2024-2025 Honors U.S. History Final Exam Review (Packet)

John Quincy Adams

Sixth President of the United States, served from 1825-1829.

-Advocated for internal improvements like roads, canals, and education

-Faced strong political opposition which limited his success as president

-Presidency was marked by ambition but lacked popular support in Congress.

Frederick Douglass

-Former enslaved person who escaped to freedom

-Became a powerful abolitionist speaker and writer

-Published an autobiography and edited an anti-slavery newspaper

-Symbol of the fight for African American freedom and equality

Andrew Jackson

Seventh President of the United States, served from 1829-1837

-Founded the Democratic Party

-Known as the “people’s President” — supported more democracy for the common man.

-Spoils system: Gave government jobs to loyal supporters.

-Opposed the Bank of the United States, believing it gave too much power to the wealthy elite.

-Nullification Crisis: Jackson defended federal authority when South Carolina tried to nullify a federal tariff.

Trail of Tears

-The forced removal of Native American tribes (especially the Cherokee) from their lands to territory west of the Mississippi.

-Thousands died from disease, exposure, and starvation.

-Caused by policies like the Indian Removal Act.

Indian Removal Act

-1830

-Signed by Andrew Jackson

-Allowed the U.S. government to relocate Native American tribes to land west of the Mississippi River.

-Justified as opening land for white settlers, but caused immense suffering.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

-1852

-Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

-Powerful anti-slavery novel that showed the cruelty of slavery.

-Helped grow support for the abolitionist movement, especially in the North.

-Outraged many Southerners, who felt it unfairly criticized slavery and Southern life.

The Cotton Gin

-Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793.

-it made cotton production faster and more profitable.

-Increased demand for enslaved labor in the South.

Market Revolution & Early Industrial Revolution

-Period of economic growth and innovation in the early 1800s.

-Key changes:

-Factories and machines replaced hand tools.

-Steam engines powered factories and transportation.

-Transportation improvements: canals, railroads, and roads helped move goods and connect markets.

-Helped create a national economy linking different regions.

Abolitionism

-Abolitionists wanted to end slavery in the U.S.

-Leaders included Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and Harriet Tubman.

-Movement grew stronger in the North during the 1800s.

Mexican-American War

-1846-1848

-Started due to a border dispute over Texas.

-The U.S. claimed the Rio Grande as the border; Mexico disagreed.

-Ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

-The U.S. gained large territories in the Southwest.

Mexican Cession

-Land gained from Mexico after the war.

-Included California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and more.

-Added over 500,000 square miles to U.S. territory.

Annexation of Texas

-Texas became independent from Mexico in 1836.

-The U.S. annexed Texas in 1845, which helped spark war with Mexico.

-Some Americans opposed annexation because it would expand slavery.

Fugitive Slave Act

-Part of the Compromise of 1850

-Required escaped slaves to be returned to owners—even from free states.

-Increased Northern opposition to slavery.

Compromise of 1850

-Attempt to settle disputes between North and South:

-California entered as a free state

-Fugitive Slave Act passed

-Allowed new territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

-1854

-Repealed the Missouri Compromise

-Allowed popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska.

-Led to “Bleeding Kansas”, violent clashes between pro- and anti-slavery settlers.

Dred Scott Decision

-1857

-Supreme Court ruled:

-African Americans were not citizens.

-Congress could not ban slavery in the territories.

-Decision increased tensions between North and South.

John Brown’s Raid

-1859

-Abolitionist John Brown led an attack on a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.

-Hoped to start a slave uprising.

-Failed and was executed, but alarmed the South and inspired the North.

Election of 1860

-Winner: Abraham Lincoln (Republican)

-Significance: Lincoln’s victory led Southern states to begin seceding from the Union, fearing he would end slavery.

Causes of the Civil War

-Main cause: Disagreement over the expansion of slavery into new western territories.

-Abolitionist Movement: Aimed to end slavery in the U.S.

Union Army Strengths

-Larger population

-More factories and railroads

-Stronger navy

-Greater food production

Union Army Weaknesses

-Fighting mostly on enemy (Southern) territory

-Less motivation among soldiers early in the war

-Leadership was inconsistent early on

Confederate Army Strengths

-Strong military leadership (e.g., Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson)

-Fighting on home ground

-Soldiers were often more experienced hunters and riders

Confederate Army Weaknesses

-Smaller population

-Fewer factories and railroads

-Limited resources and supplies

-No foreign recognition

Battle of Fort Sumter

-1861

-First shots of the war; Confederates fired on Union fort.

