This TL isn't complete, let me know what you think.
Historical Time line of the Great Compromise:
Background
In the 1840’s the United States began to see its westward movement as part of its Manifest Destiny. James Polk rode this particular emotion to victory in the 1844 election, using the slogan “54-40 or Fightâ€, referring to the boundaries of the Oregon Territory between Canada (GB) and the US.
However, as events began to unfold, nature and commerce proved to be bigger determinants than the military.
1842: The US recognizes the Sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom and moves to establish greater trade concessions on the heels of American missionary and commercial developments.
1843: Britain Briefly takes Hawaii over, later recognizes its independence.
1843: British Force Involvement N.W. India; Annexation of Sinde
1843: British Involvement Gwailor Campaign in Central India
1844: Textile manufacture in GB accounts for approximately 48% of all employment.
1845: Polk Inaugurated Elected, tensions rise in the Pacific Northwest.
1845-46: British Involvement; First Sikh War in Punjab
1845-47: British Involvement; First Maori War in New Zealand
1845: Tensions rise with Mexico over the appropriate Texas Border
1845: Irish Potato Famine, (also affects Europe)
1846: California Republic Declared.
1846-47: British Involvement: Second Kaffir War in South Africa
1846: Embargo of Trade Threatened by England. US Manufacturers don’t care but the Southern cotton producers do. The issue becomes bogged down in Congress.
Late 1846: Embargo declared by England. Over night thousands lose their employment in both GB and US.
Nov 1846: Parliament in turmoil, government almost falls, Lord Russell promises to find a solution.
Jan 1847: Great Compromise Proposed. Terms are to be:
1. Oregon ceded to US in its entirety
2. Hawaii becomes British protectorate
3. US border with Mexico resolved in favor of US, Mexico’s rights to disputed area sold to US for $4 million
4. California Independence upheld, plebiscite on annexation into US to be held in 1850
5. GB granted limited 99 year lease of Vancouver Island
6. GB to serve as guarantor of Mexico’s independence and integrity.
1847: Large scale Irish and European immigration to the US and Mexico.
1847: British textile industry begins to develop other sources for cotton, plantations are established in both India and Egypt.
1848-49: British Involvement: Second Sikh War in Punjab
1848: The “Cotton Crash†occurs when British textile manufacturers begin to utilize other sources of cotton. Price of American cotton plummets.
1848: Several Southern Senators turn to the Federal government for aid, which isn’t given as Northern Manufacturers stall any attempt to prop up the price of cotton.
1848: Gold discovered in California.
1848: Great Uprisings across Europe, upon their failure increased immigration to the US
1848-49: The Cotton Crash Continues. Thousands of small farmers and merchants are driven out of business. The federal government opens free land in the territories, and migration to the West picks up.
1849: The Cotton Rebellion: the militia in several southern states, most notably South Carolina and Georgia, seize certain federal assets in an attempt to force the federal government to aid the cotton producers. The rebellion is roughly put down by Lt. Colonel R.E. Lee
1850: The California Plebiscite is held and California joins the Union.
1850-53: British Involvement: Third Kaffir War in South Africa
1851: Manumission Act of 1851: Passed by Congress, officially frees all slaves who are abandoned by their owners. This Federal law provided that freed slaves had the right to petition for return to Africa, or to petition for apportionment of previous owner’s property.
1852-53: British Involvement, Second Burma War
1853: New Homestead Act of 1853, all Free Men are permitted to stake 160 acres of land in the West. Thousands move west.
1853-63: First War of the American Plains. A series of Wars intended to ‘pacify’ native tribes. These ended with the defeat of the Sioux by General R.E. Lee.
1854-56: British Involvement in Crimean War
1854-60: American Railroads push west and east, link in Utah. American Railroads contract with the British for thousands of Asian Indians to assist in the building. By 1860, California has a population of 350 thousand, of whom 50 thousand are Asian Indians.
1856-58: Indian Mutiny, thousands of Indians flee India and settle in the American West.
1857: Manumission Act of 1857: Passed by Congress, this act permitted freed men to purchase their wives and children from slaveholders at rates established by the Government. In the first year some 150 thousand women and children are bought free.
