Unit 5: Sectionalism during Civil War

Manifest Destiny

Belief that Americans had a God-given right to expand west and spread democracy, culture, and Christianity.

Oregon Trail

A migration route settlers used to move west into Oregon territory for land and opportunity.

Mexican Cession

Land gained from Mexico after the Mexican-American War (CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM).

Matthew Perry

U.S. naval officer who opened trade with Japan in 1854.

Compromise of 1850

Five-part deal: CA free state, popular sovereignty in NM/UT, stricter Fugitive Slave Act, no slave trade in D.C., Texas border settled.

Fugitive Slave Act

Required Northerners to help return escaped slaves; angered the North.

Popular Sovereignty

People in a territory vote on whether to allow slavery.

Irish Immigration

Came due to potato famine

worked low-wage factory jobs in the North

settled in northeastern cities

German Immigration

Settled in Midwest; often farmers, more skilled labor.

came for political freedom, economic opportunity

Nativism

Anti-immigrant attitude; “native” ppl of U.S feared job competition.

Know-Nothing Party

Political party opposed to immigrants and Catholics.

Underground Railroad

Secret escape network led by Harriet Tubman to help enslaved people reach freedom.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

Allowed popular sovereignty in KS/NE; led to violence known as Bleeding Kansas.

Bleeding Kansas

Pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers violently fought over slavery in Kansas. (anit-slavey ended up winning)

Republican Party

Formed to oppose the spread of slavery into new territories. ( but keep slavery where it was rn)

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

Supreme Court ruled Blacks were not citizens and Congress couldn’t ban slavery anywhere.

Secession

Southern states leave the Union after Lincoln’s election.

• South Carolina

• Mississippi.

• Florida

• Alabama

• Georgia

• Louisiana

• Texas

Confederacy

Government formed by seceding Southern states.

Fort Sumter (1861)

First battle of the Civil War; Confederacy attacks U.S. fort.

Anaconda Plan (1861) (after fort Sumter)

Union strategy to blockade South and control Mississippi River to cut Confederacy in half.

Battle of Antietam (1862)

Bloodiest single day; led to Emancipation Proclamation.

“AN” day of bloodiest battle in maryland

Confedency retreated ; but basically a tie ; big lost for both

Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

Freed slaves in Confederate states that were still in war with Union ; made war about ending slavery.

Battle of Gettysburg (1863)

Turning point of war

• Union victory (!!)

• 1st time union clearly stops confendency (Lee)

• Lee lost so many soldiers - could never attack north again

• Stops Southern invasion in Pennsylvania

Vicksburg 1863 - one day after Gettysburg

• was last stronghold fort/base of confederates

• Union gains control of Mississippi River

• split the confedney in half

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States.

Confiscation Acts (1861 & 1862)

Allowed Union to seize Confederate property, including enslaved people.

Draft Riots (NYC) (1863)

Working-class protests against being drafted into the Union army.

• Rich could pay $300 to get out of being drafted into war

Gettysburg Address (1863)

Lincoln’s speech redefining the war as a fight for equality and national unity.

Texas Annexation (1845)

• The U.S. added Texas in 1845 after it had been an independent republic, increasing tensions with Mexico.

• The U.S. formally annexed (added) Texas after it had spent 9 years as an independent republic. Mexico never recognized Texas’s independence, so when the U.S. annexed Texas,

• Mexico viewed it as a hostile act. This directly increased tensions that led to the Mexican-American War

Rio Grande vs. Nueces Dispute

• U.S claimed the border was at the Rio Grande (farther south = more land).

• Mexico said the border was at the Nueces River (farther north = less land).

• This disagreement gave President Polk an excuse to send troops into the disputed zone, where the first clash occurred — allowing Polk to argue that “American blood had been shed on American soil

Zachary Taylor

• A U.S. general sent by President Polk to the disputed Rio Grande region.

• Led battles at Palo Alto and Buena Vista, winning major victories.

• A national hero, which boosted his popularity and helped him win the presidency in 1848.

Bear Flag Revolt (1846)

• A short rebellion in California where American settlers declared independence from Mexico

• created the “Bear Flag Republic.”

