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Washington City, District of Columbia in the 1840s: 1 through 10 of 32

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  1. New Gag Rule Aims at Winning Southern Loyalty
    date January, 1840map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Economy, Slavery

    Following an 1836 precedent and continuing the “usual presidential-year escalation of southern loyalty politics,' Congress voted not to receive any antislavery petitions. Pinckney's 1836 rule, passed on behalf of President Martin Van Buren had been disparaged by slaveholders as a weak protection for their interests Despite their disappointment with this effort by the Democratic Party, John Calhoun...

  2. Presidential Election Campaign
    date January 1, 1840 to November 23, 1840map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Slavery

    The 1840 presidential election campaign pitted the Whig ticket of William Henry Harrison and John Tyler against the sitting Democratic President Martin Van Buren. The parties spent much of their energy courting the South. Each tried to present itself as the protector of southern interests, emphasizing its candidates' “southern-ness' and anti-abolition credentials. Van Buren, running on a platform...

  3. Visiting Washington
    date June 26, 1840map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Arts/Leisure, Economy, Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    Richard Champion Rawlins arrived in Washington D.C. from Baltimore on Friday June 26, 1840. He made the 40 mile journey by railway; this was Mr. Rawlins first time in Washington. Traveling was not as accessible when Richard Rawlins was a child. Therefore, this trip to Washington was a thrill for him. After registering at the Gadsby's Hotel in Washington, Rawlins journeyed down to the capital. He...

  4. Today is an era in my life- Big day in Washington
    date June 30, 1840map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Arts/Leisure, Government, Politics

    On Tuesday June 30, 1840, Mr. Richard Rawlins continued his stay in the nation's capital. However, this day in Washington was not your typical day. He started his diary entry by stating, Today is an era in my life. In this one day, Mr. Rawlins was able to see the Declaration of Independence, call on and present letters of introduction and converse with Henry Clay as well as John Quincy Adams. The...

  5. Supreme Court Decision on the Amistad Case
    date March 9, 1841map Washington City, District of Columbiatags African-Americans, Migration/Transportation, Race-Relations, Slavery

    Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story ruled that the Amistad Africans were free men and had never been enslaved under Spanish law. This ruling came two years after Africans on the ship Amistad staged a revolt, killing the ship's captain and cook and sailing north. They landed in New London, Ct and after being arrested their cause was embraced by the New England abolitionist movement. In their initial...

  6. Professor Morse's Electric Telegraph - A review of the operation of the technology as well as the impact it had on the control and difusion of information.
    date August, 1842map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Telecommunication, Telegraph, Diffusion of Information

    Alfred Vail waited for the message to arrive on the wire. His superior, Mr. Morse, had prepared the paper, and was about to send the message from the Supreme Court in Washington D.C. The demonstration that was about to be undertaken was one that would introduce to America the ability to send a message via the new electrical telegraph. In August 1842, the Tribune described the operation of the telegraph...

  7. “Few of you are wise enough, and good enough to be trusted with liberty.”
    date September 11, 1842map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Abolitionism, african americans, Religion

    Upon entering the vibrant city of Georgetown and embarking upon a new career path as a teacher, Miss Caroline Healey Dall found herself at once confronted with questions she relied upon her religious convictions to answer. In her diary, Caroline documented her day-to-day life and travels, as well as her dreams, passions, and concerns.   After the Panic of 1837 left her father bankrupt, Caroline set...

  8. Bishop Whipple's thoughts on politics
    date April 30, 1844map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Government, Politics, Race-Relations, Slavery, War

    Traveling from Baltimore, Bishop Whipple arrived in the capital on the morning of April 30, 1844. He had always desired to see the city. The city was the object of greatest curiosity, fascinating the Bishop with its rich history. He stood in awe before a portrait of George Washington. The Declaration of Independence proved to be a most impressive scene, the picture fills every American heart with American...

  9. The Wonderful Invention
    date May 1, 1844map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Economy, Government, Migration/Transportation

    On his first and only visit to Washington, Bishop Whipple saw many new and exciting things. He marveled at the beauty of the city and was inspired by the men who fought to establish both the great nation. However, on the afternoon of May 1, 1844, another new and exciting sight fascinated Whipple. The wonder of wonders was Professor Morse's electrical telegraph. Through the electrical telegraph, information...

  10. Brown's Speech to Congress
    date June 17, 1844map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Economy, Education, Government, Politics, Slavery

    Looking out over the twenty eighth Congress, Mr. A.V. Brown knew he needed to convey to the statesmen gathered that the division of Florida territory into east and west partitions, and the prolonging of the territorial phase therein, was both inadmissible and undemocratic. Brown, speaking for the Committee on the Territories, implored the House to strike down Bill H.R. No. 431. He began by appealing...

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