Milton Notes

Fugitive Slave Laws

Laws requiring all states to return escaped enslaved people to their owners, even in states that prohibited slavery.

Cotton Gin

An invention by Eli Whitney that improved the efficiency of cotton production, bolstering the demand for slave labor in the South.

Haitian Revolution

The largest slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere, occurring from 1791 to 1804 in Saint Domingue.

Louisiana Purchase

The 1803 acquisition of territory that doubled the size of the US and was explored by Lewis and Clark.

Andrew Jackson’s Era

A period marked by North's industrialization post-war of 1812, expanding voting rights, and the emergence of the Whig Party.

Racial Attitudes in the North

Beliefs in the North that led to segregation and exclusion of Blacks from public events.

Black Families and Communities in the North

All-Black communities that emphasized education and religion.

1811 Louisiana Slave Revolt

The largest slave uprising in US history, led by Charles Deslondes, resulting in 100 deaths.

Gabriel Prosser’s Conspiracy

A failed Virginia slave revolt that heightened fears of free Blacks.

Denmark Vesey’s Revolt

A planned revolt by Denmark Vesey that was betrayed, resulting in stricter regulations on Black education.

The Antebellum Period

The period before the Civil War characterized by abolitionism and economic shifts.

Manifest Destiny

The belief in America’s moral obligation to expand its institutions across the continent.

Cotton Economy and Slavery

The thriving cotton plantations that increased the demand for slave labor post-Indian Removal Act.

Early Industrialization

A period initiated by Samuel Slater’s textile mill in 1793 that led to urban migration.

The Second Great Awakening

A religious revival from 1790 to 1840 that prompted many to view slavery as a sin.

Colonization Movement

An effort led by the American Colonization Society to return free Blacks to Africa, resulting in Liberia.

William Lloyd Garrison

An abolitionist who advocated for immediate emancipation without relocation.

David Walker

An abolitionist and author of 'Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World', promoting militant resistance against slavery.

Nat Turner

A slave who led a rebellion in 1831, resulting in the deaths of 55 whites and harsher laws against enslaved people.