HUSH - Period 5 - Chapter 13 - Scored Discussion Prep

Manifest Destiny

Belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America.

Manifest Destiny significance

Justified expansion and increased conflict over slavery in new territories.

Racial Justification

Belief that Americans were superior and had the right to expand.

Racial Justification significance

Used to defend taking land from Mexicans and Native Americans.

Opposition to Expansion

Resistance by Whigs and abolitionists to territorial growth.

Opposition to Expansion significance

Showed fear that expansion would spread slavery and cause war.

Stephen Austin

Leader who brought American settlers into Texas.

Stephen Austin significance

Helped lead Texas toward independence from Mexico.

Texas Revolution

Conflict between Texas settlers and Mexico (1835-1836).

Texas Revolution significance

Resulted in Texas independence and later annexation.

Battle of San Jacinto

Final battle of Texas Revolution where Texans defeated Mexico.

Battle of San Jacinto significance

Secured independence for Texas.

Oregon Territory

Region jointly claimed by the U.S. and Britain.

Oregon Territory significance

Showed expansion could be settled peacefully.

Oregon Trail

Route settlers used to travel west.

Oregon Trail significance

Enabled large-scale westward migration.

Westward Migration

Movement of Americans west for land and opportunity.

Westward Migration significance

Spread U.S. culture and increased conflict with Native Americans.

James K. Polk

Expansionist president who served from 1845-1849.

James K. Polk significance

Greatly expanded U.S. territory and intensified slavery debates.

Oregon Compromise

Agreement with Britain setting boundary at 49th parallel.

Oregon Compromise significance

Avoided war with Britain.

Texas Boundary Dispute

Disagreement over whether Texas ended at Rio Grande or Nueces River.

Texas Boundary Dispute significance

Sparked the Mexican-American War.

Mexican-American War

War between U.S. and Mexico (1846-1848).

Mexican-American War significance

Led to massive land gain and increased sectional conflict.

Slidell Mission

Failed U.S. attempt to buy land from Mexico.

Slidell Mission significance

Helped lead to war with Mexico.

Bear Flag Revolution

Revolt by American settlers in California.

Bear Flag Revolution significance

Helped the U.S. gain control of California.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty ending Mexican-American War.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo significance

Gave U.S. large territories and reignited slavery debate.

Slavery in the Territories

Debate over whether slavery would expand west.

Slavery in the Territories significance

Main cause of sectional conflict.

Wilmot Proviso

Proposal to ban slavery in new territories.

Wilmot Proviso significance

Increased tensions despite not passing.

Free-Soil Party

Political party opposing expansion of slavery.

Free-Soil Party significance

Showed growing Northern opposition to slavery.

California Gold Rush

Mass migration after gold discovery in 1848.

California Gold Rush significance

Accelerated statehood and sectional conflict.

Forty-niners

People who moved to California for gold.

Forty-niners significance

Boosted population and economic growth.

Compromise of 1850

Series of laws balancing free and slave interests.

Compromise of 1850 significance

Temporarily eased tensions but worsened divisions.

Fugitive Slave Act

Law requiring return of escaped slaves.

Fugitive Slave Act significance

Increased Northern resistance to slavery.

Popular Sovereignty

Policy letting settlers decide slavery issue.

Popular Sovereignty significance

Led to violence and failed to solve conflict.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Law allowing popular sovereignty in new territories.

Kansas-Nebraska Act significance

Repealed Missouri Compromise and increased conflict.

Republican Party

Political party formed to oppose slavery expansion.

Republican Party significance

Became dominant Northern party.

Bleeding Kansas

Violent conflict in Kansas over slavery.

Bleeding Kansas significance

Showed failure of compromise.

Pottawatomie Massacre

John Brown's attack on pro-slavery settlers.

Pottawatomie Massacre significance

Escalated violence in Kansas.

Preston Brooks Incident

Attack on Charles Sumner in Congress.

Preston Brooks Incident significance

Symbolized deep sectional division.

Slave Power Conspiracy

Belief that slaveholders controlled government.

Slave Power Conspiracy significance

Increased Northern distrust.

Pro-Slavery Argument

Claim that slavery was beneficial.

Pro-Slavery Argument significance

Strengthened Southern defense of slavery.

Dred Scott decision

Ruling that slaves were not citizens and Congress couldn't ban slavery.

Dred Scott decision significance

Outraged North and intensified sectional conflict.

Lecompton Constitution

Pro-slavery constitution for Kansas.

Lecompton Constitution significance

Rejected, showing political deadlock.

Abraham Lincoln

Republican leader opposing expansion of slavery.

Abraham Lincoln significance

His election triggered secession.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Debates over slavery expansion.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates significance

Made Lincoln nationally known.

John Brown's Raid

Attempt to start a slave rebellion in 1859.

John Brown's Raid significance

Increased Southern fear of abolitionists.

Election of 1860

Election where Lincoln became president.

Election of 1860 significance

Led to Southern secession.

Disunion

Southern states leaving the Union.

Disunion significance

Direct cause of the Civil War.