Study Guide Ch. 16-19 APUSH

Institution of Slavery

A system where individuals are owned by others, treating them as property.

Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin

An invention that made cotton production profitable and increased the demand for slave labor.

Slave Importation Ban (1808)

Legislation that prohibited the importation of slaves to the U.S., leading to continued smuggling.

Slave Population (1860)

The number of enslaved individuals reached approximately 4 million, primarily due to natural reproduction.

Life of Slaves

Characterized by hard work, lack of civil or political rights, and the possibility of physical punishment for disobedience.

King Cotton

Title referring to the economic dominance of cotton in the Southern United States.

Southern Cotton Production

The South produced more than half of the world's cotton supply, crucially influencing the economy.

Free African Americans in the South

Some were freed due to Revolutionary ideals; others gained freedom through purchase or acts of their masters.

American Colonization Society

An organization aimed at resettling free African Americans in Africa, notably establishing Liberia.

Positive Good Defense of Slavery

Southern argument that slavery was beneficial for both slaves and society.

One-Crop Economy of the South

Economy reliant on cotton and slave labor, leading to a monopolistic agriculture system.

Northern vs. Southern Economies

The North depended on free labor while the South relied on slave labor for its economy.

Southern Regional Identity and Slavery

Many southerners derived pride and identity from the institution of slavery.

Legal Restrictions on Free Blacks

Free African Americans faced numerous restrictions in both the South and North.

Slave Rebellions

Unsuccessful uprisings led by enslaved individuals which heightened white paranoia.

Gradual Emancipation

The process by which abolitionist efforts led to the gradual freeing of slaves in the North.

Family Continuity Among Slaves

Maintaining family structures and traditions, often through naming practices.

Abolitionists

Individuals committed to ending slavery, often facing violent backlash.

Cotton Production Growth

Increased dependence on land and slaves due to excessive cotton cultivation.

Decline of the Second Party System

The weakening of the Whigs and Democrats due to sectional tensions over slavery.

Abolitionist Movement Growth

Rise of movements advocating for the end of slavery and assistance for escaped slaves.

States Rights

The idea that states should have authority over federal laws, especially regarding slavery.

Dred Scott Decision

A Supreme Court ruling that denied citizenship to African Americans and upheld slave owners' rights.

Abolitionist Literature

Works like Uncle Tom's Cabin that depicted the suffering caused by slavery.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that territories should decide for themselves whether to allow slavery.

Compromise of 1850

A series of laws aimed at easing tensions between slave and free states.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Legislation that allowed settlers to decide on slavery, leading to conflict in Kansas.

Bleeding Kansas

Violence between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in Kansas.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

A series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas focusing on slavery.

Harriet Tubman

A prominent conductor in the Underground Railroad, helping slaves escape.

Crittenden Compromise

Failed attempt to prevent civil war by allowing the expansion of slavery into new territories.

Confederate States of America

Government formed by southern states that seceded from the Union.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the North American continent.

Mexican-American War Causes

Conflict driven by U.S. desire for Mexican territories and tensions between the two nations.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The agreement that ended the Mexican-American War, ceding land to the U.S.

Free-Soil Movement

A political movement that opposed the expansion of slavery into western territories.

Dred Scott v. Sanford

Important court case that contributed to the sectional conflict leading to the Civil War.

Secession

The act of states withdrawing from the Union, beginning with South Carolina.

Civil War Causes

A culmination of economic, cultural, and political issues intensified by slavery.

The Liberator

An abolitionist newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison.

Underground Railroad

A network helping slaves escape to free states or Canada.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

A novel that exposed the brutal realities of slavery and influenced public opinion.

Initiatives for Trade with Asia

Efforts to establish cultural and economic ties with Asian nations.

The Gadsden Purchase

Sale of land from Mexico to the U.S. for the purpose of building a railroad.

Panic of 1857

Economic downturn that heightened tensions between the North and South regarding trade.

Lecompton Constitution

Pro-slavery constitution proposed for Kansas that led to boycotts and further conflict.

Dred Scott Outcome

The ruling that stated slaves were property and could be taken anywhere.

Abraham Lincoln’s Election of 1860

Lincoln was elected without Southern electoral votes, highlighting regional divisions.

John Brown’s Raid

An attempt to incite a slave rebellion by seizing a federal arsenal.

Crittenden Amendments

Proposed constitutional amendments meant to prevent the Civil War but were rejected.

Roger B. Taney

Chief Justice during the Dred Scott case who ruled that slaves were property.