literature and helped further develop other writers creations
Twain's other books such s "The Guilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873)" "Tom Sawyer (1876)" and "The Prince and the Pauper (1822)" help reveal American society post and pre Civil War
