Pre-Civil War: Events that Lead to the Abolition of the Slave Trade and Slavery

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During the 1800’s, Gabriel Prosser, a blacksmith from Richmond, Virginia devised a plan that would free him self and other from slavery. Prosser and a group of his followers would procure armor and weapons then try and take over the city, thus freeing them from slavery. Unfortunately before they could execute the plan, him and some of his followers were put to death, an event that would prove to be a catalyst to the uprising. Following their deaths and many more to come, Africans slaves then would attempt to flee from their plantation or masters and run for freedom. Slaves in the southern states flee to the North just to try and have the same opportunities as whites. This is because, in 1803, the state of New Jersey enacts a law that provides for gradual abolition of slavery. All states north of the Mason-Dixon Line bestow the abolition of slavery within their territories. This form of apartheid does not settle well the slaves at the time of lots of mistreatment and poverty stricken families were struggling to get by through life. The government did not help but only added on to the slave issue at hand. With the ending of the twenty-year ban on Congressional action, Thomas Jefferson, who did not like the idea of slavery, initiates congress to criminalize the slave trades because it’s a violation of human rights, which have been going on for so long. Quickly, Jefferson had Congress outlaws the international slave trade with the act prohibiting Importation of Slaves. Importing or exporting slaves will be a federal crime, which all this doesn’t stop some whites obsessed with having a slave, thus illegal immigrants became a way of a quick pay day for some people. Gradually as the year grew on, the downfall of the African Ame... ... middle of paper ... ...ssed. Separately southerners conclude movement toward disunion but are angered by Northern resistance to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act. Northerners are upset about possible growth of slavery in the Southwest and the stronger fugitive slave law that asks all U.S. citizens to help return the slaves that try to escape. As events happen, California strategically sends a group of pro-slavery Representatives and Senators to Congress until the beginning of the Civil War. In conclusion, the union, a group of twenty three states, mainly wanted the abolishment of slavery and retain the Confederate states from taking control of the nation. If slavery were abolished then that would upset the economy of the south ultimately defeating it. The confederate was fighting for states rights to govern themselves and was not worried about the repercussions on a national wide level.

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