apush vocab 5a

Manifest Destiny

Belief that the U.S. was meant by God to expand across North America.

Sam Houston

Leader of Texas Revolution; first president of Republic of Texas; pushed for U.S. annexation.

The Alamo

1836 battle where Texans were defeated by Mexico; "Remember the Alamo!" became a battle cry.

Election of 1844

Polk beat Clay; focused on expanding U.S. to Texas and Oregon.

James K. Polk

President (1845-49); added Texas, Oregon, and Mexican Cession; big expansionist.

"Fifty-four Forty or Fight!"

Slogan demanding all of Oregon up to 54°40'; settled peacefully at 49th parallel.

General Zachary Taylor

General who won battles in Mexican War; became president in 1848.

John C. Frémont

Explorer ("Pathfinder"); helped map West and take California in 1846.

Mexican Cession / Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

1848 treaty; Mexico gave U.S. California, Nevada, Utah, etc. for $15 million.

Wilmot Proviso

Failed 1846 bill to ban slavery in land won from Mexico.

Ostend Manifesto

1854 secret plan to buy or take Cuba; seen as pro-slavery plot.

Gadsden Purchase

1853; U.S. bought southern Arizona/New Mexico for railroad route ($10M).

Free-Soil Movement (Party)

Group against slavery in new lands; wanted free farms for white workers.

Popular sovereignty

Let people in territories vote on allowing slavery.

Compromise of 1850

California free; stronger fugitive slave law; popular sovereignty in Utah/NM.

Nativists / Nativism

Americans who opposed immigrants, especially Irish/German Catholics.

"Know-Nothing" Party

Secret anti-immigrant party; said "I know nothing" when asked about it.

Fugitive Slave Law (1850)

Forced Northerners to help catch escaped slaves; no jury trial.

Underground Railroad

Secret network helping enslaved people escape to freedom.

Harriet Tubman

Escaped slave; led ~70 people to freedom on Underground Railroad.

Uncle Tom's Cabin / Harriet Beecher Stowe

1852 anti-slavery novel; made many Northerners hate slavery.

Impending Crisis of the South

1857 book saying slavery hurt poor white Southerners.

"Positive good" argument

Claim that slavery helped Black people and was good for society.

George Fitzhugh

Southern writer who said slavery was better than free labor.