A.P. U.S. History Notes

Flashcards for reviewing A.P. U.S. History content from Chapters 17 to 22, focusing on key events, concepts, and figures during the periods of Manifest Destiny, the Civil War, and Reconstruction.

What event marked the beginning of John Tyler's presidency?

William H. Harrison's death after four weeks in office.

What political party did John Tyler not align with?

The Whig Party.

What was the key financial reform that Tyler signed?

The independent treasury.

What major proposal did Tyler veto that was supported by the Whigs?

A new Bank of the US.

What war was sparked partly by American support for a rebellion in Canada?

A War of Words with Britain.

What was the significance of the Ashburton-Webster Treaty?

It resolved border disputes between the US and Britain.

What was Texas's status after it declared independence in 1836?

It remained a lone star republic.

Who won the presidential election of 1844?

James K. Polk.

What was the concept of Manifest Destiny?

The belief that the US was destined to expand across the continent.

What did the Wilmot Proviso aim to achieve?

To prohibit slavery in land acquired from Mexico.

What was a key result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

The US gained all territory from Texas to California north of the Rio Grande.

What was the impact of the Dred Scott Decision?

It declared that no black could be a citizen and that Congress could not ban slavery in the territories.

What did the Kansas-Nebraska Act allow?

Allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide on slavery by popular sovereignty.

What was the Underground Railroad?

An organization that helped runaway slaves escape to free states.

What did Harriet Tubman do?

She helped free more than 300 slaves through her efforts on the Underground Railroad.

What was the significance of the Free Soil Party?

It was formed to oppose the extension of slavery into the territories.

Who was the leading general of the Union Army at the start of the Civil War?

George B. McClellan.

What event is often considered the first major battle of the Civil War?

The First Battle of Bull Run.

What was Lincoln's main goal when he was inaugurated in 1861?

To preserve the Union.

What state's secession sparked the formation of the Confederacy?

South Carolina.

Which president was responsible for the Emancipation Proclamation?

Abraham Lincoln.

What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

It declared that all slaves in rebellious states would be freed.

What battle is known as the turning point of the Civil War?

The Battle of Gettysburg.

What was the main strategy of the Union in the Civil War?

Total war, aimed at defeating the Confederacy completely.

Who was the Confederate general known for his tactics at Chancellorsville?

Robert E. Lee.

What was the main goal of Sherman's March to the Sea?

To destroy Southern morale and resources.

What did the First and Second Confiscation Acts aim to do?

They aimed to free slaves used by the Confederate war effort.

What was the significance of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment?

It was one of the first African American regiments to fight for the Union.

What caused the collapse of the Confederacy’s economy?

High inflation and lack of industrial production.

What amendment granted citizenship to all persons born in the U.S.?

The 14th Amendment.

What did the 15th Amendment achieve?

It granted African American men the right to vote.

What was the Reconstruction Act of 1867?

It divided the South into military districts for oversight.

What was the Freedmen's Bureau created for?

To assist freed slaves and war refugees.

What were Black Codes?

Laws passed in Southern states to restrict the freedoms of African Americans.

Why did Andrew Johnson clash with Congress?

He vetoed key legislation aimed at securing rights for freedmen.

What did the Tenure of Office Act state?

The president could not remove appointees without Senate approval.

What was one of the main goals of radical Republicans during Reconstruction?

To protect the rights of freed African Americans.

What was the outcome of Johnson’s impeachment trial?

He was acquitted by one vote.

What was the significance of the purchase of Alaska?

It was initially criticized but later proved to be valuable for resources.

What major conflict arose after the election of 1860?

The secession of Southern states from the Union.

What was the popular sovereignty concept?

The idea that territories should decide for themselves on the slavery issue.

What was the Missouri Compromise?

An agreement that allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state while Maine entered as a free state.

What did the term 'scalawags' refer to?

Southern whites who supported Reconstruction efforts.

What major battle in 1863 was a significant turning point?

The Battle of Vicksburg.

What did the term 'carpetbagger' refer to?

