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  1. Penitentiary law of 1829 passed by Governor Carroll
    date January, 1829 to April, 1829map DAVIDSON, Tennesseetags Crime/Violence, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    When Governor Carroll passed this new “Penitentiary Law,' many considered it to be truly revolutionary. This law completely transformed punishment in the state of Tennessee. For example, whipping posts, stocks, and cropping were abolished. Instead of being put to death for many crimes, hard labor in a penitentiary was now the punishment. Another key component of the law was the formation of a...

  2. European Immmigration to the South
    date 1871map AUGUSTA, Virginiatags Agriculture, Economy, Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism, War

    After the Civil War, there was a vast migration of Southerners to Northern States. Many parts of the South were ruined by the Civil War because most of the battles occurred in southern states. The population in the south decreased significantly by the end of the Civil War because of death and because many African-Americans left the south.In order to raise the population, many southern cities encouraged...

  3. After frost falls on the ground on October 24th and 25th the Memphis yellow fever epidemic is officially declared to be at an end.
    date October 24, 1879 to October 25, 1879map SHELBY, Tennesseetags Health/Death, Race-Relations, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    After months of one of the worst yellow fever outbreaks of the 19th century, the Memphis outbreak of 1879 is officially declared to be over after frost kills the germ. While the event had immense national significance, the gravity of the yellow fever outbreak to the city of Memphis cannot be overstated. Although the causes of the outbreak were uncertain at the time, many people pointed out that the...

  4. Railroad convention convenes in Knoxville, Tennessee
    date July 4, 1836 to July 8, 1836map KNOX, Tennesseetags Economy, Migration/Transportation

    On July 4th, 1836, delegates from various Southern states including Georgia, the Carolinas, and Kentucky met in Knoxville, Tennessee to discuss possible government-supported railway projects, especially the idea of a railroad stretching from Charleston to Cincinnati. The need for railroads, canals and roads was a necessary complement to the rapid territorial expansion of the U.S. In addition, commercial...

  5. 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...

  6. Tennessee Internal Improvements Bill
    date January 2, 1830map DAVIDSON, Tennesseetags Economy, Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    On January 2, 1830, the state of Tennessee passed “an Act to establish a board of Internal Improvement, and set apart one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to be appropriated to the improvement of the navigable rivers and other objects of Internal Improvement in (the) state,' as reported by the Knoxville Register on January 27, to be divided on various works across the state. Designed mostly...

  7. Christian Brothers University Established
    date November 19, 1871map SHELBY, Kentuckytags Church/Religious-Activity, Education, Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    The Brothers of the Christian Schools had tried to establish Catholic education in Memphis in 1864 but were unsuccessful because epidemics of yellow fever had killed much of its clergy in Galveston and New Orleans. In 1871, the Chicago fire made it possible for a college to be established in Memphis because the fire destroyed the Brother's Academy in Chicago. The Memphis order now had enough men to...

  8. The Arnolds and the Academy of Young Ladies
    date December 2, 1816map DAVIDSON, Tennesseetags Education, Women

    December 1816 was a significant month for women in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, coming from Kentucky, decided to open an academy for young ladies in Nashville. This Academy was very similar to those built for young Tennessean men even if some subjects were specific to women's instruction. Thus, the married couple taught subjects as significant as the pronunciation of English language, reading, penmanship,...

  9. Train Crash in Clarksville, Tennessee
    date August 14, 1869map MONTGOMERY, Tennesseetags Health/Death, Economy, Government, Migration/Transportation

    Eight miles outside of Clarksville Tennessee, a train shattered into splinters. The railroad bridge the train intended to pass over collapsed and the train plummeted thirty feet below into Rudd's creek. The impact was so severe that it killed four people and wounded forty to fifty people. The locomotive, caboose, express and baggage car, two passenger coaches, and one sleeping-car all burned down and...

  10. More Funds Needed for the Manual Labor School
    date December 12, 1868map RUTHERFORD, Tennesseetags African-Americans, Agriculture, Economy, Education, Government

    On behalf of the Manual Labor School of the colored citizens in Rutherford, Tennessee, Reverend Daniel Watkins appealed to the public for extra support. The school aimed to enhance the labor skills of newly freed blacks. The state chartered 15,000 towards the school, but still needed more funds. The board of trustees purchased three hundred acres of land with an estimated worth of 2800 in yielded...

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