Period 5 Vocab

Shiloh

A significant battle fought during the American Civil War in April 1862 in southwestern Tennessee. It was a Union victory and marked a turning point in the war.

Vicksburg

A crucial siege during the Civil War in 1863 where Union forces, under General Grant, successfully captured the Confederate city of Vicksburg, gaining control of the Mississippi River.

Gettysburg

A decisive battle fought in July 1863 in Pennsylvania during the Civil War. It was a turning point as the Union defeated the Confederacy, halting their advance into northern territory.

Sherman's March

Refers to Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's military campaign in 1864 where he led Union forces on a destructive march through Georgia, aiming to weaken the Confederacy's economy and morale.

Appomattox Court House

The site where General Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865, effectively ending the Civil War.

Trent Affair

An international diplomatic incident during the Civil War involving the Union's seizure of a British ship, the Trent, and the temporary increase in tension between the Union and Britain.

Greenbacks

Paper currency issued by the U.S. government during and after the Civil War that was not backed by gold or silver.

Morrill Tariff Act

A protective tariff passed in 1861 during the Civil War to generate revenue for the Union government.

Morrill Land Grant Act

Legislation passed in 1862 that provided federal land to states to establish agricultural and mechanical colleges, fostering education in practical fields.

Pacific Railway Act

A law passed in 1862 that supported the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad, connecting the East and West coasts.

Homestead Act 1862

Legislation that provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, provided they improve the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops.

Habeas Corpus

A legal principle protecting an individual's right to be free from unlawful detention or imprisonment.

Confiscation Acts

Laws passed by the Union during the Civil War allowing for the confiscation of property, including slaves, from those supporting the Confederacy.

Emancipation Proclamation

A presidential order issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 declaring all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free.

Copperheads

A term referring to Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and called for a negotiated peace with the Confederacy.

Gettysburg Address

A brief but powerful speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, emphasizing the principles of equality and national unity.

Massachusetts 54th Regiment

An African American regiment from Massachusetts that gained fame for its bravery and contributions during the Civil War.

13th Amendment

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

Civil Rights Act of 1866

Legislation granting citizenship and equal rights to all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, regardless of race.

14th Amendment

Constitutional amendment ratified in 1868 that granted citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.

Equal Protection of the Laws

A clause in the 14th Amendment ensuring that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Due Process of Law

A legal principle, also in the 14th Amendment, ensuring that individuals are treated fairly by the legal system.

15th Amendment

Constitutional amendment ratified in 1870 that prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Civil Rights Act of 1875

Legislation aimed at preventing discrimination in public facilities and accommodations, though much of it was later deemed unconstitutional.

Jay Gould

A prominent American financier and railroad executive during the late 19th century.

Credit Mobilier

A scandal involving the fraudulent manipulation of contracts related to the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad.

William Tweed

A notorious political boss in New York City known for corruption and the Tweed Ring.

Spoilsmen

Individuals who benefited from the spoils system, a practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs.

Patronage

The practice of appointing individuals to government positions based on their political support rather than merit.

Thomas Nast

A political cartoonist known for his work exposing corruption and supporting the Civil Rights Movement.

Horace Greeley

A prominent newspaper editor and political figure who ran for president in 1872.

Liberal Republicans

A political faction that emerged during the 1872 election, advocating for civil service reform and an end to Reconstruction.

Panic of 1873

A severe economic depression that began in 1873, marked by bank failures and unemployment.

Reconstruction

The period following the Civil War during which the Southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union.

Wade-Davis Bill

A more stringent alternative to Lincoln's Reconstruction plan, requiring a majority of white males in a Southern state to take an oath of allegiance.

Andrew Johnson

The Vice President who became President after Lincoln's assassination, overseeing the early phases of Reconstruction.

Freedmen's Bureau

A federal agency established to assist and protect freed slaves during Reconstruction.

Congressional Reconstruction

The period during which Congress took a more active role in the Reconstruction process, often in conflict with President Johnson.

Radical Republicans

A faction within the Republican Party advocating for more aggressive measures against the Confederacy during and after the Civil War.

Reconstruction Acts

Legislation passed by Congress in 1867 that divided the South into military districts and set conditions for Southern states to rejoin the Union.

Tenure of Office Act

Legislation restricting the President's power to remove certain officeholders without the Senate's approval.

Scalawags

Southern whites who supported Reconstruction and the Republican Party.

Carpetbaggers

Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, often with the goal of economic or political gain.

Hiram Revels

The first African American to serve in the U.S. Senate, representing Mississippi during Reconstruction.

Women's Suffrage

The movement advocating for women's right to vote.

Compromise of 1877

An informal agreement that resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election, resulting in the withdrawal of federal troops from the South and the end of Reconstruction.

Ku Klux Klan

A white supremacist organization that emerged during Reconstruction, using violence and intimidation against African Americans and their white allies.

Force Acts

Laws passed by Congress in response to the activities of the Ku Klux Klan, aiming to protect the civil and political rights of African Americans.

Black Codes

Laws enacted in the Southern states during Reconstruction to restrict the rights and freedoms of African Americans.

Sharecropping

An agricultural system prevalent in the post-Civil War South where landowners provided land and resources to farmers in exchange for a share of the crops.

