U.S. Westward Expansion, Civil War, and Reconstruction Key Concepts

Manifest Destiny

God given duty for Americans to expand and spread civilization/democracy.

Reasons for Expansion

Manifest Destiny, economic opportunities, population increase, nationalism, tech improvements (railroads, canals, etc).

Texas

Owned by Mexico; MX forced all immigrants to become Catholic & abolished slavery.

Sam Houston

Revolted against Mexican Dictator Santa Anna.

Election of 1844

Split in Democratic party over annexation; Polk won with pro-annexation stance.

Mexican American War

Caused by Polk's desire for California and border disputes.

Treaty of Guadalupe (1848)

MX recognized Rio River as border & ceded California & New Mexico for $15 million.

Wilmot Proviso

Plan to prevent slavery in newly acquired territory; did not pass.

Ostend Manifesto

Attempt to acquire Cuba from Spain for plantation possibilities; did not succeed.

Gadsden Purchase

President Franklin Pierce bought land in NM & AZ to build railroad.

Gold Rush (1848-1850s)

Discovery of gold in CA led to massive emigration and large Chinese immigration to the West Coast.

Economic Expansion

Facilitated by technology like the telegraph and railroad.

Kanagawa Treaty

Opened trade with isolationist Japan.

Panic of 1857

Hurt Midwestern farmers & Northerners; increased sectionalism.

Zachary Taylor

General who drove the Mexican Army out of Texas.

Stephen Kearny

Led the first major military campaign on foreign territory during the Mexican American War.

Fifty-four Forty or Fight!

Slogan referring to the expansionism debate over Oregon.

Northern Whigs

Opposed the Mexican American War fearing the expansion of slavery.

Southern Democrats

Some opposed the Treaty of Guadalupe because they wanted all of Mexico.

Middle-Class Movement

Settlement largely driven by middle-class individuals moving to Oregon and California.

Economic Opportunities

Expansion into new territories provided various economic prospects.

Sectionalism

Increased belief in the superiority of the Southern economy post-Panic of 1857.

David Wilmot

Proposed the Wilmot Proviso regarding slavery in new territories.

Free Soil Movement

Were against the expansion of slavery, not slavery, b/c they wanted economic opportunities for white men; mostly Northerners (also included some abolitionists); South saw it as a threat to their constitutional right to property.

Popular Sovereignty

Lewis Cass; allowing states to vote on whether or not it would have slavery; supported by moderate Whigs & moderate Democrats.

Election of 1848

Zachary Taylor (Whig- no position on slavery) vs Lewis Cass (Dem- popular sovereignty) vs Van Buren (Free soil); Zachary Taylor won.

Compromise of 1850

California wanted to be admitted as a free state; Henry Clay made compromise: California be admitted as a free state, Mexican Cession would be divided into Utah & New Mexico w/ popular sovereignty, ban slave trade in DC, fugitive slave law.

Fugitive Slave Law

Heavily supported by South; got them to pass Comp of 1850; infuriated North & abolitionists.

Underground Railroad

Harriet Tubman; helped slaves escape to North; aided later by Frederick Douglas & Sojourner Truth.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe; exposed horrible truths of slavery & influenced millions of Northerners to support abolitionism; South deemed it 'untruthful.'

Impending Crisis of the South

Southerner Hinton Helper used statistics to prove slavery was harming South's economy; banned in South & used heavily in North.

Southern Reaction

Argued slavery was allowed by Bible & argued slavery was beneficial for both slaves & owners; argued wage workers in North were slaves in worse conditions - 'wage slaves.'

Election of 1852

Winfield Scott (Whig- no position on slavery; internal improvements) vs Franklin Pierce (Dem- Northerner but supported fugitive slave law); Pierce won.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

Senator of Illinois Stephen Douglas wanted to build a railroad & needed Southern support; split Kansas & Nebraska into two & have popular sovereignty.

Bleeding Kansas

Pro-slavery farmers & abolitionists rushed into Kansas to vote; got violent; John Brown--fierce abolitionist--; first major time violence was used over issue of slavery.

Lecompton vs Topeka

Lecompton was pro-slavery legislature in Kansas; Topeka was anti-slavery legislature in Kansas.

Sumner-Brooks Incident

Preston Brooks- proslavery - beat Charles Sumner - anti-slavery - w/ a cane in Congress; increased tensions between North & South.

New Parties

Whig Party was weakened by conflicts; Northern & Southern Democrats for a short period.

Know-Nothing Party

Nativist party; against Catholics & Irish/German immigration; helped weaken Whig party w/ minor support.

Republican Party

Wisconsin (1854); Free-soilers & antislavery Whigs; opposed spread of slavery- not necessarily abolition; called for repeal of Kansas-Nebraska Act & Fugitive Slave Law.

Election of 1856

Rep- John Fremont (no expansion of slavery, homesteads, & protective tariffs) vs Dem- James Buchanan; Buchanan won but Reps also did very well.

