Category Archives: 1850s

Abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner beaten unconscious 170 years ago this hour (May 22 1856)

1850s


Video: '"The Caning of Charles Sumner (1856): Violence in the Senate Over Slavery" | Episode : 17'

(Tuesday, May 22, 1856, at around 2:30 p.m. local time) — Congressman Preston Brooks, a pro-slavery Democrat from South Carolina, beat Senator Charles Sumner, a Republican abolitionist from Massachusetts, with a walking cane today in the hall of the United States Senate in retaliation for a speech Sumner had made two days earlier attacking Southerners who sympathized with the pro-slavery violence in Kansas (“Bleeding Kansas“). Continue reading Abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner beaten unconscious 170 years ago this hour (May 22 1856) →

U.S. President Franklin Pierce signs Kansas–Nebraska Act, clearing path for slavery expansion 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1854)

1850s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Kansas Nebraska Act'

(Tuesday, May 30, 1854) — U.S. President Franklin Pierce today signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, allowing people in the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether or not to allow slavery within their borders. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin Pierce signs Kansas–Nebraska Act, clearing path for slavery expansion 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1854) →

U.S. Vice President Thomas R. Marshall born in North Manchester, Indiana 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 14 1854)

1850s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'America's WITTIEST Vice President??? Thomas Marshall's interesting legacy'

(Tuesday, March 14, 1854) — Thomas R. Marshall, 28th vice president of the United States from 1913 to 1921 under President Woodrow Wilson, was born today in North Manchester, Indiana. Continue reading U.S. Vice President Thomas R. Marshall born in North Manchester, Indiana 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 14 1854) →

U.S. Vice President William R. King, 67, dies of tuberculosis in Selma, Alabama, 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 18 1853)

1850s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'William Rufus King | Alabama Legacy Moment'

(Monday, April 18, 1853, 6:00 p.m. local time) — William R. King, the 13th vice president of the United States, died today in Selma, Dallas County, Alabama. of tuberculosis after 45 days in office. Continue reading U.S. Vice President William R. King, 67, dies of tuberculosis in Selma, Alabama, 170 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 18 1853) →

Franklin Pierce sworn in as 14th president of the United States, William R. King becomes 13th VP 170 years ago today (Mar 4 1853)

1850s, U.S. Presidents

(Friday, March 4, 1853, 1:30 p.m. local time) — Former U.S. Senator Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire took the oath of office today as the 14th president of the United States on the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol. Continue reading Franklin Pierce sworn in as 14th president of the United States, William R. King becomes 13th VP 170 years ago today (Mar 4 1853) →

Democrat Franklin Pierce elected 14th president of the United States, defeating Whig nominee Winfield Scott 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 2 1852)

1850s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1852'

(Tuesday, November 2, 1852; during the 1852 presidential election) — Former Democratic U.S. Senator Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire was elected the 14th president of the United States today, defeating Whig Party nominee Winfield Scott, Commanding General of the U.S. Army from New Jersey. Continue reading Democrat Franklin Pierce elected 14th president of the United States, defeating Whig nominee Winfield Scott 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 2 1852) →

U.S. Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks born near Unionville Center, Ohio 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 11 1852)

1850s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Charles W. Fairbanks (Part 1)- Indiana Icicle'

(Monday, May 11, 1852) — Charles W. Fairbanks, an American politician who served as a senator from Indiana from 1897 to 1905 and the 26th vice president of the United States from 1905 to 1909 under President Theodore Roosevelt, was born Charles Warren Fairbanks today in a log cabin near Unionville Center, Ohio. Continue reading U.S. Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks born near Unionville Center, Ohio 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 11 1852) →

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ published 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 20 1852)

1850s


Video: 'Harriet Beecher Stowe - Uncle Tom's Cabin - Full' (45 videos)
(Saturday, March 20, 1852) — Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly, an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe which had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the U.S., and is said to have helped lay the groundwork for the American Civil War, was published today in book form. Continue reading Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ published 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 20 1852) →

President Fillmore signs act requiring escaped slaves be returned to their owners 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 18 1850)

1850s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Fugitive Slave Act & Uncle Tom's Cabin'

(Wednesday, September 18, 1850) — The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, requiring that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to their masters and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate, was signed into law today by U.S. President Millard Fillmore. Continue reading President Fillmore signs act requiring escaped slaves be returned to their owners 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 18 1850) →

California becomes 31st state of the Union 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1850)

1850s


Video: 'California - 50 States - US Geography'

(Monday, September 9, 1850) — California, located in the Pacific Region of the United States, became the 31st state in the Union today as part of the Compromise of 1850, which defused a political confrontation between slave and free states on the status of territories acquired in the Mexican–American War (California was admitted as a free state). Continue reading California becomes 31st state of the Union 170 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1850) →