5. The Peculiar Institution and the Civil War

Atlantic Slave Trade

system where African slaves were forcibly transported to the Americas.

• 21 to 90 day voyage,

Triangle Trade / Middle Passage

trade route between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, where goods, slaves, and raw materials were exchanged.

The Peculiar Institution

system of slavery in the Southern US, marked by the widespread ownership of enslaved African Americans and their exploitation for labor on plantations.

Crispus Attucks

African American slave who was the first person killed in the Boston Massacre (because he ran away from his owner).

Declaration of Independence and slavery

initially criticised the King for supporting slavery but faced opposition from Southern delegates. Despite mentioning "unalienable rights" and equality, it did not directly address the status of Black Americans, and the anti-slavery passage was removed

Manumission of Slaves

the process of granting freedom to enslaved individuals. During the RW, there was debate over whether Blacks should be allowed to enlist in the Continental Army. Initially by Washington's order, the Continental Congress later approved the enlistment of free Blacks.

United States Constitution (3⁄5 Compromise, Slave Trade, Fugitive Slaves)

addressed slavery through provisions such as the 3/5 Compromise (counting slaves as 3/5 of a person for representation purposes), regulations on the slave trade, and provisions for the return of fugitive slaves to their owner.

Cotton Kingdom

southern US region where cotton production, boosted by Eli Whitney's cotton gin, dominated the economy and relied heavily on slavery. By 1860, cotton comprised 60% of US exports.

Cotton Gin (Eli Whitney)

machine that revolutionized cotton production by efficiently separating cotton fibers from seeds, leading to a massive increase in cotton cultivation and the demand for enslaved labor.

Plantations

large agricultural estates in the US where cash crops like cotton, tobacco, and sugar were cultivated, often using enslaved labor.

Plantation Hierarchy

• Master - owner of the plantation

• Overseer - supervised the work of the slaves

• Driver - slave who assisted the master or overseer on the plantation

• House servant - slaves responsible for domestic work

• Field slaves - slaves who carried out manual labour

Slave Codes

laws enacted in slaveholding states to regulate the behavior and treatment of enslaved individuals, reinforcing their status as property and restricting their rights and freedoms.

Underground Railroad

secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved individuals to escape to free states and Canada with the assistance of ‘‘conductors”.

Harriet Tubman

African American activist known for her role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, leading enslaved individuals to freedom

Slave Rebellions

acts of resistance by enslaved individuals against their oppressors, including notable figures like Gabriel Prosser and Denmark Vesey.

Nat Turner’s Rebellion, 1831

slave uprising led by Nat Turner in Virginia. Turner believed he was divinely inspired to save his people. Turner and his followers killed about 60 white people. The rebellion was quashed within 24 hours, with Turner captured and executed later. This revolt led to stricter slave codes.

Missouri Compromise, 1820

legislative agreement that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, while prohibiting slavery north of the 36°30′ parallel.

Compromise of 1850

laws to resolve disputes between slave and free states, including admitting California as a free state and enacting a stricter Fugitive slave law.

Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854

legislation that repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to decide on slavery → violent conflicts

Bleeding Kansas (1855-1856)

period of violent civil strife in Kansas Territory resulting from the struggle between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions following the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Dred Scott v. John F. A. Sanford (1857): 7 to 2 decision

Supreme Court case where Dred Scott (an enslaved man) sued for his freedom on the basis of having lived in free states, but the Court ruled against him → slaves were not citizens, no right to sue

Raid at Harpers Ferry, 1859

unsuccessful attempt of slave rebellion by John Brown, by taking over a government weapons store at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. They were captured and executed.

John Brown

abolitionist who attempted to start a slave rebellion.

Abolitionism

a political movement centered around ending slavery.

William Lloyd Garrison

abolitionist who founded the American Anti-Slavery Society (1833) and published the newspaper "The Liberator",

Harriet Beecher Stove

author of the influential anti-slavery novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin," which depicted the harsh realities of slavery. (best-seller)

Frederick Douglas

escaped slavery, a supporter of the antislavery cause, he has an autobiography.

Emancipation Movement

collective effort to abolish slavery in the US, involving various individuals, organizations, and political action.

American Colonization Society (1816)

founded by Robert Finley, this organization advocated for the release of slaves and their resettlement in Africa. It established the colony of Liberia for this purpose.

Civil War, 1861-1865

conflict between the Union (North), led by Abraham Lincoln, and the Confederacy (South), led by Jefferson Davis, primarily over issues of slavery and states' rights

Republican Party (1854)

emerged as a major political force opposing the expansion of slavery into new territories and advocating for its eventual abolition.

Abraham Lincoln

US president - Republican Party, issued the Emancipation Proclamation and led the Union during the Civil War.

Ulysses S. Grant

Union general during the Civil War, later President of the US.

“Fire-eaters”

Southern politicians who promoted secession from the Union and strongly defended slavery.

Montgomery Convention, 1861

at the convention in Montgomery, Alabama, the seven seceding states created the Confederate States of America and elected Jefferson Davis as its president.

Confederate States of America

a government formed by Southern states that seceded from the Union.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

Robert E. Lee

Confederate general known for his leadership during the Civil War.

Freedmen

former slaves who were freed during or after the Civil War.

Freedmen’s Bureau, 1865

federal agency established to assist freed slaves in the South by providing food, clothing, medical care, and education.

Battle of Fort Sumter, 1861

first military conflict of the Civil War, occurring when Confederate forces bombarded Fort Sumter.

Battle of Antietam, 1862

pivotal battle fought in Maryland, resulting in the bloodiest day in American history and a strategic Union victory.

Emancipation Proclamation, 1863

executive order by Lincoln, declaring all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free, though its practical impact was limited at the time.

Battle of Gettysburg, 1863

battle in Pennsylvania that stopped Confederate General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North, often considered a turning point in the Civil War.

Gettysburg Address, 1863

Lincoln’s speech dedicated to the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, emphasized the principles of equality and freedom.

John Wilkes Booth (“Sic semper tyrannis,” 1865)

American actor who killed Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington.

• "Sic semper tyrannis" - "Thus always to tyrants" - John shouted after killing Lincoln