The Tidal Wave

1. The Tidal Wave Events and People Leading to the Civil War

2. EVENT: 2nd Great Awaking • When:1790’s, early 1800’s • Who & What: A revival of religion. Revivals were held with traveling preachers who spread religious teachings. • Significance: It will begin many reform movements including one that will work to end slavery.

3. EVENT: Sectionalism • When: early 1800s – 1860s, • Who & What: Sectionalism is loyalty to the area you live in instead of the nation as a whole. • North – industrial • South- agricultural • Significance: Areas of the US were more concerned with their state and not what was best for the nation

4. EVENT:Missouri Compromise • When: 1820 • Who & What: Missouri wanted entrance into the Union as a slave state. This would off set the balance of slave vs. free states in the senate. Henry Clay Speaker of the House came up with a compromise to allow Missouri into the Union as a Slave state and Maine into the Union as a free. It was also agreed that the 36°30’ parallel along Missouri’s southern border should be set as the boundary for slavery in the Louisiana Purchase and that no slavery would be allowed north of this line. • Significance: As the US expands and gains more territory the 36°30’ parallel boundary leads to tension between pro- and anti-slavery forces. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Clay

5. EVENT: The “gag rule” • When: 1836-1844 • Who & What: A rule passed in the House of Representative that forbad the discussion of any laws ending slavery • Significance: Shows how tense the issue of slavery was becoming.

6. EVENT:States Rights & John C. Calhoun • When: 1828 • Who & What: John C. Calhoun stated that states should be able to nullify or void any federal law within its borders if the state found the law to be unconstitutional. The issue of states rights began over the issue of tariffs proposed by Congress to protect Northern business. • Significance: The idea of states rights and nullification will soon be used on the issue of slavery and will lead to people questioning the union of the US and eventual the session of southern states. This also shows the growing force of sectionalism.

7. EVENT: Mexican War • When: 1846-1848 • Who & What: US war with Mexico over Texas boundary dispute • Significance: US will acquire ½ of Mexico which is no the current states of California, Arizona , Utah, Nevada, New Mexico & Texas. This expansion of territory will lead to new conflicts over the spread of slavery. Encarta

8. EVENT: William Lloyd Garrison & The Liberator • When: 1831-1865 • Who & What: Wm. Lloyd Garrison was the editor of an anti-slavery newspaper called The Liberator. He will speak out for the immediate emancipation of the slaves. • Significance: Garrison’s paper will become a voice against slavery and will work to bring more people against slavery and the formation of the American Anti-Slavery Society.

9. EVENT:Sojourner Truth & Fredrick Douglas • When:1840s-1860s • Who & What: Sojourner and Douglas both ex-slaves began speaking out against slavery beginning in the early 1840s and continuing until the end of the Civil War. • Significance: Both were outstanding speakers who drew more people to the cause of ending slavery. http://img.timeinc.net/time/2002/bhm/history/images/douglas.jpg

10. EVENT: Compromise of 1850 • When: 1850 • Who & What: California wanted to enter the US as a free state. This would offset the balance in the Senate b/w free & slave states. Henry Clay will work out a compromise allowing California to enter as a free state. The South in return received the Fugitive Slave Act. • Significance: Only a temporary peace b/w the North & the South. Both sides were not truly satisfied with the Compromise. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Clay

11. EVENT: Fugitive Slave Law • When: 1850 • Who & What: Was a part of the Compromise of 1850 that forced Northern citizens to help search for and capture fugitive slaves. If they refused to help they had to pay a fine or spend time in jail or both. Some free African Americans were kidnapped and forced back into slavery b/c African Americans were not allowed to testify in court. • Significance: This will lead to more tension over slavery as riots break over the injustices caused by the law http://www.gwu.edu/~e73afram/images/kidnpprs.gif

12. EVENT:Uncle Tom’s Cabin • When: 1852 • Who & What: A book published by Harriet Beecher Stowe that spoke out against the horrors of slavery. • Significance: Led to more people turn against slavery and anger in the South. Most southern states will ban the book. http://portrait.kaar.at/USA%202/images/harriet_beecher_stowe.jpg http://www.audiobooksonline.com/media/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe_Uncle_Toms_Cabin_abridged_cassettes.jpg

13. EVENT: Kansas-Nebraska Act • When: 1854 • Who & What: Proposed by Stephen Douglas, the act created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and abolished the old Missouri Compromise line as a boundary for slavery and would allow each territory to decide whether to be slave or free. • Significance: Led to increase violence over the issue of slavery.

14. EVENT: Bleeding Kansas • When: 1855 • Who & What: Pro- and Anti- Slavery supporters raced to Kansas to help determine its status as a free or slave territory. Violence will break out between the two sides leading to lots of blood being spilled earning Kansas the nickname “Bleeding Kansas”. • Significance: This will lead to more tension between the North and South.

15. Event: The Caning of Sumner • When: 1856 • Who & What: Charles Sumner a senator from Massachusetts gave a speech against slavery and insulted the South and Sen. A.P. Butler of South Carolina. Butler’s nephew Rep. Preston Brooks would later beat Sumner on the floor of the Senate with his cane in retaliation for the insults. • Significance: Southerners cheered Brooks but Northerners were outraged. “Bleeding Kansas” and “Bleeding Sumner” became rallying cries for a new political party – the Republicans.

16. EVENT: Dred Scott Case • When: 1857 • Who & What: Dred Scott a slave from Missouri claimed to be free b/c he had been taken into free territory. His case started at the state level and went all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled African Americans were not citizens and therefore had no legal rights in court. It also went on to say the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional because it could not bar slavery. • Significance: Created an even larger debate over slavery dividing the North and the South even more.

17. EVENT: Lincoln-Douglas Debates • When: 1858 • Who & What: A series of debates between Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln during their campaign for the US Senate seat for the state of Illinois. The debates mainly focused on the issue of slavery. Lincoln will lose the election. • Significance: Debates gave Lincoln national recognition which will allow him to gain a Presidential nomination for the 1860 election and hurt Douglas’ chance at the presidency. http://catalog.knox.edu/archives/local_hist/images/ld_plates.jpg

18. EVENT:John Brown & Harper’s Ferry • When: 1859 • Who & What: John Brown a radical abolitionist tried to seize the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry and incite a slave revolt. He will be stop by Robert E. Lee and later placed on trial and hanged. • Significance: Northern abolitionists will see Brown as a hero and celebrate his actions. The South will be horrified by Brown’s actions and the North’s response to Brown.

19. EVENT: Election of 1860 • When: 1860 • Who & What: The issue of slavery will divide the political parties for the 1860 election and 4 different candidates will run. The division will allow Lincoln to win the presidency. • Significance: Upon hearing of Lincoln’s victory southern states beginning with South Carolina will secede in fear that Lincoln will end slavery. These states will form the Confederated States of America. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Abraham_Lincoln_head_on_shoulders_photo_portrait.jpg

20. EVENT: The Bombing of Fort Sumter • When: April 12, 1861 • Who & What: Confederates attack the US Fort Sumter in the Harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. Maj. Robert Anderson will be forced to surrender b/c of lack of reinforcements. • Significance: This is the start of the Civil War. There would be no turning back.