The word Antebellum, in Latin, means pre-war. There is a difference of opinion amongst scholars about the exact period this era defines. Some believe it to begin right since the year 1871, or the time of Declaration of Independence, whereas others understand it to begin after the War of 1812. The end of the era is marked by the beginning of the Civil War. The Antebellum era is regarded as a period that increased polarization between pro-slavery and anti-slavery communities, which can largely be identified with the South (Confederate States) and the North (Union). Here's a list of important events during this era, as they happened. The Antebellum era, referring mostly to the period between the end of the War of 1812 and the beginning of the Civil War, is characterized by a growing sectional rift throughout the United States. The country witnessed a mix of different scenarios, where on one hand, it fought over abolishing slavery, and on the other hand, was undergoing a change in its economic system. Technological advances coming in through inventions were reflected into the overall sociocultural environment then. Printing was revolutionized, as a mass printing press could print a wide range of literature, from newspapers and advertisements, to novels. The North states were progressing with large-scale industrial manufacturing, whereas cotton plantations increased in the South. The invention of the cotton gin led to an increased demand for slaves. Also, slave codes of the Antebellum Era across all states considered slaves to be 'property'. Some argue that the history of this era is overshadowed by the Civil War, which had a major and rather larger impact on the nation's history.