Lecompton Constitution

Kansas settlers (mostly Reps) opposed Lecompton legislature; Kansas entered as a free state.

Dred Scott v Sandford (1857)

Dred Scott sued b/c he had fled to a free state; Southern Dem Roger Taney ruled: African Americans were not citizens, Congress could not take away slavery, & Missouri Comp was unconstitutional.

John Brown's Raid

Harpers Ferry; John Brown tried to lead a slave revolt; moderate Reps condemned his actions.

Election of 1860

Southern Dem- John Breckinridge vs Northern Dem- Stephen Douglas vs Constiutional Union Party- John Bell vs Rep- Abraham Lincoln; Lincoln won.

Secession

South Carolina, GA, FL, AL, Miss, Louis, TX all secede first; created Confederate States.

Crittenden Compromise

Buchanan's last attempt to preserve Union; extension of slavery under 36,30 line; Reps rejected it.

Summer-Brooks Incident

A violent fight in Congress due to arguments over slavery.

Dred Scott Decision

Ruling that African Americans were not citizens and Congress couldn't regulate slavery expansion.

Harpers Ferry Raid

Conducted by John Brown, it intensified Southern fears of Northern intentions.

Southern Secession

The withdrawal of Southern states from the Union in response to Lincoln's election.

Fort Sumter

Location of the first shots of the Civil War.

Border States

Slave states that remained in the Union: Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, Kentucky.

Northern Advantages

Larger population, more railroads, established government, and industrial economy.

Southern Advantages

Better generals, defensive war, and morale due to fighting for their beliefs.

Battle of Bull Run

Confederate victory that shattered the North's expectation of a short war.

Anaconda Plan

Union strategy to blockade Southern ports and control the Mississippi River.

Battle of Antietam

Bloodiest battle of the Civil War, resulting in a tactical draw but strategic Union victory.

Vicksburg

Union victory that gave the North control of the Mississippi River.

Gettysburg

Turning point battle that confirmed Union dominance in the war.

Sherman's March

Total war campaign from Atlanta to Savannah, destroying Southern resources.

Trent Affair

Incident where Britain nearly sided with the Confederacy, leading to diplomatic tensions.

Confiscation Acts

Laws allowing Union soldiers to free slaves who aided the war effort.

Emancipation Proclamation

Declared freedom for slaves in Confederate territories after Antietam.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States.

Appomattox

Site of Robert E. Lee's surrender, effectively ending the Civil War.

Lincoln's Assassination

Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth, leading to Andrew Johnson's presidency.

Political Effects of War

Republican majority in Congress and recognition of civil liberties limitations.

The Draft

First major draft in the U.S., causing unrest among laborers.

Economic Changes

Increased tariffs, introduction of paper currency, and industrial growth in the North.

Social Changes

Women took on new roles, leading to increased independence and suffragist movements.

Appomattox Court House

Location where the Confederacy surrendered in 1865.

Proclamation of Amnesty & Reconstruction (1863)

Lincoln's plan for Southern states' readmission with a loyalty oath.

Wade-Davis Bill (1864)

More demanding readmission plan requiring a 50% loyalty oath.

Freedmen's Bureau

Early welfare agency providing aid to newly freed slaves.

Andrew Johnson's Plans

Policies favoring the South and frequent presidential pardons.

Black Codes

Laws limiting the rights of African Americans in Southern states.

Radical Republicans

Group advocating for civil rights and equality for African Americans.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Legislation granting full citizenship to African Americans.

14th Amendment

Constitutional amendment granting citizenship to all Americans regardless of race.

15th Amendment

Constitutional amendment prohibiting the denial of voting rights based on race.

Reconstruction Acts of 1867

Legislation dividing the South into military zones for enforcement of new laws.

Impeachment of Johnson

Attempt to remove Johnson from office following his violation of the Tenure of Office Act.

Election of 1868

Ulysses S. Grant won against Horatio Seymour, marking continued Republican control.

Civil Rights Act of 1875

Last major civil rights legislation during Reconstruction, promoting equal access to public services.

Scalawags

Southern Republicans viewed negatively by Democrats.

Carpetbaggers

Northern newcomers who moved to the South for political or economic gain.

Sharecropping

System where African Americans rented land and shared crops, often leading to debt.

Credit Mobilier

Scandal involving railroad companies bribing Congressmen.

Whiskey Ring

Corruption scandal involving government officials and whiskey companies.

Panic of 1873

Economic downturn caused by overspeculation, leading to debt and unemployment.

Rise of Redeemers

Southern Democrats advocating for states' rights and white supremacy.

KKK

Terrorist group that harassed and intimidated African Americans during Reconstruction.

Amnesty Act of 1872

Restored political power to ex-Confederates, allowing them to regain influence.

Election of 1876

Disputed election leading to the Compromise of 1877.

Compromise of 1877

Agreement that ended Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South.