• Happened during the Mexican-American War.

• U.S. forces soon took control, and California became part of the U.S.

• Shows how Americans were already pushing for westward expansion.

Wilmot Proviso (1846)

• A proposal by Congressman Wilmot

• Stating slavery should be banned in any territory gained from Mexico.

• It passed the House (North had more population)

• It failed in the Senate (South had equal power

• Although it didn’t become law, it intensified sectional tensions and forced politicians to openly address slavery.

Mexican-American War (1846–1848)

A war sparked by border disputes and President Polk’s expansionist agenda. The U.S. invaded northern Mexico and captured Mexico City. First major conflict fought largely on foreign soil. Result: the U.S. gains enormous new territory.

Critics (including Lincoln) argued Polk provoked the war to expand slavery.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

The treaty that ended the Mexican-American War.

• U.S got Mexican cession

• ( California, Nevada, Utah, Most of Arizona, Half of New Mexico,parts of Colorado & Wyoming)

• Rion Grande as Texas border

• Mex. got 15 million

• promise that mex. ppl would keep land and rights (not followed ☹ )

• This reopened the slavery expansion debate, leading to the Compromise of 1850.

Henry Clay

The Great Compromiser,” pushed for the Compromise of 1850 to keep the Union together

Daniel Webster

Represented Northern interests; supported Clay to preserve the Union.

John C. Calhoun

Represented Southern interests; argued for states’ rights and the protection of slavery, even threatening secession.

Election of 1860

• A four-way election that showed how divided the country had become.

• Abraham Lincoln (Republican) won without a single Southern vote.

• The Republican platform opposed the expansion of slavery (not slavery itself at that time).

• Lincoln’s victory made the South feel politically powerless, triggering secession by South Carolina and then other states, leading directly into the Civil War

14th Amendment

• granted citizenship to everyone even blacks

• guaranteed equal protection

• limited power of former Confederate leaders

15th Amendment

• gave black men right to vote

• prohibtied voting rights

Ostend Manifesto (1854)

Secret plan where U.S. diplomats suggested buying Cuba from Spain (or taking it by force).
• Northerners saw it as a pro-slavery expansion scheme

Clayton–Bulwer Treaty (1850)

U.S. and Britain agreed neither would control/build a Central American canal alone.
• Prevented future conflict

• Can’t Build Alone

Gadsden Purchase (1853)

U.S. bought land from Mexico (southern AZ/NM) for a southern transcontinental railroad route.
• Last major land addition of the continental U.S.

Free Soil Movement/Party (1848–1854)

Political movement opposing expansion of slavery into western territories.
• Wanted land for free white labor, not abolition.

Barnburners” (1840s)

Anti-slavery Democrats in New York who strongly opposed slave expansion.

• BURN slavery out

Tammany Hall (active 1790s–1900s; peak mid-1800s

Democratic political machine/group in NYC known for controlling urban politic

Railroads (expanded heavily 1830s–1860s)

Transportation network that connected markets and boosted the northern economy.

• later in civil war gave north advantage

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

Anti-slavery novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
• Boosted Northern support against slavery.

George Fitzhugh (1850s)

• Southern theorist who defended slavery as beneficial and necessary.
  • Compared enslaved people favorably to Northern wage laborers.

• “FIX” slavery issues as Good”

Franklin Pierce (President 1853–1857)

• 14th U.S. president whose weak leadership worsened sectional tensions.
  • Supported Pro-slavery policies like enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act.

“Pushover” - weak

Sumner–Brooks Incident (1856)

Congressman Preston Brooks beat Senator Charles Sumner with a cane on the Senate floor after Sumner criticized slavery.

• Sumner - “SUM” change - X slavery

• Brooks - Boi! i’m BEAT u
  • Symbolized how violent and polarized the nation had become.

Republican Party (founded 1854)

• New political party created to oppose the expansion of slavery into western territories.
  • replaced the whig party

• Abraham Lincoln became its first successful presidential candidate in 1860

John C. Frémont (Election of 1856)

• First Republican nominee for president.
  • Extra: Ran on stopping the spread of slavery; strong showing scared the South.

