1825-1865
Major Events Leading to the Civil
War
John Quincy Adams (18251829)
4 men run for President, Andrew Jackson
gets the most votes- but election is given
to Adams who came in second. (Jackson
blames Henry Clay)
Adams has many goals but will have very little
success as Jackson’s supporters block his
moves.
The election of 1828 Adams vs. Jackson is
one of the dirtiest ever. All about
character.
Jackson Wins in a landslide
Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
Jackson’s Wife (Rachel) dies 2 weeks after election
January 1835 – Andrew Jackson paid off the
National Debt. (the only time this has
happened)
Multiple Calls to do away with the electoral college
Indian Removal Act – called for 5 tribes to be
forced from their lands
Cherokee nation takes government to court and wins.
Jackson says the court has ruled let them enforce it.
Cherokee are forced out leads to the “Trail of
Tears”
Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
Nullification Crisis (1828-1832)
South Carolina claims it can nullify high
tariffs that hurt its economy. Vice
President John C. Calhoun is the leader.
In response Jackson asks Congress to pass a
“Force Bill” allowing him to take troops into
S.C. He claims he will hang Calhoun from
the first tree he finds.
Henry Clay works out the Compromise Tariff
that averts the crisis
Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
Martin van Buren becomes Vice
President for 2nd term
Opposition to the National Bank- he
destroys the bank in 1833 by
withdrawing federal funds. (had to
fire 2 Sec. of the Treasury to do so)
Jan. 30 1835 - Richard Lawrence
attempts to kill Jackson (first time
this had happened)
New States:
Andrew Jackson:
Arkansas 1836
Michigan 1837
Texas Revolution
1835-1836 Texas fights for its
independence from Mexico
Feb. 23, 1836-March 6 Battle of the
Alamo – Mexican Forces win killing
all of the defenders
April 21, 1836- Revolution comes to
an end with defeat of Mexican
Army. Texas wins Independence
Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
Panic of 1837 – beginning of 5 year
depression (one of the worst economic
crises in US History)
Slavery becoming more of a divisive issue
between North and South
1837- Denies Texas’s request to join the
union
New political Party formed (Whigs)
Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
1839- Slaves on slave ship Amistad revolt
and land in New York. John Quincy
Adams defends leaders of revolt in front of
Supreme Court
1839- Abner Doubleday invents baseball
in Cooperstown, NY
1840- William Henry Harrison runs for
President with John Tyler-slogan“Tippecanoe and Tyler too” (Harrison
member of Whig Party wins)
Harrison/Tyler (1841-1845)
Harrison takes oath on March 4, 1841dies of pneumonia on April 4. Is
President for 30 days (1st president to die
in office)
Last president born before Declaration of
Independence was signed
John Tyler takes oath of office on April 6,
1841
1844- Samuel Morse opens telegraph
between Baltimore and Washington DC
James K. Polk (1845-1849)
1845- U.S. Naval Academy opens at
Annapolis, Maryland
Dec. 29, 1845 – US annex’s Texas it
becomes the 28th state
Smithsonian Institution founded with a half
million dollar gift by James Smithson
Potato famine in Ireland many flee to the
United States
Gold found at Sutter’s Mill California on
Jan. 24,1848- California Gold Rush
begins in 1849- Miners called 49’ers
Mexican-American War
April 25th, 1846 Mexican troops cross the
Rio Grande and attack American troops
under General Zachary Taylor begins
Mexican-American War
United States Marines capture Mexico
City on September 11, 1847.
February 2, 1848 treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo ends war. (U.S. gains almost all
of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and
Utah. US pays Mexico 15 million for land)
California Gold Rush
Over 400,000 people would
venture to California
looking for Gold
Routes were the Cherokee
Trail, Oregon Trail (2,000
mile trip). Some made
the trip by boat around
Cape Horn.
1852 was the peak year for
movement west.
Dangerous Trip-many
travelers died on the way
to California
Zachary Taylor 1849-1850
Zachary Taylor (Whig) “old rough
and ready” elected 12th President
of the United States
The plague is spreading world wide (20
million will die world wide during its
course) last occurrence
Taylor Dies on July 9, 1850
Millard Fillmore takes oath of office
on July 9, 1850
Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
With the addition of new territory the Slavery issue
rises again
Calls for secession first heard
Henry Clay works out the Compromise of 1850
California a free state, D.C. no slaves
All territories have popular sovereignty
Texas a slave state and can expand, Fugitive
Slave Act. (makes it a crime to help
escaping slaves)
Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
Tensions between North and South continue to rise
over the issue of slavery. Abolitionists angered
by the Fugitive Slave Act, Slave Owners saying
compromise is not being followed
1851 Harriet Beecher Stowe – writes antislavery novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” adds to
slavery tension
August 12, 1851 Isaac Singer gets a patent for his
invention a sewing machine
Henry Clay dies on June 29, 1852