Expansion and Conflict in America (1844-1877)

W. John Tyler

Stepped into office after Harrison's death, pushed for the annexation of Texas.

D. James K. Polk

In office during the Mexican-American War, encouraged expansion, calling for the annexation of Texas and the Oregon territory.

W. Millard Filmore

Stepped into office after Zachary Taylor's death, signed the Compromise of 1850.

D. Franklin Pierce

Backed the Kansas Nebraska Act.

D. Stephen A. Douglass

IL senator who advocated for popular sovereignty in the territories.

Sam Houston

President of the Lone Star Republic.

D. John C. Calhoun

SC senator at the time, strong advocate for Southern interests.

Texas Revolution

Rebellion by American settlers and Mexican Texans against Mexico, fueled by tensions over governance, cultural differences, and Mexico's ban on slavery.

Oregon Treaty

Solved the land dispute between the US and Britain over the Oregon territory; established the 49th parallel as the boundary between U.S. and British territories.

Manifest Destiny

Concept that stated that it was a God-given mission of the US to expand westward.

Mexican-American War

War fought over possession of the Texas territory, which was claimed by both Mexico and US.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Ended the Mexican-American War, with Mexico ceding vast territories to the U.S. in exchange for $15 million.

California's admission

California entered the Union as a free state under the Missouri Compromise, upsetting the balance between free and slave states.

Wilmot Proviso

Ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico as a result of the war; passed in the House, denied in the Senate.

Compromise of 1850

Temporarily ended tensions between the North and South, allowing CA to be admitted as a free state but also strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act.

Fugitive Slave Act

Set up special commissions in northern states to determine if accused runaway slaves were actually runaways.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

By Harriet Beecher Stowe, fueled the abolitionist movement in the North, as it exposed the disgusting truths of slavery.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Compromise that put Nebraska and Kansas under popular sovereignty to decide if they would enter the union as free or slave states.

Dred Scott v. Sanford

Ruled that slaves were property and not people; black people who are slaves or freed are not citizens and therefore cannot sue in court.

Sanford (1857)

Ruled that slaves were property and not people; black people who are slaves or freed are not citizens and therefore cannot sue in court.

Election of 1860

Seen as an insult to many in the South, leading to the inevitable secession of Southern states from the Union.

Civil War (1861-1865)

Originally a battle to restore the Union, framed by Lincoln to secure crucial border states (KT, MD, MO).

Union (North)

Pros: larger population, industrial strength, extensive railroads, naval power, established government; Cons: offensive war, unfamiliar terrain, divided public opinion.

Fort Sumter (1861)

First battle, Confederate victory that unified the North against the South.

Battle of Antietam (1862)

Lee's first invasion of the North with McClellan's troops; a tactical draw, but a strategic Union win as Lee's forces retreated.

Battle of Gettysburg (1863)

Bloodiest overall battle of the Civil War; Lee unsuccessfully attacked General Meade's defenses and was forced to retreat.

Siege of Vicksburg (1863)

Led by Ulysses S. Grant, gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy.

Appomattox Court House (1865)

Final battle where Lee surrendered.

Emancipation Proclamation (1863)

Freed slaves in Southern territories controlled by the Union army; committed the Union to the abolition of slavery.

Confederacy (South)

Pros: defensive war, experienced military leaders, home field advantage; Cons: smaller population, weak industry, limited railroads, economic struggles.

Confederate States of America

Created in February 1861, had many disadvantages but believed they had a fighting chance.

First Battle of Bull Run (1861)

Early Civil War engagement ending in defeat for the Union Army; convinced many in the North that victory would be more difficult than anticipated.

Battle of Chancellorsville (1863)

Lee's greatest tactical victory, but he lost Jackson.

Election of 1864

Abraham Lincoln's platform focused on continuing the war to preserve the Union, while McClellan sought peace negotiations.

Andrew Johnson

Served as president after Lincoln's assassination and was responsible for leading the nation and resolving the war.

Reconstruction Era

Period after the Civil War during which Northern political leaders created plans for the governance of the South and a procedure for former Southern states to rejoin the Union.

Ulysses S. Grant

Appointed Commanding General in 1864 and later served as president from 1869-1877.

Abraham Lincoln

President from 1861-1865, known for leading the nation during the Civil War.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederate States of America.

Robert E. Lee

General of the Confederate Army.

Stonewall Jackson

Confederate general known for his role in the Civil War.

J.E.B. Stuart

Confederate cavalry commander.

Radical Republicans

Wished to punish the South for its succession; pushed for measures that gave economic and political rights to newly freed blacks in the South and that made it difficult for former Confederate states to rejoin the Union.

Ku Klux Klan

Founded in Tennessee in 1866 by Confederate veterans, the Ku Klux Klan used violence to oppose Reconstruction and suppress freed slaves, reflecting Southern white resentment toward the era's changes.

Ten Percent Plan (1863)

Allowed Southerners who had not held important Confederate military or political positions to swear their allegiance to the Union. Once 10% of registered voters in a secede state did this, they could form a new state govt. loyal to the union.

13th Amendment (1865)

Abolished slavery throughout the whole US, ratified in December 1865.

Black Codes

Laws that severely limited the freedoms and economic opportunities of free black people.

Freedman's Bureau (1865)

Federal agency that assisted formerly enslaved people and poor whites in the South after Civil War, providing food, housing, medical aid, legal assistance, and education.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Declared that all persons born in the U.S were citizens (except Natives not taxed), everyone would have the same legal rights (make contracts, own property, access courts), and targeted racial discrimination.

