US History: Slavery and Abolition

The belief that slavery is morally wrong and should be ended.

The division of the United States into different regions with distinct interests, often leading to conflict.

The Missouri Compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, maintaining the balance between slave and free states in the U.S. Congress. It also prohibited slavery north of the 36°30' parallel in the Louisiana Purchase territory.

The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a free state, strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act, and created the Utah and New Mexico Territories with popular sovereignty (allowing residents to decide on slavery).

The belief that slavery is beneficial for both the slave and the slave owner, promoting economic growth and racial harmony.

The expansion of the United States westward led to increasing debates about whether slavery should be allowed in newly acquired territories. This debate fueled sectional tensions and influenced the balance of power in Congress.

The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, revolutionized cotton production, making it easier and faster to separate cotton fibers from seeds. This increased demand for cotton and therefore the need for slave labor in the South.

Some argued that slavery was a positive good for both slave owners and enslaved people. They claimed that slaves were content and provided with food, shelter, and religious instruction.

In the US Constitution, slaves were considered property, but the 3/5 Compromise stated that 3/5 of a slave's population would be counted towards a state's overall population for representation in the House of Representatives. This increased the influence of Southern states in the national government.

The difference in views between Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison on the constitution and the fight against slavery. Garrison believed the constitution was a pro-slavery document and rejected political action. Douglass supported working within the political system and believed the constitution was inherently anti-slavery.

A political movement in the mid-19th century that sought to prevent the expansion of slavery into new territories.

A series of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved people to escape to freedom in the North. This network provided vital assistance and risked great danger to abolish slavery.

The principle that the people residing in a territory should decide whether or not to allow slavery, rather than Congress. This was controversial and led to further division in the country.

A convention held in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848, which marked the beginning of the organized women's suffrage movement in the United States.

The belief that women should focus on domestic duties, such as childcare and homemaking, rather than pursuing careers or public roles.

Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist and former slave, was a prominent figure who spoke about the importance of women's rights and the need for their inclusion in the abolitionist movement.

Garrison was a prominent abolitionist who, despite being a supporter of women's rights, initially believed that women should focus on abolition rather than pursuing their own rights.

The World Anti-Slavery Convention, held in London in 1840, denied female representatives the right to participate, sparking a debate on gender equality and the need for women's rights.

The United States acquired a large portion of land from Mexico, including California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, for $18 million.

A purchase of further land from Mexico in 1853, adding parts of southern New Mexico and Arizona, for a total of 10 million acres.

The invention of the cotton gin led to a huge increase in cotton production, making it the South's primary cash crop and fueling the growth of slavery.

A slave revolt that occurred in Virginia in 1831, leading to the deaths of 120 slaves and causing widespread fear among slave owners, who then sold their slaves to the Deep South to limit the risk of further revolts.

The defense of slavery changed from arguing it was a 'necessary evil' to promoting it as a positive good, with figures like John C. Calhoun arguing that it benefited both the slave and the slave owner.

The belief that the US should expand across North America, justified by God's will and a sense of American superiority.

The President who annexed Texas in 1845, starting a chain of events leading to the Mexican-American War.

The dispute between Mexico and the US over the border of Texas, a key factor that led to the Mexican-American War.

The treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, recognizing the Rio Grande as the US-Mexico border and granting the US large territories, including California.

The US desired to expand its territory, wanting control of valuable Mexican lands, contributing to the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.

The invention of the cotton gin made cotton production much more profitable, leading to a huge increase in the demand for slave labor in the South. This economic boom fueled the system of slavery and cemented its importance to the Southern economy, despite its inhumane nature.

After the Turner Rebellion, some influential figures, like John C. Calhoun, started defending slavery not only as a necessity but as a positive good. They argued that slavery was beneficial for both the slave owners and the enslaved people, despite the clear moral and ethical violations involved.

In the Compromise of 1850, Utah and New Mexico territories were allowed to decide on slavery by a popular vote. This meant that the residents of these territories, not the federal government, would determine whether or not slavery would be allowed within their borders.

In the Compromise of 1850, the slave trade was outlawed in Washington, D.C. This meant that buying and selling slaves was prohibited in the nation's capital.

In the Compromise of 1850, a new law was passed that required people to help catch escaped slaves. This law made it illegal to help runaway slaves and punished those who did with fines or jail time.

Some states in the North enacted personal liberty laws which restricted their state officials from helping return escaped slaves to the South. This challenged the Fugitive Slave Act and increased tensions surrounding slavery.

Vigilance committees were formed in the North to protect free African Americans from being captured and returned to slavery under the Fugitive Slave Act. These committees were a sign of resistance against the expanding power of slavery.

Disagreements within the abolitionist movement about women's role in leadership positions.

The use of violence as a method to achieve abolition caused conflict among abolitionists. Some embraced it, while others opposed it.

Different opinions existed on the most effective strategies for political action, with some advocating for direct engagement and others rejecting it as flawed.

Differing interpretations of the US Constitution regarding slavery led to diverse approaches within the abolitionist movement. Douglass, for example, viewed it as pro-slavery.

Frederick Douglass's newspaper, founded in 1847, aimed to advocate for abolition, women's rights, and other social causes.

Douglass supported political engagement and believed change was possible through a reasonable approach, while Garrison opposed political involvement, perceiving it as flawed or ineffective.

Douglass believed the Constitution was flawed and pro-slavery, comparing it to a "covenant with death." Yet, he also thought change was achievable through reasoned political action.

Douglass supported working with Congress to achieve abolition, believing that cooperation was essential for change. He viewed the 1850 Compromise as a step towards abolishing slavery.