Battle of Antietam

-1862

-Bloodiest single-day battle; allowed Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Battle of Gettysburg

-1863

-Turning point, major Confederate loss stopped their invasion of the North.

Battle of Vicksburg

-1863

-Gave Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy.

Appomattox Court House

-1865

-Where General Lee surrendered to General Grant, ending the war.

Emancipation Proclamation

-1863

"…all persons held as slaves within any State … in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free…"

-Freed slaves only in the Confederate states (not in border states or Union areas).

-Did not end slavery, but it changed the war’s focus to freeing slaves.

-Encouraged African Americans to join the Union army.

13th Amendment

-1865

-Abolished slavery in the entire United States.

-Made emancipation permanent and nationwide

Reconstruction Era

-1865-1877

-Goal: Rebuild the South and reunite the nation.

Vertical Integration

-Definition: When a company controls all parts of a production — from raw materials to transportationto the final product.

-Example: A steel company owning the iron mines, railroads, and factories.

-Why it matters: It helps reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Horizontal Integration

-Definition: When a company buys out or merges with other companies in the same industry.

-Example: One oil company buying out all the other oil companies

-Why it matters: This reduces competition and can lead to monopolies.

Andrew Carnegie

-Industry: Steel

-Business Strategy: Used vertical integration to build a powerful steel empire.

-Fun Fact: Later in life, he gave away much of his fortune to libraries and education.

John D. Rockefeller

-Industry: Oil

-Business Strategy: Used horizontal integration to take over almost all oil refineries.

-Company: Founded Standard Oil, one of the first major monopolies.

Monopolies

-Definition: A monopoly is when one company controls an entire industry, with no competition.

-Why it’s a problem: Monopolies can set high prices and lower quality because consumers have no alternatives.

-Example: Standard Oil under Rockefeller.

Problems with Monopolies

-No competition = companies can overcharge customers

-Hurts small businesses that can’t compete

-Less innovation because companies don’t have to improve

Sherman Antitrust Act

-1890

-What it did: Made it illegal to create monoplies or trusts that limited competition

-Why it matters: it was the first federal law to try to control big businesses.

-Legacy: It helped the government start regulating unfair business practices.

The Homestead Act

-1862

-Gave 160 acres of free land to settlers who farmed it for 5 years.

The Great Plains (Post-Civil War)

-Cattle Frontier: Cowboys drove cattle to railheads (like Dodge City) for shipment east.

-Barbed Wire: Invented in 1874; ended the open range by fencing in land.

-Sod Houses: Common homes on the Plains due to lack of trees.

-Dry Farming: Farming methods developed for dry soil and little rainfall.

-Mining Booms: Gold and silver discoveries led to boomtowns (e.g., Colorado, Nevada).

-Railroads: Helped settle the Plains by transporting people and goods quickly.

Important Challenges

-Harsh weather (droughts, storms)

-Isolation

-Conflicts with Native Americans

Industrialization (Late 1800s-1900)

Key Terms & Concepts:

-Working Conditions: Long hours, low wages, dangerous environments.

-Immigrants: Provided labor for factories; often lived in crowded tenements.

-Strikes: Workers protested for better conditions (e.g., Pullman Strike, Homestead Strike).

-Women in Industry: Worked in textiles, garment factories, and as clerks/typists.

Goals of Labor Unions:

-Better pay

-Shorter hours

-Safer conditions

The New South (After 1877 Reconstruction Ends)

-”New South” Vision: Modern economy based on industry (textiles, steel), not just farming.

-Sharecropping: System where poor farmers rented land in exchange for a share of crops—kept many in poverty.

-Jim Crow Laws: State laws enforcing racial segregation in public places.

-Poll Taxes/Literacy Tests: Used to prevent African Americcans from voting.

-Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Legal separation of races in schools, transport, and other public spaces.

Original 13 Colonies

1783 - The Treaty of Paris ends the Revolutionary War

Louisiana Territory

1803 - Purchased from France

Florida

1819 - Purchased through the Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain

Texas

1845 - Annexed Texas (Brought into the Union as a fully formed State)

Oregon Territory

1846 - Treaty with Britain made the border with Canada official

Mexican Cession

1848 - Purchased for a low price from Mexico after winning a War

Gadsden Territory

1854 - Purchased from Mexico for a fair price; to build railroads

Alaska

1867 - Purchased from Russia

Hawaii

The U.S. overthrew the Hawaiian Government and claimed it for themselves