14th Amendment (1868)

Established citizenship rights and equal protection under the law, gave the federal government the responsibility to protect equal rights for all Americans.

Reconstruction Act (1867)

Act of placing Southern states under military rule and barring former supporters of the Confederacy from voting, forced them to have freedmen vote and have equal rights.

15th Amendment (1870)

The right to vote cannot be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Civil Rights Act of 1875

Passed by Grant, called for equal treatment for African Americans in public accommodations, public transportation, and on juries.

Compromise of 1877

Ended the disputed 1876 presidential election by granting Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency in exchange for removing federal troops from the South.

Carpetbaggers

Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction.

Scalawags

White Southern Republicans.

Tenant farmers

Farmed land owned by someone else, typically paying rent in cash or a portion of their crops.

Jeffersonian Revolution

The period from 1800 to 1820 marked by Thomas Jefferson's presidency and his vision of America.

Thomas Jefferson

President from 1801 to 1809, known for implementing Republican policies and cutting government spending.

James Madison

President from 1809 to 1817, associated with the War of 1812.

James Monroe

President from 1817 to 1825, known for the Monroe Doctrine.

Aaron Burr

Jefferson's first Vice President who lost political credibility and followers.

Henry Clay

Known as the 'Great Compromiser', served as Speaker of the House in 1812.

John Marshall

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who strengthened the role of federal courts.

Tecumseh

Shawnee chief aligned with the British during the War of 1812, killed in the Battle of the Thames.

Revolution of 1800

The election of Jefferson in 1800, signifying a shift in political vision from Federalists.

Judicial Review

Established by Marbury v. Madison (1803), allowing the Supreme Court to review acts of Congress.

Marbury v. Madison

A landmark case in 1803 that established the principle of judicial review.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Unpopular laws that Jefferson did not renew during his presidency.

National Bank

Financial institution that Jefferson did not abolish despite his opposition to centralized power.

Federal Judiciary

Strengthened during John Marshall's tenure, clashing with Jefferson's vision of decentralized government.

Burr Treason Trial

A trial that highlighted political divisions in the US, with Jefferson pushing for Burr's conviction.

Political Factions

Groups with differing political views that created intense rivalries during Jefferson's presidency.

Executive Authority

The limits of power held by the executive branch, debated during the Burr trial.

Financial Burden on Farmers

Eased by Jefferson's elimination of unpopular taxes like the whisky tax.

Decentralized Government

Jefferson's vision that conflicted with the strengthening of federal power under Marshall.

Political Rivalry

Intense competition between Jefferson and Burr, reflecting broader political divisions.

War of 1812

Conflict during Madison's presidency that influenced national politics and foreign relations.

Napoleonic Wars

Greatly impacted the relationship between the US, England, and France.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

The US bought the French controlled Louisiana Territory for $15 million from Emperor Napoleon, doubling their territory; led to Manifest Destiny.

Thomas Jefferson

President during the Louisiana Purchase, who questioned its constitutionality.

Lewis and Clark expedition (1804)

Led to the discovery of much of the western part of North America and the economic possibilities there.

War of 1812

Conflict between British and Americans over British seizure of American warships and connections with Native tribes; did not result in major territorial changes but weakened Native American resistance.

Impressment

British ships seizing American sailors and compelling them to serve on their ships.

Federalists

Showed little support for the War of 1812 and believed an agreement with France would be economically favorable.

American System

Proposed by Senator Henry Clay after the War of 1812, intended to make the country economically independent by increasing industrial production and creating a Second National Bank.

Missouri Compromise (1820)

Prohibited slavery in territories acquired through the Louisiana Purchase north of Missouri's southern border while admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state.

DR. James Monroe

President from 1817 to 1825.

Andrew Jackson

President from 1829 to 1837.

John C. Calhoun

Andrew Jackson's VP, viewed the Tariff of 1828 as unconstitutional and threatened secession during the Colombia Convention.

Lowell System

Evolutionary labor and production model for textile manufacturing.

Monroe Doctrine (1823)

The U.S. warned European nations not to interfere with the newly independent nations in the Americas (Latin America). In return, the U.S. promised not to interfere in the internal affairs or wars of Europe.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

Enacted by Jackson, it targeted tribes east of the Mississippi to the west; the Trail of Tears came as a result.

Vetoing the Renewal of the Bank (1832)

Set the precedent of vetoing bills not only because they are unconstitutional, but because they don't follow their policy, giving the executive branch more influence.

Bank War

Political battle between President Andrew Jackson and Nicholas Biddle, the president of the Second Bank of the United States, over the bank's future.

Panic of 1837

Severe financial crisis triggered by Andrew Jackson's banking policies, including the destruction of the Second Bank of the United States and the Specie Circular, leading to widespread bank failures, unemployment, and economic depression.

Spoils system

System used heavily during the Jackson presidency where political supporters of the winning candidate are given jobs in the government.

Whig Party

Emerged in the 1830s against Jackson and the Democratic Party, favored policies that fostered commerce and industry, helping farmers.

Nullification

In reaction to tariff legislation passed in 1828, the SC legislature explored nullification, where the states could rule federal laws unconstitutional.

Second Great Awakening (1795-1835)

Major religious revival in the United States that emphasized personal salvation and led to a surge in evangelical Christianity, inspiring social reform movements like abolition, temperance, and women's rights.