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National Bank

A supercharged savings account for the country, handling money and regulating the economy.

Federal Assumption of State Debts

The federal government paying off all the states’ debts from the Revolutionary War.

Tariffs

Taxes on imported goods aimed to protect American factories.

Separate spheres of influence

A social theory that assigns specific roles and areas of influence to men and women.

Presidential election of 1840

A major campaign that used modern techniques to depict William Henry Harrison as a relatable candidate.

Tariff of Abominations

An 1828 tax on imported goods that favored the North but angered the South.

First Great Awakening

A religious revival emphasizing emotional experiences and personal salvation in the 1730s and 1740s.

Embargo Act of 1807

A law prohibiting American ships from trading with foreign nations to avoid European conflicts.

National Road

The first major highway built by the federal government connecting the East and West.

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America.

Louisiana Purchase

The acquisition of a vast territory from France that nearly doubled the size of the U.S.

Textile industry in Lowell, Massachusetts

The start of industrialized workforces where young women worked in textile factories.

Economic Differences between North and South

The North was industrialized with factories, while the South was agrarian and dependent on slavery.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

A series of debates focused on issues like slavery and popular sovereignty in 1858.

Preston Brooks/Charles Sumner Confrontation

A violent conflict in the Senate reflecting heightened tensions over slavery.

President Lincoln's Objectives during Civil War

Preserving the Union and ending slavery through measures like the Emancipation Proclamation.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that residents of a territory should decide on the legality of slavery.

President James Buchanan

The ineffective president before the Civil War, unable to prevent Southern secession.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

A novel that exposed the horrors of slavery and galvanized Northern opposition.

Homestead Act of 1862

Legislation offering 160 acres of land to settlers who would farm it for five years.

Mexican-American War Military Leaders

General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott led U.S. forces during the conflict.

John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry

An armed attempt to incite a slave revolt which heightened tensions between North and South.

Zachary Taylor's Role in Compromise of 1850

Opposed the expansion of slavery but died before the compromise was finalized.

Economic Crisis of 1857

A financial panic that resulted in a severe economic downturn affecting Northern industries.

Reasons and Order of Southern Secession

Triggered by Lincoln's election, leading Southern states to form the Confederacy.

California Gold Rush of 1849

A mass migration to California after the discovery of gold, increasing tensions over slavery.

Compromise of 1850

A series of laws attempting to resolve slavery tensions including California as a free state.

Rise of the Republican Party in the mid-1850s

A coalition formed to oppose the expansion of slavery following the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Harriet Tubman

An escaped enslaved woman who risked her life to help others escape via the Underground Railroad.

1860 Election Results

Lincoln's election victory without carrying a single Southern state, deepening sectional divides.

Southern/Northern/Border States in Civil War

Southern states seceded; Northern states formed the Union; Border states remained in the Union.

Nativist Party and Nativists in 1850s

A political group promoting anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic policies during the 1850s.

Abolition Movement

A movement aimed at ending slavery in the United States.

Gadsden Purchase

The purchase of land from Mexico for railroad construction in present-day Arizona and New Mexico.

Stonewall Jackson

A Confederate general known for his tactical brilliance during the Civil War.

Black Codes

Laws aimed at restricting the freedom of African Americans after the Civil War.

NYC Draft Riots

Violent protests against the Union draft, reflecting class tensions, particularly among Irish immigrants.

President Andrew Johnson

Succeeded Lincoln and faced impeachment due to his leniency towards the South during Reconstruction.

Wilmot Proviso

A proposal to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico after the Mexican-American War.

Sites of Key Civil War Battles & Capitals

Key battles include Gettysburg, Antietam, and Fort Sumter, with capitals Washington, D.C. and Richmond.

Political Parties Pre-Civil War

Key parties included Democrats (pro-slavery), Whigs, Republicans (anti-slavery), and Know-Nothings.

Missouri Compromise of 1820

An agreement allowing Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state while maintaining balance.

John Marshall’s Supreme Court

Established judicial review, increasing federal power and shaping U.S. law.

Marbury v. Madison

The landmark case that established the principle of judicial review.

Henry Clay’s American System

A plan for economic modernization featuring tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements.

Fourteenth Amendment

Granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.

Battle of New Orleans

A significant U.S. victory during the War of 1812 that made Andrew Jackson a national hero.

Basis of American Constitution

Rooted in popular sovereignty, separation of powers, and checks and balances.

Invention of Telegraph

A communication breakthrough by Samuel Morse using Morse code for rapid long-distance messaging.