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Passed by the United States Congress as part of the Compromise of 1850. Proof copy of the first printing of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, printed by Thomas Ritchie under the U.S. Congress.

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Significance: The Fugitive Slave Act increases tension between Northern and Southern citizens socially by forcing Northerners to participate in the capture and return of escaped slaves. This created outrage in the North and increased support for the abolitionist movement, dividing public opinion on slavery. Politically meant to keep peace between free and slave states. However, it backfired by pushing the country closer to civil war, as it symbolized the federal governments support of slavery.

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Kansas‑Nebraska Act, enacted by the United States Congress, sponsored by Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois.

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Kansas Nebraska Act(Bleeding Kansas) 1854

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Kansas Nebraska Act(Bleeding Kansas) 1854

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Significance: Politically the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed citizens in those areas to decide whether to allow slavery through popular sovereignty, which repeals the Missouri Compromise of 1820. This only gave pro- and anti-slavery forces a new battleground, increasing Sectionalism. Socially, the Act led to violent conflict in Kansas between proslavery and anti-slavery settlers, which is also known as Bleeding Kansas. Communities became divided, and violence erupted over the future of slavery in the region.

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By American artist John Curry showing John Brown holding a bible in one hand and a gun in the other showing that he did what he did because of his faith in God, in 1859.

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Significance: John Brown was religiously motivated by his Christian beliefs. He saw himself as an instrument of God’s will to end the evil of slavery. His faith justified his use of violence in his mind, and his trial and speeches reflect strong religious conviction that inspired both fear and admiration. John Brown also intellectually challenged ideas about resistance in the United States. It sparked debates over whether violent rebellions were a legitimate response to morally wrong things like slavery.

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Photograph shows Union soldiers outside a tent used as a telegraph station at Wilcox's Landing in Charles City County, Virginia, 1864.

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Significance: Technologically, telegraphs allowed commanders and government officials to communicate over long distances, coordinating troop movements and sharing intelligence in near real time, a revolutionary change from previous wars. Railroads enabled the fast and large scale movement of troops, weapons, and supplies across large distances. Politically, the control of railroads and telegraph lines was an objective, because disrupting the networks could weaken an opponent’s ability to wage war effectively. The Unions superior railroad infrastructure and telegraph network gave it a political and military advantage, helping to give federal control over key territories and supply routes.

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Print shows the text of the Emancipation Proclamation. Soon after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, print sellers made decorative images with the text for framing. This image by Louis Haugg features a medallion portrait of Lincoln in the upper center.

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Significance: Politically, The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order by President Lincoln that changed the Civil War, making the abolition of slavery a central Union goal. Socially, it gave hope to enslaved people and inspired thousands to escape to Union lines, increasing the ranks of freedmen who supported the war effort. However, it only applied to Confederate states not under Union control, so slavery remained legal in border states, causing mixed reactions.

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The surrender of General Lee and the Army of northern Virginia at Appomattox, Virginia, April 9, 1865; by Henry Bruce

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Significance: The surrender of General Lee was politically significant because it marked the official end of the Confederacy. It confirmed that states did not have the right to secede and strengthened the authority of the federal government over the entire country. The surrender also shifted national attention to the era of Reconstruction. Economically, Lee’s surrender signaled the collapse of the Southern economy, which had relied heavily on enslaved labor to support its agricultural system. The end of slavery forced the South to begin transitioning to a new economic model based on free labor, which created major challenges and changes.

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Abraham Lincoln papers Wednesday, 1865 (Telegram reporting of 13th Amendment)

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Significance: The 13th amendment was politically significant because it officially abolished slavery throughout the United States. This fulfilled one of the Unions key goals in the Civil War. It marked a major shift in federal power over civil rights. Economically, the amendment ended the system of unpaid slave labor, forcing the Southern economy to transition to a wage-based labor system.

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Man representing the Freedman's Bureau stands between armed groups of Euro Americans and Afro-Americans. By Alfred Rudolph.

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Significance: The Freedmen’s Bureau was politically important because it was a federal agency created to assist formerly enslaved people in the South during reconstruction. It represented one of the first major government efforts to provide social welfare in the postwar South. Economically, the Freedmen’s Bureau helped freed people find jobs, negotiate labor contracts, and gain access to basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelter. It also attempted to redistribute land to former slaves.

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Shows a convention of African Americans discussing various steps to resist the Black Codes. The National Convention of Colored People, Nashville, Tennessee.

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Significance: The Black Codes were politically significant because they were laws passed by Southern states to restrict the rights and freedoms of newly freed African Americans. These laws aimed to maintain white supremacy and limit Black political power by controlling where freedmen could live, work, and travel. Economically, Black Codes forced many African Americans into unfair labor contracts and restricted their ability to own property or choose employment freely. These laws were designed to recreate conditions similar to slavery, keeping Black workers poor.

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 Evidence taken before the Military committee that relates to outrages committed by the Ku Klux klan in middle and west Tennessee. Published by S. C Mercer, 1868.

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Significance: Socially, the KKK created a wave of fear and hatred in Southern communities. Their violent actions deepened racial divisions and supported white supremacy. The Klan targeted not only Black citizens but also white allies, including politicians who supported racial equality. This terror disrupted social progress and made everyday life dangerous for African americans trying to live with their new freedoms. Also politically significant because it used intimidation, violence, and terror to weaken the voting rights and political participation of African americans during Reconstruction.