Anti-Slavery Movement: A Brief Chronology (1831-1860)

1831	Nat Turner leads an unsuccessful slave revolt. He is captured and hung.
1833	The American Anti-Slavery Society is founded by abolitionist groups from New York and New England.
1834	Anti-Abolition riots break out in New York and Philadelphia
1835	Congress adopts a "gag resolutions" against anti-slavery petitions and motions.
1839	Liberty Party, the first anti-slavery party holds a national convention in Warsaw, New York.
1840	World Anti-Slavery Convention held in London. American churches condemned for supporting slavery.
1841	Frederick Douglass addresses a convention of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society in Nantucket, resulting in his employment as an agent.
1848	California adopts a constitution forbidding slavery. Conflicts between pro- and anti slavery groups deepens.
1850	Compromise of 1850 passes-California a free state. Fugitive Slave Act set up and slave trade abolished in District of Columbia
1851	Charles Sumner becomes U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and leads fight against slavery.
1854	Kansas-Nebraska Act is passed. All territories can decide to permit or prohibit slavery-condemned by abolitionists. --Republican Party formed as a reaction against Kansas-Nebraska Act- a call for abolishment of slavery.
1855	"Bleeding Kansas"--popular sovereignty leads to bloody war between pro and anti-slavery groups. John Brown arrived in Kansas, he helps to defend Lawrence.
1856	President Pierce recognizes proslavery legislature in Kansas Territory. Border Ruffians-proslavery, sack Lawrence, Kansas John Brown- attack in response. The Pottawatomie murders, May 23-26. Civil battles continue between free and proslavery states until federal troops restore peace. Senator Sumner gives bitter anti-slavery speech and rift between both sides broadens.
1857	Dred Scott Decision in Supreme Court means fugitive slaves in a free state are not free and says Congress has no right to prohibit slavery in the territories.
1858	Kansas rejects Locompton Constitution and becomes a non-slaveholding state.
1859	Abolitionist John Brown with 21 men, seize U.S. arsenal at Harper's Ferry-hoping to start a slave insurrection. He is hung for treason-Martyr to the North-Traitor to the South.
1860	Civil War rages...

Source:

http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap4/abolish.html

http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/abol.html