APUSH Timeline 5-6

Manifest Destiny

Term coined by John O’Sullivan in 1845 to describe the belief that U.S. expansion throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Autobiography published in 1845 detailing the life and experiences of former enslaved person Frederick Douglass.

Oregon Territory acquisition

The U.S. acquired the Oregon Territory in 1846, famously stated as "54°40′ or fight!".

Mexican-American War

Conflict that began in 1846, associated with Thoreau’s "Civil Disobedience" and the Wilmot Proviso.

Free-Soil Party

Political party established in 1848 focused on opposing the expansion of slavery into U.S. territories.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty that ended the Mexican-American War in 1848.

Seneca Falls Convention

First women's rights convention held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York.

Know-Nothing Party

Anti-immigrant political party founded in 1849, officially known as the American Party.

Compromise of 1850

Series of laws passed in 1850 aimed at resolving tensions between free and slave states.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

A novel published in 1851 by Harriet Beecher Stowe that illustrated the harsh realities of slavery.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

1854 legislation that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing popular sovereignty regarding slavery.

Bleeding Kansas

Violence between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in Kansas from 1854 to 1861.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

1857 Supreme Court decision that ruled enslaved persons were not citizens and could not sue in federal court.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Series of debates in 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas over the issue of slavery in the territories.

John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry

An 1859 attempt by abolitionist John Brown to start an armed slave revolt by seizing a U.S. arsenal.

Election of 1860

Presidential election in which Abraham Lincoln was elected; led to South Carolina's secession in 1860.

Battle of Fort Sumter

First battle of the Civil War, which took place in 1861.

Civil War

Conflict that began in 1861, marked by significant strengths and weaknesses for both the Union and the Confederacy.

First Battle of Bull Run

First major battle of the Civil War, fought in 1861.

Gettysburg Address

Famous speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, emphasizing national unity and democracy.

Emancipation Proclamation

Executive order issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 freeing slaves in Confederate states.

Sherman’s March to the Sea

Military campaign led by General William Tecumseh Sherman from 1864, known for its destructive tactics.

Civil War ends; Lincoln assassinated

The Civil War concluded in 1865, the same year President Lincoln was assassinated.

13th Amendment

Constitutional amendment ratified in 1865 that abolished slavery in the United States.

Freedmen’s Bureau

Agency established in 1865 to aid freed slaves in the South during the Reconstruction era.

KKK and Black Codes

The Ku Klux Klan was organized and Black Codes were enacted in 1865 to restrict the rights of African Americans.

14th Amendment

Constitutional amendment ratified in 1868 that granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.

15th Amendment

Constitutional amendment ratified in 1870 that prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race.

Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

Political process occurring in 1868, where President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House.

Standard Oil trust

A major oil company formed by John D. Rockefeller in 1868, representing horizontal integration.

Knights of Labor

Labor organization founded in 1869 advocating for workers' rights and better labor conditions.

Transcontinental Railroad

Railroad completed in 1869 that connected the East and West coasts of the U.S.

Railroads' impact on U.S. & Native Americans

The expansion of railroads in the 1870s significantly affected Indigenous land and lifestyle.

Boss Tweed scandal

Political corruption scandal exposed in 1871 involving William M. Tweed, a New York City political boss.

Women’s Christian Temperance Union

Organization formed in 1874 advocating for temperance and women's rights.

Battle of Little Bighorn

Infamous 1876 battle between U.S. military forces and Native American tribes led by Sitting Bull.

Railroad Strike of 1877

Major nationwide strike in 1877 protesting wage cuts and poor working conditions.

Compromise of 1877

Political compromise that effectively ended Reconstruction in 1877.

Booker T. Washington

Educator and leader who headed the Tuskegee Institute, founded in 1881.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Federal law enacted in 1882 that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the U.S.

American Federation of Labor

National labor organization founded in 1886 that focused on skilled workers' rights.

Dawes Severalty Act

1887 law aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land.

Hull House

Settlement house founded in 1889 in Chicago by Jane Addams to support immigrant families.

Carnegie’s "Gospel of Wealth"

An essay published in 1889 advocating for wealthy individuals to use their wealth for the greater good.

NAWSA

The National American Woman Suffrage Association, founded in 1890 to advocate for women's voting rights.

“New Immigrants”

Term referring to the influx of immigrants from southern and eastern Europe during the 1890s.

Sherman Antitrust Act

1890 legislation aimed at curbing monopolies and promoting competition in business.

Homestead Steel Strike

Violent labor strike at Carnegie's steel plant in 1892 that resulted in significant confrontation.

Populist Party

Political party formed in 1892 to represent the interests of farmers and working people.

Pullman Strike

Nationwide railroad strike in 1894 that disrupted rail traffic and led to federal intervention.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896 Supreme Court decision that upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

Rise of Yellow Journalism

Increase in sensationalized news reporting during the 1890s, particularly around the Spanish-American War.

Teller Amendment

1898 legislation that promised Cuban sovereignty after the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War

Conflict in 1898 between the U.S. and Spain, resulting in U.S. military successes and territorial gains.