manifest destiny
The United States developed more land to settle on and inspired a variety of measures designed to remove or destroy the native population.
texas annexation
Texas was admitted to the United States as a slave state which caused more tension between the North and the South. It also caused an argument over what was the true border of Texas which ultimately led to the Mexican American War.
Alamo
It led to the creation of the cry “Remember the Alamo” and it was used as a rallying cry during the Mexican-American War.
Sam Houston
When Santa Anna attempted to enforce Mexico’s laws in Texas, Sam Houston led a group of American settlers to revolt and declare Texas an independent republic. In its new constitution, it made slavery legal again.
Oregon Territory
Once the U.S. kept pushing the Oregon Territory’s borders, it resulted in American pioneers migrating into these lands. It also clarified the boundaries of the Northwestern United States.
James K Polk
He favored the annexation of Texas, the acquisition of California, and the reoccupation of Oregon Territory. He also encouraged the expansion of the West which caused many settlements to form throughout the United States.
Fifty-Four Forty or Fight
This is significant because it showed that Americans were going to fight for their land if they needed to. It showed how devoted they were to westward expansion.
Zachary Taylor
Polk ordered him to move his army toward the Rio Grande, across territory claimed by Mexico.
Winfield Scott
Polk selected him to invade central mexico.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Ended the war between the United States and Mexico.
Mexican cession
It provided the land needed to build the transcontinental railroad.
Wilmot Proviso
An unsuccessful addition to a bill to fund the u.s. Army during the war.
Ostend Manifesto
Proposed a shift in foreign policy, justifying the use of force to seize Cuba in the name of national security.
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
Protected the neutrality of central america.
Gadsden Purchase
It provided land for a Southern railroad and established a southern border.
Free Soil Movement
Northerners who opposed slavery in new territories created the Free-Soil party with the objective to prevent the expansion of slavery. They advocated for small farmers and improvements for towns.
Popular sovereignty
Can lead to arguments in a community and government.
Compromise of 1850
California being admitted to the Union gave the North more political power. As a result of the new Fugitive Slave Law there was controversy in the government.
Tammany Hall
Irish immigrants were excluded from the organization, leading to them securing jobs and creating influence on their own.
Nativism
Led to the formation of the Supreme Order of the Star-Spangled Banner, a secretive society against immigrants. They organized riots and supported policies against immigrants.
Fugitive Slave Law
Moved responsibility for fugitive slaves from state courts to the federal government. The law led to heavy punishment for anyone who attempted to go around it.
Underground railroad
It gave enslaved people the opportunity to escape to freedom.
Harriet Tubman
She saved hundreds of enslaved people from the south.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Harriet Beecher Stowe
Turned most of the north against slave owners causing conflict between the north and south
Sociology for the South and George Fitzhugh
Sociology for the south, and more of George Fitzhugh's works, were very influential propaganda.
Stephen Douglass
He introduced the kansas-nebraska Act, which was passed by congress, which led the proslavery and antislavery groups to fight.
Kansas-Nebraska Act and Bleeding Kansas
The Kansas-Nebraska Act and Bleeding Kansas both caused more tension and conflict between the North and the South
Sumner-Brooks incident
This was historically significant because it was a prime example of growing tensions on both sides of the slavery debate.
James Buchanan
James Buchanan was historically significant because he was an advocate for states rights and believed the federal government should stay out of the civil war.
Dred Scott V Sandford
This was important because it meant that slaves did not have any freedoms from the constitution so they were not seen as people at all and couldn't take anyone to court.
John Brown and Harpers Ferry
This was important because it was a direct act of revolution against slavery which was different from the indirect acts most slaves had been using up until this time.
John C Breckenridge
This was important because the northern Americans did not like doing more work than they had to. Breckenridge’s platform stood for unrestricted expansion of slavery in the territories and the annexation of Cuba.
John Bell and the Constitutional Union Party
This was historically significant because he won the electoral college in 3 states which meant that a lot of people wanted the president to not have a stance on slavery and wanted them to remain neutral.
Border States
A result of pro-Union sentiment in those states and partly the result of shrewd federal policies.
Fort Sumter
Cut off by southern control of the harbor, and the attack on fort sumter brought northerners to save the union.
Jefferson Davis
Tried to increase executive powers during the war
Anaconda Plan
First part of the union strategy for northern victory.
