American Slavery History Review

Study Notes

Slavery and Abolition

The Middle Passage was a route used to transport enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas
The Transatlantic Slave Trade involved the forced migration of millions of Africans to the Americas, with European colonizers, African kings and chiefs, and American plantation owners participating in the process
Life under slavery was characterized by brutal treatment, family separation, and forced labor, leading to the emergence of a distinct African American culture
Nat Turner's Rebellion was a slave uprising in Virginia in 1831, led by Nat Turner, which resulted in the deaths of 55-60 whites and an unknown number of slaves
The abolition movement was a social and political movement aimed at ending slavery, with key figures including William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass
The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved Africans to escape to freedom in the North
Sectionalism referred to the growing divisions between the Northern and Southern states over the issue of slavery, leading to debates and compromises

Compromise and Conflict

The Compromise of 1850 was a series of laws aimed at addressing the balance of power between slave and free states, proposed by Henry Clay
The Fugitive Slave Act required Northerners to assist in the capture and return of escaped slaves, leading to widespread resistance
Uncle Tom's Cabin, a novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe, highlighted the brutality of slavery and further polarized public opinion

A Divided Nation

The Wilmot Proviso proposed banning slavery in new territories acquired from Mexico, sparking debates over the expansion of slavery
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 attempted to address the balance of power between slave and free states
John Brown, a radical abolitionist, led the Pottawatomie Massacre and the raid on Harper's Ferry, escalating tensions leading to the Civil War
Bleeding Kansas referred to the violent conflicts between pro-slavery and abolitionist groups in the Kansas territory
The emergence of the Republican Party was driven by opposition to the expansion of slavery
The Dred Scott case ruled that slaves were not citizens and had no right to sue in court, further polarizing public opinion
The Lincoln-Douglas debates highlighted the differences between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas on slavery and its expansion
The election of 1860 was marked by tension and division, with Lincoln's victory leading to Southern secession
Fort Sumter was the first battle of the Civil War, marking the start of a devastating conflict

Reconstruction

Reconstruction was the period following the Civil War, aimed at rebuilding and re-defining the nation
Andrew Johnson's plan for Reconstruction was lenient towards former Confederates, leading to conflicts with Congress
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution abolished slavery, granted citizenship to former slaves, and protected voting rights
The Freedmen's Bureau provided assistance to former slaves, but was eventually disbanded
Johnson was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act
The Compromise of 1877 marked the end of Reconstruction, with Rutherford B. Hayes withdrawing federal troops from the South

Industrialization and Immigration

Andrew Carnegie expanded his steel business through vertical integration and innovative production methods
Henry Ford introduced the assembly line, revolutionizing production and increasing efficiency
Labor organizations like the Knights of Labor and American Federation of Labor emerged to advocate for workers' rights
Immigration to the US increased in the late 19th century, with immigrants facing difficult living conditions and discrimination

World War 2

The Attack on Pearl Harbor drew the US into World War 2
Japanese American Internment camps were established, leading to the forced relocation of over 120,000 Japanese Americans
The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked a turning point in the war
Key battles and leaders, including D-Day and George S. Patton, played crucial roles in the Allied victory

Civil Rights

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, marking a landmark moment in the Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement, led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., sought to end segregation and discrimination against African Americans

Description

Review key concepts related to American slavery, including the Middle Passage, Transatlantic Slave trade, life under slavery, Nat Turner's Rebellion, abolition movement, Underground Railroad, and sectionalism.