Millard Fillmore (President 1850–1853)

• president who took office after Zachary Taylor died.
  • Signed the Compromise of 1850 and enforced the Fugitive Slave Act strongly.

• FuFILLs Fugitive Slave Act (in compromise of 1850)

Lecompton Constitution (1857)

• Pro-slavery constitution proposed for Kansas statehood.
  • Rejected by Kansas settlers

• LEt slavery CONtitnue

James Buchanan (President 1857–1861)

• 15th U.S. president known for doing little to stop the nation from sliding into Civil War. - BAD @ helping
  • Supported the pro-slavery Lecompton Constitution in Kansas.

Lincoln–Douglas Debates (1858)

• Series of debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas for the Illinois Senate race.
  • Debates focused on slavery expansion; made Lincoln nationally famous.

Freeport Doctrine (1858)

• Stephen Douglas’s argument that local territories could limit slavery by refusing to pass laws protecting it.
  • Helped Douglas win Illinois Senate seat

• damaged him in the South - > of w/ South but started backpedaling

Harpers Ferry (1859)

• Abolitionist John Brown’s raid on a federal arsenal in hopes of sparking a slave uprising.
  • Brown was captured and executed;

• North angry over South aggression

Help Free Slaves By taking Firing weapons - starting revolt to help them

John C. Breckinridge (Election of 1860)

• Southern Democratic candidate in 1860 who supported the national protection of slavery.
  • Won most of the South’s votes

• But Breckidge of democrats gave Lincoln the win

John Bell (Election of 1860)

• Candidate of the Constitutional Union Party who tried to avoid the slavery issue and save the Union.

like Taco bell

Lets “TACO A BELL it”

Constitutional Union Party (1860)

• Political party formed to keep the nation together by avoiding the slavery debate.
  • Extra: Supported the Constitution, the Union, and the enforcement of laws (basically: keep things calm).

“Just keep UNION together”

Border States (1861)

• Slave states that stayed loyal to the Union: Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland.

Second American Revolution

• ended slavery

• strengthened the federal government

• transformed the economy

remade the United States.

jefferson Davis (1861–1865)

• Leader/President of the Confederate States during the Civil War.

Davis = Down south

1st Bull Run (1861)

• First major land battle of the Civil War

• Confederate victory

• In VA

Stonewall Jackson (Major Confederate general 1861–1863)

• Brilliant Southern commander known for bold tactics.
  • Earned nickname by standing firm at Bull Run.

George B. McClellan(1861–1862)

• Mr. Caitous = Union General

• Organized and trained Union armies but was overly cautious.
  • Extra: Fired twice by Lincoln.

Robert E. Lee ( 1862–1865)

• Confederate commander Led the Army of Northern Virginia.
  • Surrendered at Appomattox in 1865.

“LEft u.s army to fight for his Love town -VA

Fredericksburg (1862)

• Union suffered devastating losses attacking fortified Confederates.
  • :One of the Union’s worst defeats.

epic Fail For Fight For Freedom For slave - union

Monitor vs. Merrimac (1862)

• Naval battle between two metal ships (confed v union)
  • Ended the era of wooden warships

• tie

• changed naval warfare forever.

Ulysses S. Grant (1861–1865)

• Union general

• won key western battles and became overall commander.

won in GReat West

Battle of Shiloh (1862)

• Brutal Tennessee battle

• Union victory

Trent Affair (1861)

• Union navy seized Confederate diplomats from a British ship.

Confed. TRied to get british help, union TRapp confed in brit ship, let them go cuz avoid war

Massachusetts 54th Regiment (formed 1863)

• One of the first African American Union regiments.

CopperHeads

Northern Democrats who were against war and wanted peace

Calm Heads

Ex Parte Milligan (1866)

• Supreme Court ruling that civilians can’t be tried in military courts when civil courts operate.
  • :Limited wartime presidential power.

EXcluded MILITary trials

Election of 1864

• Lincoln won reelection during the Civil War.
  • Sherman’s victories helped secure his win - > @ first ppl were about to give up

Financing the War (1861–1865)

• Union used taxes, war bonds, and printing greenbacks to fund the war.
  • Expanded federal economic control.