1830

The results of the 1830 census show a total population of almost 12.8 million, of which 16% are slaves. Slaves are virtually non-existent in northern states and as high as 54% in South Carolina and 51% in Louisiana.  

January, 1831

William Lloyd Garrison publishes the first issue of the abolitionist journal, the Liberator.

August, 1831

In the Nat Turner Rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, over 60 whites were killed. Turner was on the run for or nearly two months, but was eventually caught and hanged.

1832

The Tariff Act of 1832 reduces duties; however, the  South is still dissatisfied and threatens secession. South Carolina's legislature organizes an army and declare the tariffs null and void.

1833

Confrontation over tariffs is is averted when the Compromise Tariff Act is passed as a means of gradually reducing the tariffs.

1834

Slavery abolished throughout the British Empire.

May, 1836

The House passes a resolution that automatically tables or postpones action on all petitions relating to slavery without hearing them. Stricter versions of this gag rule are passed in succeeding Congresses.

June, 1835

Arkansas becomes the twenty fifth state, entering as a  slave state.

January, 1837

Michigan becomes the twenty sixth state, entering as a free state.

November, 1837

Abolitionist publisher Elijah P. Lovejoy is murdered in Alton, Illinois and his printing press is thrown in the river. He had been calling for an end to slavery.

1838

Lead by black abolitionist Robert Purvis, the Underground Railroad is formally organized.

1840

The results of the 1840 census show a total population of nearly 17 million, of which 15% are slaves. Slaves are virtually non-existent in northern states and as high as 55% in South Carolina and 52% in Mississippi.

March, 1845

Florida becomes the twenty seventh state, entering as a slave state.

December, 1845

Texas becomes the twenty eighth state, entering as a slave state.

December 1846

Iowa becomes the twenty ninth state, entering as a free state.

May, 1848

Wisconsin becomes the thirtieth state, entering as a free state.

1849

Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery in Maryland. Afterwards, she travels to the south 19 times, brining out more than 300 slaves on the Underground Railroad.

1850

The results of the 1850 census show a total population of as little more than 23 million, of which 14% are slaves. Slaves are virtually non-existent in northern states and as high as 58% in South Carolina and 51% in Mississippi.  

September, 1850

Congress implements several measures forming the Compromise of 1850. The measures included California joining the Union as a free state, the territories of New Mexico and Utah are organized with no restrictions on slavery, slave trading is abolished in the District of Columbia effective January 1851 and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 is modified and strengthened to allow slaveholders to retrieve slaves in northern states and free territories.

September 9, 1850

California becomes the thirty first state and enters the Union as a free state

January, 1851

Slave trading is abolished in the District of Columbia.

1852

Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes Uncle Tom's Cabin as a response to the pro-slavery movement.

1854

The Kansas-Nebraska Act passes Congress, overturning the Missouri Compromise and opening the Northern territory to slavery. Both sides begin to send settlers into the areas in an effort to influence them.

1855

As Kansas prepares for elections thousands of Border Ruffians from Missouri enter the territory in an effort to influence the election. This begins the Bloody Kansas period with duplicate constitutional conventions, separate elections, and constant violent attacks.

May, 1856

Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner delivers a speech attacking slavery supporters in the Senate. He singles out Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina in his speech. Two days later, South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks, Butler's nephew, attacks Sumner on the Senate floor and beats him with a cane. The House did not expel or censure Brooks for the attack, Sumner took three years to recover.

1857

Congress passes the Tariff of 1857 lowering rates to the lowest level since 1812. This is very unpopular in the North and praised in the South.

March, 1857

In the Dred Scott Decision the Supreme Court rules in Scott v. Sandford that blacks are not U.S. citizens, and slaveholders have the right to take existing slaves into free areas of the county.

1858

Minnesota becomes the thirty second state, entering as a free state. 

1859

Oregon becomes the thirty third state, entering as a free state. 

October 16-18, 1859

In an attempt to amass arms for slave insurrection, John Brown attacks the federal armory and arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Robert E. Lee, then a Federal Army regular, leads the troops and captures Brown.

December 2, 1859

John Brown and two of the black members of his band are hanged for murder and treason at Charles Town, Virginia.