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The Republican Party emerged in the United States following the controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. While the Republican Party did not support radical abolitionism they did oppose the expansion of slavery westward into the territories. In the…

This map illustrates the polarized character of the political parties in the 1856 presidential election. The Northern states voted predominantly for the anti-slavery Republican candidate, while the pro-slavery Democratic Party dominated in the South.…

Married white women in antebellum North Carolina had no independent legal identity. They could not sue or be sued, and they could not own property separate from their husbands. Their husbands were held liable for their actions. (Link 2009, 167-168)…

In 1838, the federal government forcibly removed 15,000 Cherokees from North Carolina and surrounding states to reservations west of the Mississippi river. In this forced march, known as the Trail of Tears, approximately 4,000 to 5,000 Indians died.…

Slavery expanded in North Carolina during the antebellum era. The enslaved population grew from 100,000 in 1790, about 25 percent of the total population, to 331,000 in 1860, approximately 30 percent. The slave population was not evenly distributed…

Dear husband I seat my self this evening to write you afew lines to let you know that we are all well at this time ever hoping this will Reach your kind hands and find you in good health I thought you would have sent me a letter by Louis Walker but…

Dear husband Nov 24th 1864 I Seat My self this eavning to write you a few lines to let you know that we are still in the land of the living I aint very well the children is well excepting bad colds but I do hope these few lines will Reach your kind…

My Dear Wife and Children I take the pleasure to drop you a few lines to let you now that I am well at this time hoping these lines may Reach your kind hands and find you injoying the same blessing I want you to Rite to me as soon as this comes to…

My Dier wife and children I seete my self this morning with A Troub beled harte and a de strest Mind to try to rite a few lines to Let you no that I hierd my sentens Red yesterday and hit was very Bad I am very sory to let you no for I that you A…

My Dear husband I now seat my self to write you a few lines to let you know we are not well the children is sick with bad colds and I haint seen a well day since you left I have had a very bad head ache ever sens last Sunday but I do hope and pray…