Unit 5

Wilmot Proviso

An amendment proposed in 1846 which aimed to prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that territories should decide the issue of slavery for themselves.

Compromise of 1850

A series of laws aimed at resolving tensions between free and slave states, including California entering as a free state.

Fugitive Slave Law

A law that made it easier for slave owners to recapture runaway slaves and imposed penalties on those who helped them.

Bleeding Kansas

A series of violent conflicts between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in Kansas in the mid-1850s.

Dred Scott Decision of 1857

A Supreme Court ruling that declared enslaved people were not citizens and had no right to sue for their freedom.

Anaconda Plan

The Union's military strategy to blockade southern ports and control the Mississippi River to suffocate the Confederate economy.

Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln's 1863 proclamation that freed slaves in Confederate states as a military strategy.

Radical Republicans

A faction of the Republican Party that sought to impose harsh penalties on the South and protect the civil rights of freed slaves post-Civil War.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Plessy v. Ferguson

The 1896 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854

Legislation that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing settlers to determine if they would allow slavery, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise.

Cotton Whig

pro slavery division of whig party

Conscience Whig

anti-slavery faction of the Whig Party that opposed the expansion of slavery into the territories.

Republican Party

New political party created in 1854 which gathered diverse group of people under one banner. Consisted of former know nothing party members, abolitionists, free soilers, conscience whigs, and more.

Election of 1860

The presidential election that resulted in the victory of Abraham Lincoln, leading to heightened tensions over slavery and the eventual secession of Southern states.

Northern Democrats

A faction of the Democratic Party that supported Stephen A. Douglas and his platform of popular sovereignty regarding the expansion of slavery.

Southern Democrats

A faction of the Democratic Party that supported the extension of slavery into the territories and backed John C. Breckinridge in the 1860 presidential election.

Confederate States of America

South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina

Jefferson Davis

First and only president of the Confederacy

New York City Draft Riots in 1863

Protests in response to law that any man drafted could pay 300 dollars to avoid draft responsibilities, only wealthy could pay. at least 120 people killed.

Fort Sumter

Federal possession located in confederate south carolina. South carolina cut off supply lines to the fort from the North. South decides to blow up supply ships sent to restock fort, universally agreed to be the first official attack of the war.

First Battle of Bull Run

30,000 troops marched to confront confederate troops at Bull Run Creek in Virginia. Many civilians came out to picnic and watch the battle. Union winning battle at start, confederate reinforcements arrived led by stonewall jackson, caused union to retreat. Showed that Civil war would not be short and tidy.

Battle of Vicksburg

Union victory led by General Grant which gained control of Mississippi. Meant that Anaconda plan was successful and cut south in half.

March to the Sea

after capturing atlanta, General William Tecumseh Sherman and his men continued on from atlanta on the March to the Sea. Destroyed railroads, held to scorched earth policy. Made it almost impossible for South to recover its strength.

Appomattox Courthouse

where Union General Grant and Confederate General Lee met on April 9 1865 where Lee formerly surrendered to Grant and the Union.

Ten Percent Plan

lincoln's plan for reconstruction. Established a minimum test of political loyalty southern states needed to pass to rejoin the union. 10% of the 1860 electorate pledged loyalty to the union. State legislature needed to ratify the thirteenth amendment

Black Codes

laws created by southern state governments designed to restrict black people's freedoms and make them work for low wages.

Freedmen’s bureau

Agency made to help newly freed black people get onto their feet. Reunited families separated by slavery and helped them get education and social welfare.

Civil rights act of 1866

Protected citizenship of black americans and gave them equal protection under the laws.

Tenure of Office Act in 1867

Made it illegal to fire a member of his cabinet without approval from congress. Johnson disapproved and fired a member of his cabinet in response. Congress impeached Johnson in response.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States. It was ratified on December 6, 1865.

14th Amendment

All people born or naturalized in the United States were citizens of the United States and enjoyed equal protection of the laws on the state level.

15th Amendment

Granted voting rights to newly freed black population of the south

Reconstruction Acts of 1867

Assured that all laws being passed in the south would be enforced. Republicans divide south into 5 military districts and sent federal troops to occupy them. Increased requirements for southern states to rejoin the union: needed to ratify the 14th amendment and add a provision in state constitution for universal male voting rights.

National woman suffrage association

Organization founded by Stanton and Anthony which fought for voting rights for women. Does not like the 15th amendment

American woman suffrage association

Organization founded by Stone and Blackwell that supported reconstruction but also worked for reconstruction. Did like the 15th amendment.

Sharecropping

System where landowners provided seed and farm supplies to workers in exchange for a cut of the harvest. In practice, sharecropping was not beneficial for workers because they could never turn a profit due to having to give a cut to the landowner.

Ku Klux Klan

Organization founded in 1867. Built on the idea of white supremacy. Spread this message by burning buildings, controlling local politics, and committed acts of violence against black people.

Presidential Election of 1876

Controversial presidential election between Samuel Tilden and Rutherford b. hayes. Tilden won majority of the popular vote but neither candidate won enough electoral votes to win election. Special electoral commission formed to take care of the issue. Commission had a majority of republicans and declared that the three states were won by hayes. Democrats Furious

Compromise of 1877

democrats agreed to give victory to Hayes but all federal troops had to be removed from the South. After federal troops left south, no one to enforce reconstruction and black population left without protection.

Rise of Jim Crow

In the late 1870s and early 1880s, Southern political leaders began to create a social and legal system of segregation.