APUSH Period 5 SFI

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century doctrine or belief that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified by God and inevitable.

Reasons for Westward Expansions

More mineral and natural resources (ex. gold), economic opportunities, looking for homesteads, religious refuge (Mormons).

California Gold Rush (1848)

Rapid influx of fortune seekers in California that began after gold was found in Sacramento. This expanded with the discovery of gold in Colorado and Nevada.

Preemption Acts

Made vast tracks of lack available for check for anyone who wanted to set up a home in the West.

Mexican Immigrant Requirements

American immigrants in Texas (Mexican territory) had to convert to Roman Catholicism and outlawed slavery. Americans greatly ignored these and Mexico shut down their borders.

Alamo

New dictator in Mexico looked to increased their border requirements. Texans revolted against Mexican nation by declaring Texas as an independent republic. The Mexican forces sent won a battle here which furthered the conflict.

Oregon Territory (1846)

Conflict over this territory between the Americans and British. James K. Polk ran on an annexation platform for Texas and this territory. This territory was divided at the 49th parallel after the signing of a treaty.

Mexican-American War Causes

Texans wanting for annexation, James K. Polk promising for final annexation during his election, John Tyler “beginning” the annexation process, Americans asking for New Mexico and California territories, differences over borders, and movement of US troops into perceived American soil resulted in a battle and the war.

Mexican-American War Effects

Mexican Cession and America’s victory, increased American land, increased sectionalism, difference on slavery, voter discrimination and segregation for Natives and African Americans in new territories.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)

Ended the Mexican-American War. By its terms, Mexico ceded 55 percent of its territory, including the present-day states California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. Established Rio Grande as Texas border.

Gadsden Purchase

A strip of land just south of the Mexican Cession that provided the land necessary for a southern transcontinental railroad.

Wilmot Proviso (1846)

The possibility of increased territory caused this amendment to a current bill working through Congress. Proposed that any lands gained from Mexican American War would be off for the expansion of slavery. Eventually voted down.

Compromise of 1850

Admitted California to the United States as a free state, allowed new Utah and New Mexico territories to decide on slavery for themselves, banned the slave trade in DC, and passed stricter fugitive slave laws.

Free Soil Movement

Composed of Northern Democrats and Whigs who wanted territories acquired to be the dominion of free laborers. Supported the Wilmot Proviso.

Popular Sovereignty

Agreed that people in each new Western territory should decide the slavery question for themselves.

Cultural Enclave

A community or neighborhood where a distinct minority culture dominates the area. Create presence of immigrant communities in city slums.

Nativism/Know-Nothing Party

Result of increased immigration into the US. Policy of protecting the interest of native-born people against the interest of immigrants.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Anti-slavery work published by Harriet Beecher Stowe that portrays the harsh realities of slavery and its impact on enslaved people and their families. Many southerns tried to outlaw and ban this work.

Fredrick Douglass

National leader of the abolitionist movement gaining note for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings. He rrote several autobiographies and delivered numerous speeches across the country, advocating for the abolition of slavery and for women's rights.

Underground Railroad

Network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved people in the United States to escape to freedom. 

John Brown

Fierce abolition who believed that the only way for America to be freed from slavary was by means as a slave uprising. He organized a plan to raid the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry but were repulsed shortly after. His plan was unsuccessful and was executed.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

This new territory was not supposed to have slavery due to the Compromise of 1820, but it was proposed to be divided into two states and popular sovereignty would divide whether to allow slavery. This effectively overturned the Compromise of 1850.

Bleeding Kansas

Series of violent civil confrontations between violent guerrilla war between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces. 2 private state legislatures and governing documents were formed in Kansas.

Dred Scott Decision

An enslaved man moved to Illinois (where slavery was illegal) and sued his master for keeping him enslaved. The court decided against the slave’s argument since he was not a citizen and the Constitution states that Congress cannot deprive citizens of property.

Election of 1860

Stephen Douglas (SD) vs. Abraham Lincoln (R w/ free soil platform). Lincoln won the electoral college without winning a single electoral vote in the South.

Whigs

The division over slavery within this party caused its eventual demise.

Republican Party (1854)

Newly formed party which contained the former Know Nothing Party, abolitionists, free soilers, conscience whigs (anti-slavery). This party did pretty well during the midterm elections, scaring the Southern Democrats.

Northern Democrats

Represented by Stephen Douglas. Wanted the question of slavery to be answered by popular sovereignty.

Southern Democrats

Represented by John Breckinridge. Wanted the slavery in new territories to be protected by federal slave codes.

