Timeline of the Underground Railroad and Slaves in America
1501- The first time that African Slaves are brought to the new world by Spanish settlers
1619- The first slaves are introduced in he British colonies. These slaves are imported to Jamestown and most likely were viewed like indentured servants (freed after a period of time).
1622- Virginia Law states that children born to a slave mother are automatically slaves themselves
1705- Law states that slaves are property of their owners. This law also allows slave owners to bequeath their slaves and to kill or destroy them if they run away.
1712- New York slaves revolt against their white owners. Several whites are killed and nineteen of the rebels are later executed.
1739- South Carolina slaves revolt against their white owners by stealing weapons and trying to escape to Florida (then owned by Spain). This revolt was then crushed but the South Carolina militia. The total death toll is 20 whites and 40 blacks.
1775- The American Revolution begins.
1775- Anthony Benezet starts the world's first Abolitionist Society.
1783- The American revolution ends.
1784- Thomas Jefferson proposes a plan to abolish slavery in the US's territories starting in the 1800's. Congress narrowly defeats the proposition.
1787- Benjamin Franklin becomes the president of Anthony Benezet's Abolitionist Society.
1790- The first United States census reports that there are almost 700,000 slaves in a nation of 3.9 million people.
1793- The United States puts into place the Fugitive Slave act which tells people that it is unlawful to interfere with the capturing of runaway slaves.
1808- The United States bans the importing of slaves, but smuggling of slaves continues.
1820- Congress comes to the Missouri Compromise. Missouri and Maine are admitted into the Union. Missouri as a slave state and maine as a free state. This compromise also outlaws slavery in all territories North of the latitude 36°30´.
1822- South Carolina slaves, led by Denmark Vesey (a freed slave) revolt against their white owners. Thirty- five slaves are hanged because of their participation in the uprising.
1831- Virginia slaves, led by slave preacher Nat Turner, revolt against their white owners. This leads to a two day uprising which ends up killing 60 whites. Milita crush the uprising and spend two months searching for he preacher. He is caught and hanged. The upset Southerners inflict harder constraints on their slaves.
1835- It is unlawful in the Southern States to mail out any sort of anti-slavery propaganda.
1846-1848- The Mexican-American War happens. Congress is unsure if the new land granted to them by the Mexicans should be free states or slave states.
1847- Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, starts publishing a newspaper called the North Star in New York.
1849- Harriet Tubman escapes. She returns many other times to help other slaves escape.
1850- California joins the Union as a free state. In exchange for that Northern states have to accept a stricter Fugitive Slave Act.
1852- Uncle Tom's Cabin (a story about the barbarity of slavery) written by Harriet Beecher Stowe is published. 300,000 copies are sold the fist year of publication.
1854- Congress allows Kansas and Nebraska to enter the Union, and let the States pick either to be a free state or a slave state. Violence erupts after the decisions
1857- The case of Dred Scott is decided but the Supreme Court. They rule that blacks can never be citizens and that Congress has no authority to outlaw slavery.
1860- Abraham Lincoln wins the presidential election and becomes the first Republican president to be elected as president.
1860- South Carolina suceeds. More southern states follow the example.
1861-1865- The Civil War is fought.
January 1, 1863- Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect. It states that all slaves in the Confederate States are now free.
1865- Slavery is abolished in the 13th amendment to the Constitution.
1619- The first slaves are introduced in he British colonies. These slaves are imported to Jamestown and most likely were viewed like indentured servants (freed after a period of time).
1622- Virginia Law states that children born to a slave mother are automatically slaves themselves
1705- Law states that slaves are property of their owners. This law also allows slave owners to bequeath their slaves and to kill or destroy them if they run away.
1712- New York slaves revolt against their white owners. Several whites are killed and nineteen of the rebels are later executed.
1739- South Carolina slaves revolt against their white owners by stealing weapons and trying to escape to Florida (then owned by Spain). This revolt was then crushed but the South Carolina militia. The total death toll is 20 whites and 40 blacks.
1775- The American Revolution begins.
1775- Anthony Benezet starts the world's first Abolitionist Society.
1783- The American revolution ends.
1784- Thomas Jefferson proposes a plan to abolish slavery in the US's territories starting in the 1800's. Congress narrowly defeats the proposition.
1787- Benjamin Franklin becomes the president of Anthony Benezet's Abolitionist Society.
1790- The first United States census reports that there are almost 700,000 slaves in a nation of 3.9 million people.
1793- The United States puts into place the Fugitive Slave act which tells people that it is unlawful to interfere with the capturing of runaway slaves.
1808- The United States bans the importing of slaves, but smuggling of slaves continues.
1820- Congress comes to the Missouri Compromise. Missouri and Maine are admitted into the Union. Missouri as a slave state and maine as a free state. This compromise also outlaws slavery in all territories North of the latitude 36°30´.
1822- South Carolina slaves, led by Denmark Vesey (a freed slave) revolt against their white owners. Thirty- five slaves are hanged because of their participation in the uprising.
1831- Virginia slaves, led by slave preacher Nat Turner, revolt against their white owners. This leads to a two day uprising which ends up killing 60 whites. Milita crush the uprising and spend two months searching for he preacher. He is caught and hanged. The upset Southerners inflict harder constraints on their slaves.
1835- It is unlawful in the Southern States to mail out any sort of anti-slavery propaganda.
1846-1848- The Mexican-American War happens. Congress is unsure if the new land granted to them by the Mexicans should be free states or slave states.
1847- Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, starts publishing a newspaper called the North Star in New York.
1849- Harriet Tubman escapes. She returns many other times to help other slaves escape.
1850- California joins the Union as a free state. In exchange for that Northern states have to accept a stricter Fugitive Slave Act.
1852- Uncle Tom's Cabin (a story about the barbarity of slavery) written by Harriet Beecher Stowe is published. 300,000 copies are sold the fist year of publication.
1854- Congress allows Kansas and Nebraska to enter the Union, and let the States pick either to be a free state or a slave state. Violence erupts after the decisions
1857- The case of Dred Scott is decided but the Supreme Court. They rule that blacks can never be citizens and that Congress has no authority to outlaw slavery.
1860- Abraham Lincoln wins the presidential election and becomes the first Republican president to be elected as president.
1860- South Carolina suceeds. More southern states follow the example.
1861-1865- The Civil War is fought.
January 1, 1863- Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect. It states that all slaves in the Confederate States are now free.
1865- Slavery is abolished in the 13th amendment to the Constitution.