Pre-Civil War Study Notes 1776-1861. A comprehensive guide to major events, laws, and important people before the Civil War.

The Declaration of Independence- document in American history used by the 13 British North American colonies to proclaim their independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence was adopted in final form on July 4, 1776. The Northwest Ordinance- 1787 The ordinance provided for the formation of not less than three, nor more than five, states. It defined the boundaries of these states, forbade slavery in the territory The Constitutional Convention- meeting during the summer of 1787 at which delegates …

…artillery shelled Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Republican Party - one of the two major United States political parties, founded by a coalition in 1854. The coalition was composed of former members of the Whig, Free-Soil, and Know-Nothing parties, along with Northern Democrats who were dissatisfied with their party's conciliatory attitude on the slavery issue (see Free-Soil Party; Know-Nothings; Whig Party). The early Republicans were united in their opposition to extending slavery into the Western territories.