Civil War and Reconstruction (1619 - 1877)

Core Themes and Thematic Overview

• Historical Scope: This guide covers the critical timeline of American history from $1619$ through $1877$.
• Primary Argument: The progression of American history during this era involves various steps that are fundamentally "about slavery, but not about slavery." This phrasing highlights the paradoxical nature of the institution's role in the nation's development.
• Key Figures and Concepts:
      * Eli Whitney and the Technological Evolution: Includes the Cotton Gin and the development of interchangeable parts.
      * The Middle Passage: The forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic.
      * Abolitionist Leadership: Specifically the influence of William Lloyd Garrison.
      * Expansionist Conflicts: The Annexation of Texas and the Mexican-American War, including the "Spot Resolutions."
      * Sectional Strife in the $1850s$: The "Extra Slave state race," "Bleeding Kansas," and the militant actions of John Brown.
      * Judicial and Political Crises: The Dred Scott decision and the period of "Democratic Suicide."
      * Military and Post-War Transitions: The Union victory in $1863$, the clash between Andrew Johnson and Thaddeus Stevens, and the eventual rise of the "Redemption" movement and the "Lost Cause" mythos.

Foundations of Slavery and Democracy ($1619$ – $1787$)

• $1619$: The arrival of the first $20$ enslaved Africans in Jamestown. Notably, this event occurred in the same year that "democracy" was extended to the House of Burgesses, marking a dual beginning for the colonies.
• $1776$: Bacon’s Rebellion occurred, described as a "mini-Revolutionary War." A primary result of this rebellion was that indentured servants ceased coming to the colonies, leading to an increased reliance on enslaved labor.
• $1785$: The Northwest Ordinance was enacted. This legislation saw Congress dictate the status of slavery within organized territories.
• $1787$: The Great Compromise was established. While meant to resolve legislative representation, it placed the United States on a direct collision course involving a state power struggle.

Industrialization and the Rebirth of Slavery ($1793$ – $1819$)

• $1793$: Eli Whitney "fine tunes" the concept of interchangeable parts. This innovation opened the door for wide-scale Industrialization in the United States.
• $1800$: Eli Whitney "invents" the Cotton Gin. This invention provided a vital rebirth to the institution of slavery, which had been in a state of dying use before the gin made cotton production highly profitable.
• $1808$: The African slave trade was officially ended, a move supported by Virginia and President Thomas Jefferson.
• $1819$: The Missouri Crisis and subsequent Missouri Compromise occurred. This agreement established the $36' 30$ line and mandated that new states must be admitted to the Union in pairs (one free and one slave) to maintain sectional balance.

The Rise of Abolitionism and Sectional Tension ($1820s$ – $1836$)

• $1820s$: The Second Great Awakening began, leading to a religious revival that served as the birth of the modern Abolitionism movement.
• $1831$: William Lloyd Garrison launched his publication, The Liberator. Garrison's platform was characterized by a demand for emancipation with "no \ for emancipation," meaning no financial compensation for slaveholders.
• $1831$: Nat Turner’s Rebellion occurred. This violent insurrection terrified Southerners, resulting in restrictive new laws such as the prohibition of teaching enslaved people to read.
• $1836$: The House of Representatives passed the "Gag Rule," which effectively prevented any further debate on the subject of slavery in the House.
• $1836$: Texas achieved independence from Mexico. While Mexico vowed to retake the territory, the new Republic of Texas actively sought annexation by the United States.

Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War ($1844$ – $1848$)

• $1844$: The presidential race was dominated by the concept of "Manifest Destiny." Candidate James K. Polk won the election after vowing to acquire both Texas and California.
• $1846$: The United States declared war on Mexico. This followed Zachary Taylor’s army invading territory down to the Rio Grande. This period is also associated with the "Spot Resolutions."
• $1846$: The Wilmot Proviso passed in the House of Representatives, proposing that no new slavery be allowed in any territories acquired from the war.
• $1848$: The Mexican-American War concluded. Simultaneously, gold was discovered in California, raising urgent questions about its potential statehood.

The Escalation of the $1850s$ and the Path to War ($1850$ – $1859$)

• $1850$: The "Great Compromise" regarding California statehood was reached. California was admitted as a free state, but the agreement also included a new, stricter Fugitive Slave Law.
• $1851$: Harriet Tubman and other activists significantly accelerated the use and efficiency of the Underground Railroad.
• $1852$: Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book's portrayal of slavery greatly enraged the Northern public.
• $1853$: William Walker, a "Fillibuster," took control of Nicaragua and requested that it be admitted into the Union as a slave state.
• $1854$: The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed under Stephen Douglas. This legislative shift directly led to the birth of the Republican Party.
• $1855$: "Bleeding Kansas" erupted into violence as "Border Ruffians" from Missouri raced into the territory to influence the outcome of the slavery vote.
• $1856$: Violent conflict intensified as John Brown killed pro-slavery supporters in Kansas. Concurrently, the "Senate beating of Sumner" occurred, where Senator Charles Sumner was attacked on the Senate floor.
• $1857$: The Supreme Court issued the Dred Scott decision. This ruling effectively allowed slaveholding in every part of the United States.
• $1858$: The Lincoln-Douglas debates took place. During these exchanges, Douglas articulated his "Freeport Doctrine," a move that arguably doomed his future presidential candidacy.
• $1859$: John Brown attempted to initiate a slave insurrection in Virginia through a raid at Harpers Ferry.

The Civil War Era ($1860$ – $1865$)

• $1860$: Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States with only $42\%$ of the popular vote. In December, South Carolina responded by seceding from the Union.
• $1861$: The Civil War officially began with the bombing of Fort Sumter. The early stages of the conflict were characterized by poor performance from the Northern forces.
• $1862$: President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This was a strategic move designed to manage the Border States and prevent Great Britain from intervening on the side of the Confederacy.
• $1864$: Lincoln was re-elected to the presidency with Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat, serving as his Vice President.
• $1865$: The conclusion of the war and the transition of power:
      * General Sherman conducted his March to the Sea.
      * The $13th$ Amendment was passed by Congress.
      * The Civil War officially ended in April.
      * The assassination of Abraham Lincoln left Andrew Johnson, a Southern Democrat who had previously held slaves, as the President.

Reconstruction and the Post-War Order ($1866$ – $1896$)

• $1866$: Radical Republicans achieved a $2/3rds$ majority in Congress. They used this power to kick the former Confederate states out of the U.S. and take control of Reconstruction.
• $1868$: President Andrew Johnson was impeached. During this period, the $14th$ Amendment began to be systematically violated by the implementation of Jim Crow laws.
• $1877$: Reconstruction officially ended following the election of Rutherford B. Hayes.
• $1896$: The Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson was decided, cementing the legal basis for segregation and facilitating the narrative of the "Lost Cause."