Northerners who moved to the South for political opportunity during Reconstruction.

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1866 aim to do?

It aimed to protect the civil rights of African Americans.

What was significant about the Battle of Fort Sumter?

It marked the beginning of the Civil War.

What state was crucial for both Union and Confederate control due to its strategic location?

Missouri.

What did the Compromise of 1850 accomplish?

It attempted to balance the interests of free and slave states.

What prompted the formation of the Republican Party in the 1850s?

Opposition to the expansion of slavery into the territories.

What event in 1854 caused violence in Kansas?

Bleeding Kansas.

Which Union general was known as 'Unconditional Surrender' Grant?

Ulysses S. Grant.

What was the impact of the Dred Scott decision on the nation?

It heightened tensions between North and South regarding slavery.

In what year was the Emancipation Proclamation issued?

1863.

Which U.S. territory's admission into the Union was contentious due to slavery?

California.

What was the purpose of the Wilmot Proviso?

To ban slavery in territories gained from Mexico.

What sparked the Civil War in 1861?

The attack on Fort Sumter.

What was the first Volunteer Army formed by the Union called?

The Army of the Potomac.

What was one consequence of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

It led to violent conflict in Kansas, known as Bleeding Kansas.

What did the term 'Copperheads' refer to?

Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War.

What was significant about Juneteenth?

It's the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

What did the Reconstruction Amendments aim to achieve?

To secure rights for African Americans post-Civil War.

What were the main provisions of the 14th Amendment?

It granted citizenship and equal protection under the law.

What was a significant action taken by President Lincoln to limit wartime dissent?

The suspension of habeas corpus.

What did the term '20 Negro Law' refer to?

A law exempting wealthier plantation owners from the draft.

What was the outcome of the election of 1860?

Abraham Lincoln won, leading to Southern secession.

What was a primary cause of the economic turmoil in the South during Reconstruction?

Inflation due to war and poor industrialization.

What was the major effect of the Civil War on American society?

It ended slavery and shifted power dynamics.

What did the term 'hard war' refer to during the Civil War?

A strategy of total war directed against civilian resources.

What change did the Morrill Act of 1862 bring?

It provided land grants for agricultural colleges.

What was a consequence of the defeat of the South in the Civil War?

Major social and economic changes; the end of slavery.

What was the significance of the Gettysburg Address?

It redefined the purpose of the war and emphasized equality.

What was the main objective of the Union blockade during the Civil War?

To prevent supplies from reaching the Confederacy.

What event led to the first use of ironclad ships in battle?

The battle between the Monitor and Merrimack.

What was the goal of the Union at the start of the war?

To preserve the Union and prevent Southern secession.

What major infrastructure project was promoted during Reconstruction?

The transcontinental railroad.

What legal tool did abolitionists use to combat slavery before the Civil War?

The courts, as seen in cases like Dred Scott.

What was significant about the election of 1864?

It showed that public opinion on the war was shifting.

What caused the rapid expansion of factories in the North during the Civil War?

Increased demand for war supplies.

What was the political climate like in the North after the Civil War?

Divided among various factions, including Peace and War Democrats.

What major social change did the Civil War bring about for African Americans?

The abolition of slavery.

What organization was formed to assist in the education and welfare of freed slaves?

The Freedmen’s Bureau.

What were two ways Southern states tried to circumvent the rights of freed slaves?

Through Black Codes and voter suppression laws.

What infamous group opposed the Reconstruction efforts and used terror tactics?

The Ku Klux Klan.

What was the platform of the Republican Party in the late 1850s regarding slavery?

Opposition to the expansion of slavery into the territories.

What were the results of Radical Reconstruction laws passed in the South?

They led to increased political participation by African Americans.

What substantial land purchase did the U.S. make in 1867?

Alaska from Russia.

How did Southern economy change during the Civil War?

It collapsed, leading to poverty and a loss of wealth.

What was one legacy of the Reconstruction era?

A long, ongoing fight for civil rights for African Americans.