Historical Time line of the Great Compromise:
Background
In the 1840’s the United States began to see its westward movement as part of its Manifest Destiny. James Polk rode this particular emotion to victory in the 1844 election, using the slogan “54-40 or Fightâ€, referring to the boundaries of the Oregon Territory between Canada (GB) and the US.
However, as events began to unfold, nature and commerce proved to be bigger determinants than the military.
1842: The US recognizes the Sovereignty of the Hawaiian Kingdom and moves to establish greater trade concessions on the heels of American missionary and commercial developments.
1843: Britain Briefly takes Hawaii over, later recognizes its independence.
1843: British Force Involvement N.W. India; Annexation of Sinde
1843: British Involvement Gwailor Campaign in Central India
1844: Textile manufacture in GB accounts for approximately 48% of all employment.
1845: Polk Inaugurated Elected, tensions rise in the Pacific Northwest.
1845-46: British Involvement; First Sikh War in Punjab
1845-47: British Involvement; First Maori War in New Zealand
1845: Tensions rise with Mexico over the appropriate Texas Border
1845: Irish Potato Famine, (also affects Europe)
1846: California Republic Declared.
1846-47: British Involvement: Second Kaffir War in South Africa
1846: Embargo of Trade Threatened by England. US Manufacturers don’t care but the Southern cotton producers do. The issue becomes bogged down in Congress.
Late 1846: Embargo declared by England. Over night thousands lose their employment in both GB and US.
Nov 1846: Parliament in turmoil, government almost falls, Lord Russell promises to find a solution.
Jan 1847: Great Compromise Proposed. Terms are to be:
1. Oregon ceded to US in its entirety
2. Hawaii becomes British protectorate
3. US border with Mexico resolved in favor of US, Mexico’s rights to disputed area sold to US for $4 million
4. California Independence upheld, plebiscite on annexation into US to be held in 1850
5. GB granted limited 99 year lease of Vancouver Island
6. GB to serve as guarantor of Mexico’s independence and integrity.
1847: Large scale Irish and European immigration to the US and Mexico.
1847: British textile industry begins to develop other sources for cotton, plantations are established in both India and Egypt.
1848-49: British Involvement: Second Sikh War in Punjab
1848: The “Cotton Crash†occurs when British textile manufacturers begin to utilize other sources of cotton. Price of American cotton plummets.
1848: Several Southern Senators turn to the Federal government for aid, which isn’t given as Northern Manufacturers stall any attempt to prop up the price of cotton.
1848: Gold discovered in California.
1848: Great Uprisings across Europe, upon their failure increased immigration to the US
1848-49: The Cotton Crash Continues. Thousands of small farmers and merchants are driven out of business. The federal government opens free land in the territories, and migration to the West picks up.
1849: The Cotton Rebellion: the militia in several southern states, most notably South Carolina and Georgia, seize certain federal assets in an attempt to force the federal government to aid the cotton producers. The rebellion is roughly put down by Lt. Colonel R.E. Lee
1850: The California Plebiscite is held and California joins the Union.
1850-53: British Involvement: Third Kaffir War in South Africa
1851: Manumission Act of 1851: Passed by Congress, officially frees all slaves who are abandoned by their owners. This Federal law provided that freed slaves had the right to petition for return to Africa, or to petition for apportionment of previous owner’s property.
1852-53: British Involvement, Second Burma War
1853: New Homestead Act of 1853, all Free Men are permitted to stake 160 acres of land in the West. Thousands move west.
1853-63: First War of the American Plains. A series of Wars intended to ‘pacify’ native tribes. These ended with the defeat of the Sioux by General R.E. Lee.
1854-56: British Involvement in Crimean War
1854-60: American Railroads push west and east, link in Utah. American Railroads contract with the British for thousands of Asian Indians to assist in the building. By 1860, California has a population of 350 thousand, of whom 50 thousand are Asian Indians.
1856-58: Indian Mutiny, thousands of Indians flee India and settle in the American West.
1857: Manumission Act of 1857: Passed by Congress, this act permitted freed men to purchase their wives and children from slaveholders at rates established by the Government. In the first year some 150 thousand women and children are bought free.