1776-The Declaration of Independence: It introduced equality as a basic democratic principle when it stated that all men were created equal.  But it never addressed the slavery issue.

1789-Constitution is Ratified: According to the Constitution the slave trade could continue until 1808 and five slaves would be counted as three whites when determining representation in Congress. (3/5ths rule) This gave more power to southern whites in Congress.

1793-Invention of the Cotton Gin: As cotton production became easier and more profitable, Southern plantations prospered and became more dependent on slave labor. (Both tobacco and cotton production were labor intensive endeavors.)

1808-Congress Prohibits Slave Trade: This law made the foreign slave trade (importation of slaves) illegal although lack of enforcement by the federal government enabled the trade to continue.

1817-African Colonization Society Formed: Organized by white Virginians to establish a colony of freed slaves in Africa.  The Society succeeded in founding the colony of Liberia on the west coast of Africa which became a Black republic in 1846.

1820-Missouri Compromise: This compromise settled the issue of slavery in the Louisiana Territory. Missouri was admitted as a slave state, Maine as a free state and all territory north of 36°30’ would be free territory.

1822-Slave Revolt Led By Denmark Vesey: Vesey, a former slave, organized a large group of African Americans from the Charleston, S.C. area and planned a slave revolt.  The revolt failed and Vesey and 36 others involved in the revolt were hanged.

1830’s-Abolitionist Groups and the Underground Railroad Begin: Abolitionist groups called for the end of slavery.  The Underground Railroad helped slaves escape to free territory.  Abolitionists increased in numbers up to the Civil War while the Underground Railroad worked effectively throughout the ante-bellum period.

1831-Nat Turner Leads Slave Revolt:  An African American slave led a rebellion of almost 70 slaves who killed more than 50 whites in Virginia.  Turner and other leaders of the revolt were executed.

1831-The Liberator Begins Publication:  William Lloyd Garrison began The Liberator,  a weekly newspaper in Boston which called for an immediate end to slavery without any compensation to slave-owners.

1838-Frederick Douglass Edits the Northern Star: Frederick Douglass, a former slave, began editing the North Star, an anti-slavery newspaper, in Rochester, New York

1840-Liberty Party Formed: The Liberty Party was the first political party promoting an anti-slavery platform.

1850-Compromise of 1850: This compromise allowed California to enter as a free state and ended the slave trade in Washington, D.C.  Popular sovereignty would be used to determine the issue of slavery in the New Mexico and Utah territories.

1850-Fugitive Slave Law:  State and local officials were responsible for capturing and returning runaway slaves to the South.  Northern states passed Personal Liberty Laws which, in effect, nullified the Fugitive Slave Law.

1852-Uncle Tom’s Cabin: Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, this best-seller depicted the cruelties of slavery.  It called attention to the abolitionist movement in the North.

1854-Kansas-Nebraska Act:  This act reopened the issue of slavery in Louisiana Territories and caused fighting between slavery and anti-slavery opponents in what became known as “Bleeding Kansas.”

1854-Republican Party Formed:  Formed after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Republican Party took a stand against the spread of slavery into the territories.

1857-Dred Scott v. Sanford:  The Supreme Court declared slaves to be property and stated that Congress did not have the Constitutional authority to legislate on the issue of slavery.  The Missouri Compromise was ruled unconstitutional as a result.

1858-Lincoln-Douglas Debates:  The much-publicized debates between the two Senate candidates from Illinois brought the issue of slavery to national attention.

1859-John Brown’s Raid:  Brown, a white abolitionist, tried to encourage a slave revolt.  His group seized U.S. weapons at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia.  Federal troops captured and hanged Brown and his followers.

1860-Election of Abraham Lincoln: When Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, was elected President, the South feared slavery would be prohibited in new territories.  They seceded from the Union and established the Confederate States of America.

1863-Emancipation Proclamation: President Lincoln’s proclamation freed all slaves living in the Confederate States of America.