Slaveholder's Republic Flashcards
Hereditary Slavery Law of Virginia ACT XII, 1662
“Negro women children to serve according to the condition of the mother.
- Stealing of reproductive labor
- Makes slaveholder’s children their property
- Creates modern categories of race.
Slavery Protections in the American Constitution
Three-Fifths Clause of Constitution—Insurance clause for Slavery “three-fifths of all other Persons.”
Fugitive Slave Clause of Constitution
Bill of Rights, 10th Amendment
Federal government has only those powers delegated to it by the Constitution, and that all other powers not forbidden to the states by the Constitution are reserved to each state. —Federal Government could never move against slavery because the Constitution didn’t expressly forbid it.
Invention of the Cotton Gin
1794 Eli Whitney invents Cotton Gin: Makes it profitable to grow coarse cotton.
Louisiana Purchase
1803 Thomas Jefferson approves act to pay France $11 million dollars for the Louisiana Purchase. Adds 828,000 square miles to the U.S. Slavery already existed within the territory and efforts to restrict it fail.
The Death of Elijah P. Lovejoy.
1837, Illinois. A death of a white man over black slavery. A mob kills the abolitionist and anti-Catholic editor, whose newspapers angered southerners and Irish Catholics
British Anti-Slavery Act
British Anti-Slavery Act 1834.
Missouri Crisis and Compromise
1820
Who: Henry Clay, Whig party Poses the admission of a free state (Maine) with the slave state of Missouri—only admitting states in equal pairs.
What: Missouri applies for submission as state (slave state, former French/Spanish slaves there. Does the Federal Government have power to restrict slavery in the territories? Missouri compromise line-36 deg 30 min, above which slavery was prohibited (except Missouri) in the lands of the Louisiana Purchase. Passes on strict partisan line vote.
Where: Missouri Territory, Maine, Congress
Importance: Failure to keep slavery out of the territories.
Dred Scott V. Sanford.
1857
John Brown and Harper’s Ferry
1859
Fugitive Slave Act
1793, gave effect to the Fugitive Slave Clause of the US Constitution. Signed into law by Washington. Put fugitive slaves at risk for recapture for the rest of their lives. Enforcement though seemed predicated on state judges more than federal law. Prigg v. Pennsylvania.
Bleeding Kansas
1854-55 Bitter fighting breaks out in Kansas Territory as pro-slavery men win a majority of seats in the legislature, expel anti-slavery legislators and adopt the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution for the proposed state of Kansas.
Violence by pro-slavery looters from Missouri known as Border Ruffians and anti-slavery groups known as Jayhawkers breaks out in “Bleeding Kansas”, as pro- and anti-slavery partisans try to organize the territory as slave or free. Many Ruffians vote illegally in Kansas.
American Colonization Society
1816, Henry Clay, James Monroe, Bushrod Washington, Robert Finley, Samuel John Mills Jr. and others organize the American Colonization Society to fund the migration of about 10,000 freed slaves to Liberia.
Initial petition by the Territory of Missouri to enter the Union.
1818, The Missouri Territory petitions Congress for admission to the Union as a slave state. Missouri’s possible admission as a slave state threatens the balance of 11 free states and 11 slave states. Three years of debate ensue.
Tallmadge Missouri Amendment
1819, James Tallmadge, NY (Dem Rep) offered amendment (first serious challenge to the amendment of slavery concerning founding documents) prohibiting slavery in Missouri or at least letting it die off. Would prevent the further introduction of slaves to Missouri and would free the children of slave parents when they reach 25.
Nullification Crisis
1828, Congress passes the Tariff of 1828 South Carolina Exposition and Protest. The report outlines the nullification doctrine, which proposes to reserve to each state the right to nullify an act of Congress that injures perceived reserved state rights as unconstitutional and permit the state to prevent the law’s enforcement within its borders. Andrew Jackson crushes this with force.
Nullification Crisis
1828-1832, Congress passes the Tariff of 1828 and 1832. In response, the South Carolina Exposition and Protest is created. The report outlines the nullification doctrine, which proposes to reserve to each state the right to nullify an act of Congress that injures perceived reserved state rights as unconstitutional and permit the state to prevent the law’s enforcement within its borders. Andrew Jackson calls this rebellious treason and threatens force. Congress passes the “Force Bill,” which permits the president to use the Army and Navy to enforce the Law.
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
1831 Nat Turner leads a slave revolt in Southampton County, Virginia. At least 58 white persons are killed. Whites in turn kill about 100 blacks in the area during the search for Turner and his companions.
James Henry Hammond writes “Two Letters on Slavery in the United States, Addressed to Thomas Clarkson, Esq.
1845 argues slavery is a positive good.
Texas admitted to the Union as a Slave State
1845
William H. Seward delivers his “Higher Law” address.
March 11, 1850. He states that a compromise on slavery is wrong because under a higher law than the Constitution, the law of God, all men are free and equal.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe Published
1852
Compromise of 1850
1850, Henry Clay
Henry Clay proposes the Compromise of 1850 to handle California’s petition for admission to the union as a free state and Texas’s demand for land in New Mexico. Clay proposes (1) admission of California, (2) prohibition of Texas expansion into New Mexico, (3) compensation of $10 million to Texas to finance its public debt, (4) permission to citizens of New Mexico and Utah to vote on whether slavery would be allowed in their territories (popular sovereignty), (5) a ban of the slave trade in the District of Columbia; slavery would still be allowed in the district, and (6) a stronger fugitive slave law with more vigorous enforcement.
Gadsden Purchase
1853 The United States adds a 29,670-square-mile (76,800 km2) region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico to the United States through the Gadsden Purchase of territory from Mexico.
