Slavery timeline
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Harriet Tubman guides eleven slave fugitives to Canada
Because the Fugitive Slave Law had made the northern United States more dangerous for escaped slaves, many began migrating further north to Canada.... Read more
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"Blind Tom" Wiggins composes first song, "The Rain Storm"
By age five Tom reportedly had composed his first tune, The Rain Storm, based on his aural impressions of a torrential downpour. Read more
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Kansas-Nebraska Act Debated in the House of Representatives
The bill next moved to the House of Representatives. On March 21, 1854, as a delaying tactic, the legislation was referred by a vote of 110 to 95... Read more
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"Blind Tom" Wiggins performs for first time before a large public audience
In October 1857, General Bethune rented a concert hall in Columbus and for the first time "Blind Tom" performed before a large audience that had... Read more
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General James Bethune hires Perry Oliver to promote and tour "Blind Tom" Wiggins around the country
Slaves with musical talent meant income for their owners and in 1858 James Bethune "hired out" Tom to concert promoter Perry Oliver for a period of... Read more
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Lincoln Loses First of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates on Slavery
August 21, 1858, was the day that Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas met in Ottawa, Illinois, in the first of the famous Lincoln-Douglas... Read more
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Freeport Doctrine Is Focal Point in Douglas' Argument at the Second Lincoln-Douglas Debate
At Freeport Lincoln challenged Douglas to reconcile popular sovereignty with the Dred Scott decision. Douglas replied that settlers could... Read more
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Third Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Slave State Borders
MR. DOUGLAS’ SPEECH. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I appear before you today in pursuance of a previous notice, and have made arrangements with Mr.... Read more
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Fourth Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Coles County Fairgrounds
Fourth Joint Debate at Charleston Mr. Lincoln’s Speech (September 18, 1858) LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: It will be very difficult for an... Read more
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Douglas Seeks to Prove that Lincoln was an Abolitionist at the Fifth Lincoln-Douglas Debate
At Galesburg Douglas sought again to prove that Lincoln was an abolitionist with the following quotes from Lincoln: “I should like to know, if... Read more
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Lincoln Declares Slavery a Moral Wrong in the Sixth Lincoln-Douglas Debate
It was, wrote Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer of the Quincy Debate between U.S. Senate candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, “the... Read more
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The Slave Debate Comes to a Head at the Seventh and Final Lincoln-Douglas Debate
SENATOR DOUGLAS’ SPEECH. Long and loud bursts of applause greeted Senator Douglas when he appeared on the stand. As he was about to commence... Read more
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Q. K. Philander Doesticks Attends A Slave Auction
On March 3, 1859, journalist Q. K. Philander Doesticks (Mortimer Thomson) attended an auction of 436 men, women, and children formerly held by... Read more
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Anonymous Letters Claim Lee Had Escaped Slaves Whipped
In 1859, three of the Arlington slaves—Wesley Norris, his sister Mary, and a cousin of theirs—fled for the North, but were captured a few miles... Read more
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"Blind Tom" Wiggins is first African American to perform at White House
In 1860, Blind Tom performed at the White House before President James Buchanan. Read more
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"Blind Tom" Wiggins publishes "Oliver Gallop" and "Virginia Polka"
Tom Wiggins' piano pieces “Oliver Galop” and “Virginia Polka” were published in 1860. Read more
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Baltimore Sun reviews performance of "Blind Tom" Wiggins
TOM' the MUSICAL WONDER. We enjoyed an opportunity last night to hear the performance of the blind negro boy 'TOM' at Carrol Hall, and though... Read more
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"Blind Tom" Wiggins composes "The Battle of Manassas"
Battle of Manassas was written by Thomas Wiggins (aka "Blind Tom") at the age of 12. It is a programmatic work which describes the first major... Read more
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Lincoln Signs The Emancipation Act
On April 16, 1862, President Lincoln signed an act abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia, an important step in the long road toward full... Read more
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"Blind Tom" Wiggins performs at Camp Magnum, a Confederate Army camp
A letter written in 1862 by a soldier in North Carolina described some of Tom's eccentric capabilities: "One of his most remarkable feats was the... Read more
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Abraham Lincoln Issues First Order of Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation consists of two executive orders issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. The... Read more
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Abraham Lincoln Presents Final Draft of the Emancipation Proclamation
In the Second Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln also formally recognised the right of black men to enlist in the army, and shortly afterwards the... Read more
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James Bethune convinces Blind Tom Wiggins' parents to sign an indenture agreement for his services
James Bethune protected himself against the possiblity of a Union victory in the Civil War by convincing Mingo and Charity Wiggins to sign an... Read more
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Tabbs Gross sues James Bethune and his sons claiming he had bill-of-sale for Blind Tom Wiggins' services
Why is Tom compelled to support Bethune and his two able-bodied sons who, fresh from the ranks of treason, are making the tour of the North with... Read more
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The Thirteenth Amendment is ratified
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except... Read more
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