South Carolina

First state to succeed from the Union in 1860. Followed by 6 more states (Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, and Lousiana) in 6 weeks. These became the Confederate States of America.

Jefferson Davis

First and only President of the Confederacy. His VP was Alexander Stephens.

Confederacy Strengths

Fought a defensive war and possessed far greater and more experienced military leaders.

Union Strengths

Much larger population, possessed a robust navy to control seas and rivers, well established central government, and controlled the majority of banks, manufacturing, and railroads.

New York City Draft Riots

The anger of working-class New Yorkers over a new federal draft law allowing people to pay to avoid draft during the Civil War caused violent rioting.

Fort Sumter

Forces from the Confederate cut off supply lines to the Union military garrison and Lincoln sent provision to the troops. The Confederate fired on the Union suppliers, beginning the Civil War.

Battle of Bull Run

Union attempt to flank Confederate positions but were turned back. The end result of the battle was an intense Confederate victory and Union forces retreated.

Anaconda Plan

Military strategy proposed by Union General Winfield Scott that called for a naval blockade of the Confederate littoral, a thrust down the Mississippi, and the strangulation of the South by Union land and naval forces. Requests for foreign aid to fulfill this plan were denied because of cotton production in other countries.

Emancipation Proclamation (1862)

Freed slaves within states that were not in active rebellion (Confederacy). Changed the war to be about irradiating slavery causing increased runaway slaves and closed possibility for European help for the South.

Appomattox Courthouse

Where General Robert E. Lee, commander of all Confederate forces, surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant. This ended the Civil War.

Gettysburg Address (1863)

Sought to unify the nation and portray the struggle against slavery as the fulfillment of America’s founding democratic ideals.

Lincolns 10% Plan

Stated that Southern states could establish their states governments if 10% of the 1860 electorate pledged loyalty to the Union and the state legislature had to ratify the 13th amendment. Lincoln was assassinated before this plan was carried out.

Black Codes

Restrictive laws that restricted the freedom of Southern black folks and forced them to work for extremely low wages. Increased during reconstruction. Prohibited borrowing money to rent/buy land, testifying against whites, and provided for racial segregation.

Radical Republicans

Believed the South needed to pay. They wanted the process of Reconstruction to be carried out by Congress. Wanted to pass legislation upholding black freedom in the South while holding back any chances of resurgence.

Freedman’s Bureau

Agency set up to help any freed Black people to get up off their feet. Wanted to be extended by the radical Republicans. Vetoed by Andrew Johnson (Pres after Lincoln). Congress them overid the veto.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Protected citizenship of Black Americans and gave them equal protection under the laws. Vetoed by Andrew Johnson (Pres after Lincoln). Congress them overid the veto.

14th Amendment

All persons who were born or naturalized in the US were citizens of the US, and that every citizen enjoyed equal protection of the laws on the state level.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery.

Reconstruction Acts of 1866

Passed over Johnson’s veto. Divided the South into 5 military districts and put them under occupation with troops. Increased requirement for rejoining the Union (had to add 14th amendment and universal male voting rights).

Andrew Johnson

Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act causing this person to fire a member of his cabinet. This lead to an impeachment trial and the Senate failed to oust him by one vote.

Tenure of Office Act

Made it illegal for the President to fire a member of his cabinet without Congressional approval.

15th Amendment

Granted voting rights to the newly freed black population of the South and therefore universal male suffrage.

National Women’s Suffrage Association

Formed as a result of women’s outrage at the 15th amendment. Continued to fight for the right to vote to be extended to women.

American Women’s Suffrage Association

Association that argued it was important to work on Reconstruction efforts federally while working on women’s suffrage at the state level.

Black Indpendence

Establishment of black churches, schools, colleges, Freedman’s Bureau, black governmental positions.

Sharecropping

A system where the landlord/planter allows a tenant to use the land in exchange for a share of the crop. Practically a duplication of slavery.

Ku Klux Klan

Domestic terrorist organization founded shortly after the United States Civil War ended. It has used intimidation, violence, and murder to maintain white supremacy in Southern government and social life.

Election of 1876

Samuel Tilden (D) vs. Rutherford B. Hayes (R). In SC, FL, and Lousiana both Democrats and Republicans claimed victory. A special electoral committee was formed (mainly of Republicans) and deemed Hayes had won. This resulted in the Compromise of 1877.

Hayes-Tilden Compromise (1877)

As a result of the election of 1876, Democrats agreed to concede the election to Hayes while Republicans agreed to remove all federal troops from the South. Ended the Reconstruction period.