Textbook Terms, Chapter 13

Discusses manifest destiny & the impact of territorial acquisition on intensifying sectional conflict.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th president of the United States who opposed the expansion of slavery, led the Union during the Civil War, and issued the Emancipation Proclamation

Compromise of 1850

A set of laws attempting to ease tensions between North and South, including admitting California as a free state, strengthening the Fugitive Slave Act, and allowing popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico

Dred Scott Decision (And What It Meant for US Slaves in Terms of Their Rights)

The 1857 Supreme Court ruling that declared African Americans were not citizens and had no legal rights, and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories

Election of 1860

The presidential election in which Abraham Lincoln won, prompting Southern states to secede and ultimately leading to the Civil War

Fugitive Slave Act

Part of the Compromise of 1850, this law required citizens to assist in the capture of runaway enslaved people and denied alleged fugitives the right to a jury trial

Gold Rush (And Effects on the West)

The 1848–1855 migration to California following the discovery of gold, leading to rapid population growth, economic development, and displacement of Native Americans

Free Soil Ideology

The belief that slavery should not expand into western territories to preserve land for white settlers and free labor

Free Soil Party

A political party formed in 1848 that opposed the expansion of slavery into western territories

Gadsden Purchase

A 1854 purchase of land from Mexico that facilitated construction of a southern transcontinental railroad and resolved border disputes

General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

Mexican general and president who led Mexico during the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War

Harper's Ferry

The 1859 raid led by John Brown to initiate a slave uprising by seizing a federal arsenal in Virginia

Henry Clay (Civil-War Era)

Known as the “Great Compromiser,” he helped craft major agreements like the Compromise of 1850 to reduce sectional tensions

James K. Polk

The 11th president of the United States who strongly supported Manifest Destiny, oversaw the annexation of Texas, and led the U.S. during the Mexican-American War

John Brown

An abolitionist who advocated armed insurrection to overthrow slavery, famously leading the raid on Harper’s Ferry

John C. Calhoun

A Southern politician who defended slavery, advocated states’ rights, and promoted the doctrine of nullification

Kansas-Nebraska Act

An 1854 law that allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise and sparking violence

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, justifying territorial acquisitions

Mexican War

The 1846–1848 conflict between the United States and Mexico over territory, resulting in U.S. acquisition of California, New Mexico, and other lands

Oregon Border Dispute

A territorial disagreement between the U.S. and Britain over the Oregon Territory, resolved in 1846 with the 49th parallel compromise

Oregon Trail

A major overland route used by settlers traveling west to Oregon, facilitating westward migration and settlement

Popular Sovereignty (And Effects on Politics and West)

The policy of allowing settlers in a territory to decide whether to allow slavery, which intensified sectional conflict and violence in western territories

Republican Party

A political party founded in the 1850s that opposed the expansion of slavery into the territories

Sam Houston

A leader of the Texas Revolution and first president of the Republic of Texas who advocated for Texas annexation to the United States

Stephen A. Douglas

A senator who promoted popular sovereignty and sponsored the Kansas-Nebraska Act, playing a key role in debates over slavery’s expansion

Stephen F. Austin

Known as the “Father of Texas,” he led American settlers to Texas under Mexican rule and helped establish its Anglo-American community

Tejanos

Texas residents of Mexican heritage who played significant roles during the Texas Revolution and early statehood

Texas Annexation

The 1845 incorporation of the Republic of Texas into the United States, increasing sectional tensions over slavery

The Alamo

A 1836 battle during the Texas Revolution in which Texan defenders were defeated by Mexican forces, becoming a symbol of resistance and independence

Transcontinental Railroad (And Effects on US as a Whole)

A railroad completed in 1869 connecting the East and West coasts, facilitating trade, settlement, and national unity

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

The 1848 treaty ending the Mexican-American War, in which Mexico ceded vast territories including California, Arizona, and New Mexico to the U.S.

Wilmot Proviso

A proposed 1846 amendment that would have banned slavery in territories acquired from Mexico, heightening sectional tensions

Winfield Scott

A U.S. general who led key campaigns during the Mexican-American War and developed the “Anaconda Plan” during the Civil War

"Young America"

A political movement in the 1840s–1850s advocating territorial expansion, spreading democracy abroad, and supporting Manifest Destiny

Zachary Taylor

A U.S. general in the Mexican-American War and 12th president of the United States, known for his military victories and moderate stance on slavery