APUSH UNIT 5 (Lessons 5.1–5.9)

APUSH

What major forces defined Period 5 (1844-1877)?

Territorial expansion, immigration, population growth, market changes, and rising sectional tension over slavery.

What ideological shift defined early Period 5?

The belief that America was destined to expand west and spread its institutions (Manifest Destiny).

How did expansion relate to slavery tensions?

Each new territory raised the issue of being free or slave, upsetting political balance.

What political instability emerged in the 1840s?

Weakening of the two-party system as slavery issues divided Democrats and Whigs.

Which groups migrated internally in this era?

Farmers, Gold Rush migrants, southern planters, and Mormons.

Define Manifest Destiny.

Belief that the U.S. had a divine destiny to expand across North America.

Who coined the term "Manifest Destiny"?

John L. O'Sullivan.

List three motivations for Manifest Destiny.

Economic opportunity, nationalism, belief in American racial/cultural superiority.

How did Democrats vs. Whigs differ on Manifest Destiny?

Democrats supported aggressive expansion; Whigs feared war and sectional conflict.

What effect did Manifest Destiny have on Native Americans?

Displacement, broken treaties, loss of land, and violence.

What caused the Mexican-American War?

Annexation of Texas, border dispute, Polk's expansion goals, Manifest Destiny.

Who opposed the Mexican-American War and why?

Northern Whigs, who believed it was a slaveholders' expansion war.

What treaty ended the Mexican-American War?

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

What land did the U.S. gain from the Mexican Cession?

CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, CO, WY.

How did the Mexican-American War intensify sectional conflict?

New land reignited disputes over slavery expansion.

What was the Wilmot Proviso?

A proposal to ban slavery in Mexican Cession territory; passed House, failed Senate.

Why was the Compromise of 1850 needed?

California applied as a free state, threatening sectional balance.

List the 5 parts of the Compromise of 1850.

(1) CA free state; (2) UT & NM popular sovereignty; (3) Fugitive Slave Act; (4) Slave trade banned in DC; (5) Texas given $10M for land claims.

Which part of the Compromise of 1850 angered the North?

The stronger Fugitive Slave Act.

Which part of the Compromise angered the South?

California being admitted as a free state.

Did the Compromise of 1850 resolve sectional conflict?

No, it only delayed further crisis.

What were the major economic differences between North and South?

North: industrial, wage labor. South: agricultural, plantation/slave-based.

What was the Free-Soil Movement?

Movement opposing slavery's expansion to protect free white labor.

What were key pro-slavery arguments?

Slavery was economically essential, Biblically justified, "civilized" enslaved people, protected by Constitution.

What were abolitionist arguments?

Slavery was immoral, violated natural rights, and needed immediate end.

How did immigration increase sectional tensions?

Northern population grew; South feared loss of political power.

What was the Know-Nothing Party?

Nativist, anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic political party.

What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)?

Law allowing popular sovereignty in KS/NE; repealed Missouri Compromise line.

Why was the Kansas-Nebraska Act controversial?

Opened northern territory to slavery; caused violent conflict.

What was "Bleeding Kansas"?

Violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas.

What did the Dred Scott decision rule?

African Americans not citizens; Congress can't ban slavery in territories; Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

Why did Dred Scott anger the North?

Made slavery expansion possible everywhere.

Why did the Whig Party collapse?

Divisions over slavery destroyed it.

What was the Republican Party founded on?

Opposition to slavery's expansion into territories.

Who were the four candidates in the Election of 1860?

Lincoln (R), Douglas (N. Dem), Breckinridge (S. Dem), Bell (Const. Union).

Why did Lincoln's election trigger secession?

South believed he threatened slavery and their political power.

Which state seceded first?

South Carolina.

What government did seceding states form?

The Confederate States of America.

What event began the Civil War?

Confederate attack on Fort Sumter.

What were the Union's main advantages?

Larger population, industry, railroads, navy, long-term resources.

What were the Confederacy's main advantages?

Defensive war, strong early military leaders, home-field advantage.

What was the Anaconda Plan?

Union strategy to blockade the South and control the Mississippi River.

List major turning points of the Civil War.

Antietam, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Sherman's March.

What is total war?

Strategy targeting enemy armies AND civilian infrastructure to force surrender.

How did the Civil War affect civilians?

Shortages, inflation, riots, destruction, expanded roles for women.

What was Lincoln's initial goal in the Civil War?

To preserve the Union.

What was the Emancipation Proclamation?

Order freeing slaves in rebelling states; made war about ending slavery.

What impact did the Emancipation Proclamation have internationally?

Prevented Britain and France from supporting the Confederacy.

What was habeas corpus and what did Lincoln do?

Protection against arrest without trial; Lincoln suspended it during the war.

What was the Confederacy's main political weakness?

States' rights ideology limited central authority.

How did the Union finance the Civil War?

Income tax, tariffs, bonds, National Banking Act.

How did the Confederacy finance the war?

Printing money → severe inflation.

What were the three biggest causes of the Civil War?

Slavery expansion debate, political breakdown, economic/social sectional differences.

Why did compromises fail in the 1850s?

Expansion made slavery unavoidable, extremism rose, parties fractured.

How did the Civil War change the federal government?

Strengthened federal authority, national banking, expanded war powers.

How did the Civil War change the Union war goal?

Shifted from preserving the Union → emancipation → redefining American freedom.