On March 14, 1794, Eli Whitney, a young inventor from Massachusetts, impacted the landscape of American agriculture, industry, and the proliferation of slavery in the United States with his patent for the cotton gin. Born in 1765, Whitney had exhibited a knack for engineering…
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The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. The Amistad on March 9, 1841, was a pivotal moment in American legal history, addressing issues of slavery, international law, and human rights. The case involved a group of Africans who had been illegally enslaved,…
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On March 7, 1850, Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts delivered one of the most significant speeches in American history, later known as the “Seventh of March” speech. Speaking at a time of deep national division, Webster endorsed the Compromise of 1850, a contentious set…
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In 1807, Congress passed a law banning the international slave trade to the United States, set to take effect at the start of 1808, as permitted by the Constitution. The debate over this legislation was influenced by economic interests, national security concerns, and fears…
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Abraham Lincoln’s Cooper Union address, delivered on February 27, 1860, in New York City, stands as one of the most legendary speeches ever given by an American politician. At the time, the United States was deeply divided over the issue of slavery, and the…
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On February 17, 1820, hoping to end the question of the future of slavery in the United States, Congress introduced the Missouri Compromise. Henry Clay, a prominent statesman, orchestrated the compromise with the intent of preserving harmony in the Union by delicately balancing the…
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It is considered one of the most important television miniseries of all time. On January 23, 1977, “Roots” debuted, marking a watershed moment in the history of American TV. Based on Alex Haley’s novel, the miniseries chronicled the journey of an African-American family, beginning…
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In January 4, 1853, Solomon Northup finally breathed the sweet air of freedom again. Northup was an African-American man born in July 1808 in Minerva, New York. Born a free man in a time when slavery was still legal in the United States, Northup…
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On December 29, 1845, Texas officially became the 28th state of the United States, marking the culmination of a decade-long struggle for recognition, sovereignty, and inclusion in the Union. The annexation of Texas stands as one of the most consequential and debated events in…
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On December 20, 1860, a secession convention in South Carolina voted unanimously to secede from the Union. Fearing that Republican Abraham Lincoln’s administration would appoint antislavery officials who would undermine slavery, slaveholders chose to abandon the Constitution and form their own nation. To justify…
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