Battles of Bull Run
Battle ended the illusion of a short war; promoted the myth that the rebels were invincible in battle
George B. McClellan
Invaded Virginia in March 1862; after 5 months was forced to retreat and was replaced by General John Pope
Robert E. Lee
He used strong tactics against Virginia in 1862 and won over Virginia, this forced McClellan to be replaced by general john pope
Antietam
This battle was a result of McClellan getting reinstated to general and having a copy of Lee's plans(dropped by a confederate soldier) and he intercepted them at Antietam creek in Maryland. The confederates retreated to Virginia and Lincoln was disappointed in McClellan once again resulting in him being removed one final time as union commander. Even though essentially a draw it was still one of the most important battles because the confederates did not get what they desperately needed, which was the recognition of Britain and France. This left Lincoln in counting this as a union victory and ultimately using this as a way of going against slavery.
Fredricksburg
This battle was a big casualty for the union with them having 12000 dead or wounded compared to the confederates only having 5000. This was a battle that showed the generals ever so slowly that the new weapons had a different effect when trenched compared to charging as would accrue beforehand.
Monitor V Merriman
The anaconda plan was stopped due to the confederates' ship, the Merrimack, which was a metal ship instead of a wooden ship which was unusual and very strong. The union had to put a stop to this and build their own “ironclad” and fought the Merrimack with their monitor. It lasted 5 hours and ended up becoming a draw but ultimately drawing a turning point in naval warfare and stopped the confederates from breaking the union's naval blockade
Ulysses S. Grant
After failing at a civilian career Grant fought in taking over Mississippi using a combination of gunboats and army tactics to take fort henry and fort donelson on the cumberland river. This resulted in the capture of 14000 confederate soldiers and opened up mississippi for attack
Battle of Shiloh
The battle of Shiloh was in Tennessee but the union army forced the confederates to retreat after terrible losses on both sides(23000 wounded or dead) this allowed grant to plow through Mississippi
Battle of Vicksburg
Allowed for the union to take control of the Mississippi river, cutting off Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas from the rest of the Confederate forces.
Battle of Gettysburg
Often dubbed the bloodiest battle of the Civil War (50,000 casualties) as well as the turning point.
Sherman’s March
Left the confederacy crumbling as it crushed their spirits as well as their will to fight.
Appomattox
Marked the end of the civil war as well as the beginning of unification.
Emancipation Proclamation
Stated that all slaves held at that point would be freed and the government would recognize them and maintain their freedoms.
Gettysburg Address
Recognized all the soldiers that died during the battle and also served as what the Union was fighting for, the abolition of slavery and unification.
Greenbacks
This contributed to creeping inflation, prices in the North increased by about 80 percent during the war. To manage the added revenue congress created a national banking system in 1863.
Homestead Act
this promoted settlement of the Great Plains, this helped many white settlers but very few African Americans at the time .
Andrew Johnson
He attempted to carry out Lincoln’s plan for political reconstruction of the 11 former states. He got power happily and ended up being impeached; he was charged with 11 “high crimes and misdemeanors”. He was the first president to be impeached
Wade Davis Bill
Was a compromise because many republicans in Congress didn’t agree with Lincoln’s 10 percent plan. Congress used this to reassert its powers after the war congress normally does.
Freedmen’s Bureau
It helped people who needed it by providing healthcare, food, land, all that eventually Johnson pardoned confederate wonders of the confiscated lands and courts restored most of the land the bureau was giving out to the original owners. Its greatest success was in education. Established 3000 schools for freed people, including several colleges, before they stopped receiving funding they taught 200,000 African Americans how to read.
Johnson’s Reconstruction Policy
It was an escape for the wealthy planters and Johnson made use of it; as a result of his pardons, many former confederate leaders were back in office by the fall of 1865.
13th Amendment
This amendment abolished slavery in the United States
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Created civil rights as we know today. This law acknowledged previous slaves and other African Americans as citizens and they were entitled to the rights that all citizens have. Although this excluded political rights such as voting, running for office, etc.
14th Amendment
This granted all citizens equal protection under the law and everyone born in the U.S. is a citizen
Reconstruction Acts of 1867
This accepted the defeated states from the civil war and outlined what was needed in order to become a part of the union once more. This reunited the U.S.
15th Amendment
Granted people of color the power to vote
Civil Rights Act of 1875
Created equal treatment between all races by eliminating discrimination by restaurants, schools, transportation, etc. on African Americans
Scalawags
People who supported reconstruction policies and efforts post civil war.
carpetbaggers
Apart of the republican party and played a central role in shaping new southern governments during the reconstruction.
Black codes
Severely limited the rights of African Americans and affected and impacted them in a huge way to make it in society.
Sharecropping
Met the need of white farm owners for land cultivation, while allowing poor farmers of any race to get an income of food and money.
Rutherford B Hayes
His presidency was a huge turning point in U.S. history by ending the reconstruction. He began efforts that led to the civil service reform and he attempted to reconcile divisions from the civil war.
The Compromise of 1877
Settled the intensely disputed 1876 U.S. presidential election.