Manifest Destiny to Civil War – Vocabulary Flashcards

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

Frederick Jackson Turner’s Frontier Thesis

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

The Old Northwest

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

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

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

The Old Southwest

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

Southwest Ordinance of 1789

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

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

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

Jefferson’s Constitutional Dilemma

Uncertainty over presidential power to buy land when purchasing Louisiana.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

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

Sacagawea

Shoshone woman who guided and interpreted for Lewis and Clark.

Zebulon Pike’s Expedition

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

Adams-Onís Treaty (1819)

Spain ceded Florida; fixed western border of Louisiana Purchase.

Manifest Destiny

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

John O’Sullivan

Journalist who coined “Manifest Destiny” in 1845.

“American Progress”

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

Empresario System

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

Stephen F. Austin

Leading empresario who brought first 300 Anglo families to Texas.

Mexican Conditions for Settlement

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

General Santa Anna

Mexican dictator who led forces against Texan rebellion and Alamo.

The Alamo (1836)

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

Battle of San Jacinto

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

Republic of Texas

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

Texas Annexation (1845)

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

The Oregon Trail

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

“54°40′ or Fight!”

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

Oregon Treaty of 1846

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

Causes of Mexican-American War

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

James K. Polk

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

Rio Grande vs. Nueces River

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

General Zachary Taylor

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

General Winfield Scott

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

Mexican Cession

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

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo (1848)

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

Wilmot Proviso (1846)

Failed attempt to ban slavery in land won from Mexico.

Free Soil Party

1848 party opposing expansion of slavery into territories.

Election of 1848

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

California Gold Rush (1849)

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

Forty-Niners

Prospectors who flocked to California in 1849.

Compromise of 1850

Five-part deal easing slavery dispute in new territories.

Henry Clay

“Great Compromiser” who proposed 1850 omnibus bill.

Stephen Douglas

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

California as Free State

Compromise of 1850 admitted CA free, upsetting balance.

Popular Sovereignty

Idea that territorial settlers vote on slavery.

Fugitive Slave Act of 1850

Required citizens to aid capture of runaways; enraged North.

Banning Slave Trade in D.C.

Compromise measure ending slave markets in the capital.

Texas Boundary Settlement

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

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

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

Harriet Beecher Stowe

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

Underground Railroad

Secret network aiding enslaved peoples’ escape to freedom.

Harriet Tubman

Famed conductor who rescued dozens via Underground Railroad.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

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

Repeal of Missouri Compromise

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

“Bleeding Kansas”

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

Jayhawks

Anti-slavery Kansas settlers fighting for free statehood.

Border Ruffians

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

Pottawatomie Creek Massacre

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

John Brown

Militant abolitionist behind Pottawatomie and Harpers Ferry raid.

Republican Party (1854)

Formed to stop spread of slavery into territories.

Nativism

Anti-immigrant sentiment fearing Irish and German Catholics.

Know-Nothing Party

Secret nativist party opposing immigration and Catholicism.

Dred Scott Decision (1857)

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

Chief Justice Roger Taney

Authored Dred Scott opinion declaring Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

Dred Scott Ruling – Citizenship

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

Dred Scott Ruling – Property

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

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

1858 Illinois Senate debates; propelled Lincoln to prominence.

Freeport Doctrine

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

Harpers Ferry Raid (1859)

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

Election of 1860

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

Abraham Lincoln

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

Constitutional Union Party

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

Democratic Party Split (1860)

Northern vs. Southern factions nominated Douglas and Breckinridge.

Secession

Formal withdrawal of a state from the Union.

South Carolina’s Secession

First state to leave Union, December 1860.

Confederate States of America

Nation formed by eleven seceded southern states.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederacy.

Crittenden Compromise

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

Fort Sumter

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

Border States

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

Union Advantages

Larger population, industry, railroads, finances.

Confederate Advantages

Superior generals, defensive fighting, motivated populace.

Anaconda Plan

Union strategy to blockade South and control Mississippi.

Confederate War Strategy

Defend until North tired and recognized independence.

Conscription

Military draft used by both sides during war.

Union Draft Law (1863)

Allowed $300 commutation or substitutes; provoked riots.

Confederate Draft Law (1862)

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

20-Slave Law

Confederate exemption for owners of 20+ slaves.

New York Draft Riots (1863)

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

Financing the War – Taxes

Both sides levied taxes; raised limited revenue, unpopular.

Financing the War – Bonds

Government loans sold to citizens; North far more successful.

Greenbacks

Union paper money not backed by specie.

Confederate Currency

Southern paper money that hyper-inflated and became worthless.

Habeas Corpus Suspension

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

Emancipation Proclamation

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

Impact of Emancipation Proclamation

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

First Battle of Bull Run

July 1861 Confederate victory showing war would be long.

Battle of Shiloh

1862 Tennessee battle with huge casualties; narrow Union win.

Battle of Antietam

Bloodiest single day; gave Lincoln opening for proclamation.

Ulysses S. Grant

Union general winning Vicksburg and overall command.

Robert E. Lee

Confederate Army of Northern Virginia commander.

Siege of Vicksburg (1863)

Grant captured last Mississippi stronghold, splitting Confederacy.

Battle of Gettysburg (1863)

Turning-point Union victory halting Lee’s invasion.