Pennsylvania

Internal Improvements. — The position, extent, and resources of Pennsylvania have naturally stimulated her people to the establishment of all needful facilities for the promotion of her great agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial interests. Accordingly her revenues and credit, and the means of her wealthiest citizens, have been liberally devoted to the construction of various descriptions of public works, some of which are on a scale of great magnitude. Railroads and canals intersect the country in all directions, connecting the tide waters on the eastern boundary with those of the Ohio, and between all the principal points of trade throughout the state… (Gazetteer of the United States of America, 1854)
Place Unit Type
State or Province
Containing Unit
Date Type
- An unprecedented late spring frost causes massive crop damage across the northern United States Crime/Disasters
- Andrew Gregg Curtin serves as Governor of Pennslyvania Legal/Political
Ashmun Institute opens in Chester County, Pennsylvania Cultural
First university for African-Americans incorporated in Pennsylvania Education/Culture
General elections are held in five states - Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Minnesota Campaigns/Elections
- Heavy rains cause transportation chaos in eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey Crime/Disasters
In Pennsylvania, Douglas and Breckinridge Democrats unite behind gubernatorial nominee Henry Foster Campaigns/Elections
In Pennsylvania, General John W. Geary is elected governor as Republicans again dominate. Campaigns/Elections
Pennsylvania adopts the nation's first state child labor law Lawmaking/Litigating
Pennsylvania has a public debt of more than thirty-eight million dollars Lawmaking/Litigating
Pennsylvania Republicans meet in Harrisburg and Philadelphia to ratify the recent nominations in Chicago Campaigns/Elections
Pennsylvania votes $500,000 for the expansion of its militia Lawmaking/Litigating
President Buchanan rejects Virginia's call for federal forces to police neighboring states Legal/Political
Republicans sweep to victory in state-wide elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota Campaigns/Elections
Tax officials in Pennsylvania give the states's taxable value as $569,049,995 Business/Industry
The War Department sets up two new Army Departments for the defense of Pennsylvania Battles/Soldiers
Name Type
Adams County, PA County
Allegheny County, PA County
Armstrong County, PA County
Beaver County, PA County
Bedford County, PA County
Berks County, PA County
Blair County, PA County
Bradford County, PA County
Bucks County, PA County
Butler County, PA County
Cambria County, PA County
Carbon County, PA County
Centre County, PA County
Chester County, PA County
Clarion County, PA County
Clearfield County, PA County
Clinton County, PA County
Columbia County, PA County
Crawford County, PA County
Cumberland County, PA County
Dauphin County, PA County
Delaware County, PA County
Elk County, PA County
Erie County, PA County
Fayette County, PA County
Forest County, PA County
Franklin County, PA County
Fulton County, PA County
Greene County, PA County
Huntingdon County, PA County
Indiana County, PA County
Jefferson County, PA County
Juniata County, PA County
Lackawanna County, PA County
Lancaster County, PA County
Lawrence County, PA County
Lebanon County, PA County
Lehigh County, PA County
Luzerne County, PA County
Lycoming County, PA County
McKean County, PA County
Mercer County, PA County
Mifflin County, PA County
Monroe County, PA County
Montgomery County, PA County
Montour County, PA County
Northampton County, PA County
Northumberland County, PA County
Perry County, PA County
Philadelphia County, PA County
Pike County, PA County
Potter County, PA County
Schuylkill County, PA County
Somerset County, PA County
Sullivan County, PA County
Susquehanna County, PA County
Tioga County, PA County
Union County, PA County
Venango County, PA County
Warren County, PA County
Washington County, PA County
Wayne County, PA County
Westmoreland County, PA County
Wyoming County, PA County
York County, PA County
Date Title
New York Tribune, "The Carlisle Riot," June 12, 1847
Charleston (SC) Mercury, "Fugitive Slaves," January 10, 1848
David Wilmot’s Speech in the House of Representatives, Washington, DC, August 3, 1848
Carlisle (PA) Herald, "In the Surpreme Court of Penn'a," June 27, 1849
Boston (MA) Emancipator & Republican, “Important Decision,” June 28, 1849
Seth Concklin to William Still, February 18, 1851