Amnesty Act of 1872

Legislation that granted amnesty and restored civil rights to most Confederates who had participated in the Civil War.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century belief held by many Americans that the United States was destined to expand across the continent, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Great American Desert

A term used in the 19th century to describe the arid region west of the Mississippi River, which later proved to be an inaccurate portrayal of the region's potential for agriculture.

Mountain Men

Fur trappers and explorers who ventured into the Rocky Mountains and other western territories in the early to mid-19th century to trap beavers and other animals for their fur.

Far West

The region of the western United States that includes states beyond the Rocky Mountains, often associated with the expansion and settlement during the mid- to late-19th century.

Overland Trails

Routes, such as the Oregon Trail and California Trail, used by pioneers and settlers to travel westward across North America during the 19th century.

Mining Frontier

Areas where prospectors and miners sought valuable minerals, such as gold and silver, often leading to rapid population growth and the development of mining towns.

Gold Rush

A sudden influx of people to an area where gold has been discovered, with the goal of extracting the precious metal. The most famous example is the California Gold Rush of 1849.

Silver Rush

Similar to a gold rush, but specifically refers to a rapid migration of people to areas where silver has been discovered.

Farming Frontier

The expansion of agricultural settlements and cultivation into new territories during westward expansion.

Urban Frontier

The growth and development of cities in the expanding regions of the United States, often associated with economic and industrial development.

John Tyler

The 10th President of the United States (1841-1845), known for his role in the annexation of Texas.

Oregon Territory

A region in the Pacific Northwest that was jointly occupied by the United States and Great Britain before being peacefully resolved through negotiation.

"Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!"

A slogan used during the 1844 presidential campaign calling for the U.S. to annex the entire Oregon Territory up to the 54°40' parallel, reflecting American expansionist sentiments.

James K. Polk

The 11th President of the United States (1845-1849), known for his expansionist policies that led to the annexation of Texas, the Oregon Trail settlement, and the Mexican-American War.

Texas

A state in the southern United States that was an independent republic before joining the Union in 1845.

Stephen Austin

An American empresario who played a key role in the colonization of Texas by bringing in American settlers.

Antonio López de Santa Anna

A Mexican military and political leader who played a significant role in the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War.

Sam Houston

A key figure in the Texas Revolution and the first President of the Republic of Texas.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

A treaty between the United States and Great Britain in 1842, resolving border issues between Maine and Canada.

Alamo

A former Franciscan mission in San Antonio, Texas, where a pivotal battle occurred during the Texas Revolution in 1836.

Foreign Commerce

The exchange of goods and services between different countries.

Exports and Imports

Exports are goods and services sold to other countries, while imports are goods and services bought from other countries.

Matthew C. Perry

A U.S. Navy commodore who played a key role in opening Japan to trade with the West through the Kanagawa Treaty.

Kanagawa Treaty

An 1854 agreement between the United States and Japan, negotiated by Matthew C. Perry, which opened Japanese ports to American ships.

Mexican-American War

A conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, resulting in significant territorial gains for the U.S.

California

A state on the west coast of the United States, acquired as a result of the Mexican-American War.

Nueces River

A river that was disputed as the southern boundary of Texas, leading to tensions with Mexico.

Rio Grande

A river that became the accepted southern boundary of Texas after the Mexican-American War.

Zachary Taylor

A U.S. Army general and the 12th President of the United States, known for his leadership in the Mexican-American War.

Stephen Kearney

A U.S. Army officer who played a key role in the Mexican-American War and the conquest of California.

John C. Frémont

An explorer, soldier, and politician who played a prominent role in the American expansion into the West.

Bear Flag Republic

A short-lived, unrecognized state that declared its independence from Mexico during the Bear Flag Revolt in California in 1846.

Winfield Scott

A U.S. Army general who served in the Mexican-American War and later ran as the Whig Party's presidential candidate.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The 1848 treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, resulting in Mexico ceding a significant amount of territory to the United States.

Mexican Cession

The vast territory acquired by the United States from Mexico as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Wilmot Proviso

A proposed but unpassed bill that sought to prohibit slavery in the territories acquired from Mexico.

Ostend Manifesto (1852)

A document in which U.S. diplomats advocated for the acquisition of Cuba, leading to controversy over the expansion of slavery.

Walker Expedition

A filibustering campaign led by William Walker in the 1850s, attempting to establish a pro-slavery government in Nicaragua.

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty

An 1850 treaty between the United States and Great Britain that aimed to ensure that neither country would control a future isthmian canal in Central America.

Gadsden Purchase

A land acquisition in 1853 from Mexico, intended to facilitate the construction of a southern transcontinental railroad.

Free-Soil Movement

A political movement that opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories, advocating for free labor and land for white settlers.

"Barnburners"

A faction of the Democratic Party in the 1840s and 1850s that opposed the extension of slavery.

Lewis Cass

A Democratic politician and proponent of popular sovereignty as a solution to the issue of slavery in the territories.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that residents of a territory or state have the right to decide on the issue of slavery through voting.

Compromise of 1850

A series of legislative measures aimed at addressing the sectional tensions arising from the newly acquired territories, including California's admission as a free state.

Elias Howe

An inventor credited with developing the sewing machine, which revolutionized textile and clothing production.

Samuel F. B. Morse

An inventor and artist who played a key role in the development of the telegraph and Morse code.

Railroads

Networks of tracks and trains used for transportation of goods and passengers, playing a crucial role in the economic development of the United States.

Panic of 1857

A financial crisis that resulted in a severe economic downturn, marked by bank failures and unemployment.