Manifest Destiny to Civil War – Vocabulary Flashcards

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136 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, people, events, and concepts from Manifest Destiny through the Civil War era.

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136 Terms

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Frederick Jackson Turner’s Frontier Thesis

Argument that the American frontier shaped a democratic, individualistic national character.

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The Old Northwest

Ohio, Indiana, Illinois region; small farms, no slavery per Northwest Ordinance.

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Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Law banning slavery in the Old Northwest and creating a model for free territories.

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The Old Southwest

Alabama-Mississippi region of cotton plantations where slavery was legal.

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Southwest Ordinance of 1789

Law allowing slavery in the Old Southwest, setting a slave-territory precedent.

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Louisiana Purchase (1803)

U.S. bought Louisiana Territory from France, doubling national size for $15 million.

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Jefferson’s Constitutional Dilemma

Uncertainty over presidential power to buy land when purchasing Louisiana.

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Lewis and Clark Expedition

Jefferson-sent mission that explored Louisiana Purchase and strengthened U.S. Oregon claim.

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Sacagawea

Shoshone woman who guided and interpreted for Lewis and Clark.

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Zebulon Pike’s Expedition

Exploration of southern Louisiana Purchase, staking U.S. claim to parts of Southwest and Texas.

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Adams-Onís Treaty (1819)

Spain ceded Florida; fixed western border of Louisiana Purchase.

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Manifest Destiny

Belief that the U.S. was divinely destined to expand from Atlantic to Pacific.

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John O’Sullivan

Journalist who coined “Manifest Destiny” in 1845.

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“American Progress”

1872 John Gast painting symbolizing Manifest Destiny with angelic figure moving west.

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Empresario System

Mexican policy granting land to agents who recruited U.S. settlers to Texas.

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Stephen F. Austin

Leading empresario who brought first 300 Anglo families to Texas.

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Mexican Conditions for Settlement

Requirements for Texans to be Mexican citizens, Catholic, and slave-free—mostly ignored.

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General Santa Anna

Mexican dictator who led forces against Texan rebellion and Alamo.

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The Alamo (1836)

Mission-fort where Texan defenders were killed; became symbol of resistance.

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Battle of San Jacinto

Sam Houston’s victory capturing Santa Anna and securing Texas independence.

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Republic of Texas

Independent “Lone Star” nation (1836-1845) before U.S. annexation.

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Texas Annexation (1845)

Admission of Texas as a slave state, sparking Mexican-American War.

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The Oregon Trail

2,000-mile wagon route used by 1840s migrants to Oregon Country.

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“54°40′ or Fight!”

Democratic slogan demanding all Oregon Territory to latitude 54°40′.

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Oregon Treaty of 1846

U.S.–Britain pact dividing Oregon at 49th parallel.

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Causes of Mexican-American War

Texas annexation and border dispute (Nueces vs. Rio Grande).

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James K. Polk

Expansionist president who provoked war to fulfill Manifest Destiny and gain California.

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Rio Grande vs. Nueces River

Competing U.S. and Mexican claims for Texas border.

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General Zachary Taylor

War hero in northern Mexico; later 12th U.S. president.

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General Winfield Scott

Led Vera Cruz invasion and captured Mexico City, ending war.

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Mexican Cession

Territory (CA, NV, UT, AZ, etc.) ceded to U.S. after war.

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Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848)

Ended war; U.S. paid $15 million for Mexican Cession.

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Wilmot Proviso (1846)

Failed attempt to ban slavery in land won from Mexico.

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Free Soil Party

1848 party opposing expansion of slavery into territories.

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Election of 1848

Won by Zachary Taylor; Free Soil vote showed sectional tension.

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California Gold Rush (1849)

Mass migration after gold discovery; led to CA statehood bid.

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Forty-Niners

Prospectors who flocked to California in 1849.

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Compromise of 1850

Five-part deal easing slavery dispute in new territories.

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Henry Clay

“Great Compromiser” who proposed 1850 omnibus bill.

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Stephen Douglas

Broke Clay’s bill into parts; championed popular sovereignty.

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California as Free State

Compromise of 1850 admitted CA free, upsetting balance.

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Popular Sovereignty

Idea that territorial settlers vote on slavery.

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Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Required citizens to aid capture of runaways; enraged North.

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Banning Slave Trade in D.C.

Compromise measure ending slave markets in the capital.

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Texas Boundary Settlement

Set modern Texas borders; U.S. paid $10 million for debts.

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Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

Stowe’s novel exposing slavery’s cruelty; swayed Northern opinion.