New York Herald, "Threatened Civil War Between Virginia and Pennsylvania," January 31, 1856
Thomas Garrett to William Still, March 23, 1856
Washington (DC) National Era, "The Future Judged by the Past," January 1, 1857
New York Times, “The Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Question,” April 27, 1857
New York Herald, "The Late Meeting of Maryland Slaveholders," July 23, 1858
New York Times, “Vice-President Breckenridge for Douglas,” October 23, 1858
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "Rejoicing for Douglas," November 11, 1858
Recollection of Jesse W. Fell, Conversation with Abraham Lincoln in early 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “For the Lambs of the Flock,” January 12, 1859
New York Herald, “The Presidential Question,” January 24, 1859
New York Herald, “The Presidential Question,” January 29, 1859
Boston (MA) Liberator, "Man-Hunting in Pennsylvania," February 4, 1859
Bangor (ME) Whig and Courier, “Untitled,” February 11, 1859
Boston (MA) Advertiser, “Democratic Movements,” May 10, 1859
Charleston (SC) Mercury, “A Cavil,” May 10, 1859
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "Political Effect," October 31, 1859
Abraham Lincoln to William E. Frazer, November 1, 1859
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "A Good Sign," November 3, 1859
New York Times, “Manufacturing Martyrs,” February 16, 1860
New York Herald, “Trouble among the Republican President Makers,” February 28, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “Andrew J. Curtin,” March 1, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “Pennsylvania,” March 5, 1860
William Wilkins to James Watson Webb, March 26, 1860
(Jackson) Mississippian, “The Last Revelation from Douglas,” April 3, 1860
New York Herald, “Bell and Everett Going Ahead,” May 27, 1860
Schuyler Colfax to Abraham Lincoln, May 30, 1860
Atchison (KS) Freedom's Champion, “An Insult to Labor,” July 21, 1860
New York Herald, “Pennsylvania Politicians and New York Money,” September 2, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “The Astounding Impertinence of Douglas,” September 17, 1860
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, "The Coming Contest in Pennsylvania," October 3, 1860
Cleveland (OH) Herald, “There's No Secession in That,” October 13, 1860
New York Times, “Very Suspicious,” October 15, 1860
Cleveland (OH) Herald, “The Wide Awakes at Washington,” October 19, 1860
David Wilmot to Abraham Lincoln, October 20, 1860
(Montpelier) Vermont Patriot, “Illinois Sure for Douglas,” October 27, 1860
New York Times, "Douglas Out of the Canvass," November 3, 1860
New York Herald, “Who are the Cooks in Pennsylvania?,” November 8, 1860
William T. Sherman to Ellen Sherman, November 10, 1860
New York Herald, “The Real Disunionists,” November 25, 1860
John P. Verree to Abraham Lincoln, January 1, 1861
Charleston (SC) Mercury, “Pennsylvania Arming,” January 5, 1861
Alexander K. McClure to Abraham Lincoln, January 15, 1861
New York Herald, “A Contrast,” January 20, 1861
New York Herald, “Apprehensions of an Attack on Washington,” April 14, 1861
Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Quick, Sharp, and Decisive,” April 15, 1861
Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Curtin's Proclamation, April 20, 1861
Charleston (SC) Mercury, “Gen. Scott,” April 27, 1861
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, "Neutrality," May 2, 1861
Alexander Kelly McClure to Eli Slifer, July 23, 1861
Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Simon Cameron,” August 11, 1861
Shreveport (LA) News, “On the Wane,” August 15, 1862
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, “The Rebel Raid on Chambersburg,” October 13, 1862
Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Hooker, June 10, 1863
New York Times, “Pennsylvania and Her Governor,” June 17, 1863
Lowell (MA) Citizen & News, “Points of Present Interest,” June 17, 1863
New York Times, “A Word to Pennsylvania,” June 26, 1863
Philadelphia (PA) North America and United States Gazette, “A Desperate Battle At Gettysburg,” July 3, 1863
New York Times, “The Campaign in Pennsylvania,” July 4, 1863
New York Times, “What Pennsylvania has Escaped,” July 6, 1863
Chicago (IL) Tribune, “A Great Peril Escaped,” July 7, 1863
Carlisle (PA) American, “What Invasion Has Taught Pennsylvania,” July 15, 1863
Boston (MA) Liberator, “Enlistment of Colored Troops,” July 17, 1863
Henry J. Raymond to Abraham Lincoln, August 22, 1864, New York City
How to Cite This Page: "Pennsylvania," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/index.php/node/8984.