Timeline | Stony The Road We Tr

1793

1801

1803

1805

1807

1820

Congress bans importation of slaves but domestic slave trade continues

U.S. Population totals 10 million including 1.7 million African- Americans, 1.5 enslaved

Missouri Compromise makes Missouri a slave state and Maine a free state and prohibits slavery in new territory north of 36' 30".

Beginning of Second Great Awakening: religious revival encourages abolitionist and temperance movements.

1821 - 1839

1821

1822

1825

1829

1832-34

1835

1836

1837

1838

1839

Slave rebellion led by Denmark Vesey is crushed in Charleston, SC

John Quincy Adams becomes President

"Gag rule" against speaking on slavery is imposed in House of Representatives.

New England Clergy issue Pastoral Letter condemns women's public speaking

Pennsylvania Hall is burned by mob during Anti-Slavery conventions in Philadelphia

American Slavery as It Is sells over 100, 000 copies and influences Harriet B. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Sarah and Anna Grimke (Frost) move to Philadelphia. Sarah joins Quakers

Angelina objects to Henry's treatment of his slave, soon joins Sarah in` Philadelphia

Sisters are friends with Lucretia Mott, Douglass and Forten women, growing disillusionment with Quakers

Angelina's letter to Garrison is publish, rift with Sarah.

Angelina and Sarah begin writing antislavery tracts.

Sisters go to training in NYC, and start speaking tour in New England.

Sarah writes Letters on Equality of the Sexes. Angelina speaks at MA Legislature.

Theodore and Angelina are wed in PA.

Welds and Sarah move to Fort Lee, NJ and work on ASAII

1840 - 1860

1839

1841

1842

1843

1844

c. 1845

c. 1848

1849

1850

1852

1853

1854

1859

1860

John Quincy Adams defends Africans in Amistad case and wins

J. Q. Adams defends himself agains censure by House and uses it to speak out against slavery

Harriet Tubman escapes slavery and leads 70 other slaves to freedom over next few years

Fugitive Slave Law requires return of slaves to their owners even if they are in a free state

Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin sells 300,000 copies in first year.

Kansas-Nebraska Act escalates violent conflict over slavery.

Abolitionist John Brown's raid and plan to lead a slave uprising fails. He and 6 co-conspirators are hanged.

South Carolina secedes from Union in December

Lincoln inaugurated as President

1860 Census counts nearly 4 million slaves in U.S.

The Welds' first son, Charles Stuart Weld, is born.

Second son, Theodore Grimke Weld (Thodie) is born.

Family moves to farm at Belleville, NJ

Theodore recruited to help J.Q. Adams in DC for two winters. After a stillbirth, Angelina bears daughter, Sarah Grimke Weld (Sissy)

Henry's white wife dies.

Henry and Nancy begin relationship in Charleston and soon move to Cane Acre.

Weld opens school at Belleville for their children and others.

Archibald Grimke born to Nancy and Henry.

Francis Grimke born to Nancy and Henry

Henry Grimke dies when Nancy is pregnant with 3rd child. Montague threatens to eventually enslave boys.

Montague makes Archie his house slave. Nancy sent to workhouse when she protests. Frank re-enslaved shortly after.

CIVIL WAR BEGINS

1861-1879

1861

1862

1863

1864

1865

I'Fort Sumter fired on and surrenders to Confederates

Emancipation Proclamation in January frees slaves in U.S.

MA 54th Negro Regiment, led by Col. Shaw, attacks Fort Wagner in July 1863 and is repelled.

Liberation of Charleston in February

13th Amendment abolishes slavery.

As household slaves for Montague, Archie and Frank witness bombing of Fort Sumter

Fourth of July cat Eagleswood School. Charlie attends Harvard.

Charlotte Forten and Francs Pillsbury work on Sea Islands.

Frank and Archie separately escape Montague's household and struggle to survive War.

With liberation, Archie and Frank are reunited with Nancy and John, and celebrate their freedom

CIVIL WAR ENDS

1866

1868

1870

1872

1873

1874

1875

1876

1877

1878

1879

President Lincoln is assasinated.

Morris Street school for all Charleton students opened by abolitionists there

5th Amendment gives African Americans the right to vote

Reconstruction largely abandoned by Republicans

Economic Depression

Disputed 1976 election leads to compromise. Hayes elected but Reconstruction effectively ends.

Violence against African Americans increases. Lynchings resume, mostly in South and Jim Crow laws passed, requiring segregation

Archie and Frank excel at Morris Street School and Frances Pillsbury arranges for them to get apprenticeships in North.

Boys meet Charlottle Forten in Boston but placements don't work out. Nancy interceds and they are directed to Lincoln University in PA.

Sisters learn of their nephews. Angelina and Charlie visit them at Lincoln, and welcome them to their home in Hyde Park.

Women vote in mock election in Hyde Park. Archie and Frank continue law studies and teachings at Lincoln U.

SARAH DIES, funeral attended by many abolitionists and suffragists.

Archie begins at Harvard Law, Frank at Howard.

Archie and Nellie become close friends.

Frank studies ministry at Princeton Theological seminary. Nancy comes North.

Archie and Sarah Stanley begin romance and soon marry. Frank married Lottie.

ANGELINA DIES after long illness.

1880 - 1899

1880

1882-84

1887

1892

1893

1894

1895

Archibald Grimke appointed U.S. Consul to the Dominican Republic

Angelina Weld Grimke (Nana) born to Archie and Sarah

Frank and Lottie's daughter, Theodora dies in infancy. , At 15th St. Church in DC, Frank hears troubling stories from South

Archie editor of The Hub in Boston

Sarah leaves Archie and goes to Michigan with Nana

Sarah send 7-yr-old Nana beck to Archie.

12-yr-old Nana and Archie spend Cristmas with Welds

THEODORE WELD DIES.. NANCY WESTON DIES.

Nana living with Frank and Lottie in DC, writes poetry and struggles with sexual identity.

1900 - 1958

1901

1903

1909

1911

1913

1914

1916

1919

1920

1930s

1937 - 1958

Theodore Roosevelt becomes U.S. President

The "Boston Riot" of 1903 makes headlines

Conflict between Bookerite faction and W.E.B. DuBois faction intensifies.

NAACP founded with Grimké brothers as founding members

Woman's March for Suffrage in DC shortly before Wilson inaugurated.

Premier of Nana's play "Rachel" in New York City

19th Amendment gives women right to vote.

19th Amendment ratified. Women's suffrage achieved.

Depression. "Great Migration" from South to North and West

Segregation continutes. Redlining common in North. Dawn of Ciivil Rights Era

Archie and Nana live in DC with Frank and Lottie. Nana teaches high school. Archie writes and advocates for civil rights.

Archie and Nana witness "Boston Riot".

Archie and Frank involved in Bookerite /DuBois debates. Frank speaks out against any "cringing attitude" by African Americans.

Nana seriously injuried in train wreck.

Nana, friends and family join March despite discrimination against African American women.

LOTTIE DIES

Nana's play produced in NYC. Beginning of Harlem Renaissance.

ARCHIE DIES (1930). Nana is bereft and soon moves to New York City

FRANK DIES (1837), having servid over 50 years at 15th ST Presbyterian.

NANA DIES (1958)

1821 - 1839

1840 - 1860

CIVIL WAR BEGINS

1861-1879

CIVIL WAR ENDS

1880 - 1899

1900 - 1958

PERIOD

YEAR(S)

NATIONAL EVENTS

FAMILY EVENTS

1790 - 1820