APUSH un 5

Mexican Cession (1848)

Land ceded by Mexico to the U.S. after the Mexican-American War through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. It fueled the debate over whether new territories would permit slavery, increasing tensions between the North and South.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

This act allowed settlers in Kansas and Nebraska to vote on whether to allow slavery ("popular sovereignty"). It led to violence in Kansas and further divided the nation over slavery.

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

A Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not U.S. citizens and had no rights. It declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, which increased North-South tensions over slavery.

Republican Party (Founded in 1854)

Formed in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, it opposed the expansion of slavery into western territories. The party grew rapidly and its success helped Abraham Lincoln win the presidency in 1860.

Anti-Immigrant Nativism (1850s)

A movement favoring native-born Americans over immigrants, leading to discrimination against Irish and German immigrants. Nativist groups like the Know-Nothing Party sought to limit immigration and diminish immigrant influence.

Anti-Catholic Nativism (1850s)

Part of the nativist movement, it focused on opposing Catholic immigrants, especially Irish Catholics. Many Protestants believed that Catholicism was incompatible with American democracy.

Panic of 1857

An economic depression caused by over-speculation in railroads and land, and the decline of international markets. It affected the North more than the South, reinforcing Southern confidence in their cotton-based economy.

Harper's Ferry (1859)

An armed raid led by abolitionist John Brown in an attempt to start a slave revolt by seizing a federal arsenal. Brown's failed raid and subsequent execution made him a martyr in the North and intensified sectional divisions.

Homestead Act (1862)

Offered 160 acres of free public land to settlers in the West. It encouraged westward expansion, though many settlers faced difficult conditions. The act also contributed to the displacement of Native American tribes.

Sand Creek Massacre (1864)

A brutal attack by the U.S. Army on a peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho village in Colorado. This event highlighted the violent treatment of Native Americans during westward expansion and increased tensions between settlers and tribes.

The Liberator (1831-1865)

An abolitionist newspaper founded by William Lloyd Garrison that called for the immediate emancipation of enslaved people. It played a key role in spreading anti-slavery sentiment in the North.