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Harriet Beecher Stowe

Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin; dubbed by Lincoln “little woman …”

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Underground Railroad

Secret network aiding enslaved peoples’ escape to freedom.

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Harriet Tubman

Famed conductor who rescued dozens via Underground Railroad.

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Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

Allowed popular sovereignty in KS-NE; repealed Missouri Compromise.

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Repeal of Missouri Compromise

Kansas-Nebraska Act opened north-of-36°30′ land to slavery.

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“Bleeding Kansas”

Violent struggle between pro- and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas.

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Jayhawks

Anti-slavery Kansas settlers fighting for free statehood.

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Border Ruffians

Pro-slavery Missourians who illegally voted and attacked in Kansas.

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Pottawatomie Creek Massacre

John Brown’s murder of five pro-slavery men in 1856.

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John Brown

Militant abolitionist behind Pottawatomie and Harpers Ferry raid.

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Republican Party (1854)

Formed to stop spread of slavery into territories.

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Nativism

Anti-immigrant sentiment fearing Irish and German Catholics.

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Know-Nothing Party

Secret nativist party opposing immigration and Catholicism.

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Dred Scott Decision (1857)

Supreme Court ruled Blacks non-citizens; Congress can’t ban slavery in territories.

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Chief Justice Roger Taney

Authored Dred Scott opinion declaring Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

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Dred Scott Ruling – Citizenship

Said people of African descent had no rights whites must respect.

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Dred Scott Ruling – Property

Declared slaves protected property under 5th Amendment; slavery can’t be barred.

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Lincoln-Douglas Debates

1858 Illinois Senate debates; propelled Lincoln to prominence.

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Freeport Doctrine

Douglas’s stance that slavery could be excluded by not passing protective laws.

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Harpers Ferry Raid (1859)

John Brown’s failed attempt to spark slave uprising by seizing arsenal.

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Election of 1860

Four-way race won by Lincoln, prompting Southern secession.

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Abraham Lincoln

Republican winner of 1860; his election led Deep South to secede.

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Constitutional Union Party

1860 party urging adherence to Constitution and Union, avoiding slavery issue.

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Democratic Party Split (1860)

Northern vs. Southern factions nominated Douglas and Breckinridge.

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Secession

Formal withdrawal of a state from the Union.

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South Carolina’s Secession

First state to leave Union, December 1860.

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Confederate States of America

Nation formed by eleven seceded southern states.

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Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederacy.

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Crittenden Compromise

Failed bid to extend 36°30′ line to Pacific and protect slavery.

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Fort Sumter

Federal fort where Civil War’s first shots fired, April 1861.

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Border States

Slave states MO, KY, MD, DE that stayed in Union.

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Union Advantages

Larger population, industry, railroads, finances.

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Confederate Advantages

Superior generals, defensive fighting, motivated populace.

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Anaconda Plan

Union strategy to blockade South and control Mississippi.

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Confederate War Strategy

Defend until North tired and recognized independence.

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Conscription

Military draft used by both sides during war.

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Union Draft Law (1863)

Allowed $300 commutation or substitutes; provoked riots.

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Confederate Draft Law (1862)

First U.S. draft; earlier than Union’s.

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20-Slave Law

Confederate exemption for owners of 20+ slaves.

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New York Draft Riots (1863)

Violent anti-draft uprising, largely Irish, attacking Blacks.

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Financing the War – Taxes

Both sides levied taxes; raised limited revenue, unpopular.

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Financing the War – Bonds

Government loans sold to citizens; North far more successful.

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Greenbacks

Union paper money not backed by specie.

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Confederate Currency

Southern paper money that hyper-inflated and became worthless.

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Habeas Corpus Suspension

Lincoln’s removal of right to trial for suspected rebels.

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Emancipation Proclamation

1863 order freeing slaves in Confederate areas; redefined war aims.

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Impact of Emancipation Proclamation

Shifted war to ending slavery, blocked Britain, allowed Black enlistment.

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First Battle of Bull Run

July 1861 Confederate victory showing war would be long.

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Battle of Shiloh

1862 Tennessee battle with huge casualties; narrow Union win.

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Battle of Antietam

Bloodiest single day; gave Lincoln opening for proclamation.

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Ulysses S. Grant

Union general winning Vicksburg and overall command.

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Robert E. Lee

Confederate Army of Northern Virginia commander.

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Siege of Vicksburg (1863)

Grant captured last Mississippi stronghold, splitting Confederacy.

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Battle of Gettysburg (1863)

Turning-point Union victory halting Lee’s invasion.