Studied by 3 peopleManifest Destiny
The belief in the US that they had a divine right to extend their power and civilization across North America, leading to westward expansion and territorial acquisitions.
Mexican-American War
A conflict between the US and Mexico resulting in the acquisition of new territories by the US, raising questions about slavery and the status of American Indians and Mexicans in the acquired lands.
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
A treaty in 1842 that settled the boundary dispute between Maine and British Canada, establishing the border and resolving conflicts.
54 40 or Fight
Presidential candidate Polk's Democratic slogan referring to the latitude line marking the border between the Oregon Territory and Russian Alaska, eventually leading to a compromise with Britain.
James K
Democratic nominee and US President (1844-1848) who believed in Manifest Destiny, favored the annexation of Texas, and sought to acquire California and Oregon.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
A treaty in 1848 ending the Mexican-American War, where Mexico recognized the Rio Grande border of Texas and ceded California and New Mexico to the US.
Wilmot Proviso
A proposal in 1846 to forbid slavery in new territories acquired from Mexico, which was defeated in Congress and the Senate.
Ostend Manifesto
An attempt by President Pierce to purchase Cuba from Spain, leading to controversy and opposition from anti-slavery abolitionists.
Gadsden Purchase
President Pierce's successful acquisition of land from Mexico in 1853 (NM and AZ) for railroad purposes, known as the Gadsden Purchase.
Foreign Commerce (1830-1860)
The development of trade with other countries, stimulating the US economy through exports, access to resources, expansion of markets, and diplomatic relations.
Matthew Perry
United States Navy military leader who opened Japan to the West through the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854, using military intimidation to establish diplomatic and trade relations.
Treaty of Kanagawa
Signed in 1854, this treaty negotiated by Matthew Perry led Japan to open two ports to American ships, ending Japan's isolation policy and increasing Western influence.
Compromise of 1850
Attempt to resolve slavery issues, including California's admission as a free state, popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico, banning slave trade in D.C., and the Fugitive Slave Law.
Free Soil Movement
Advocated for preventing slavery expansion, free labor, and free land grants to small farmers, opposing slavery in new territories.
Popular Sovereignty
Lewis Cass's idea that settlers in a territory should decide whether it enters as a free or slave state, a key concept in the Compromise of 1850.
California Gold Rush
Massive migration to California in 1849 due to the discovery of gold, leading to a rapid influx of fortune seekers and significant population growth.
John Fremont & Bear Flag Republic
Fremont, an explorer, and captain, helped overthrow Mexican rule in California in 1846, leading to the establishment of the Bear Flag Republic.
Fugitive Slave Act
Enacted as part of the Compromise of 1850, allowed the capture and return of runaway slaves, causing tensions between North and South.
Whig Party
Declined due to debates over slavery expansion and the Mexican-American War, leading to internal divisions and the rise of the Republican Party.
Underground Railroad
Network aiding enslaved African Americans' escape to the North, led by conductors like Harriet Tubman, contributing to abolitionist efforts.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Influential book by Harriet Beecher Stowe, depicting the cruelty of slavery, raising awareness and contributing to the abolitionist movement.
Southern Defense of Slavery
Justified slavery through religion, history, and philosophy, arguing it was beneficial for both slaves and masters, contrasting with abolitionist views.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Introduced in 1854 by Stephen A. Douglas, it divided the Nebraska territory into Kansas and Nebraska, allowing popular sovereignty to decide on slavery, leading to conflicts in "Bleeding Kansas."
Bleeding Kansas
Refers to the violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups in Kansas following the implementation of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
Two Governments & Lecompton Constitution
Resulted from the Kansas-Nebraska Act, where pro-slavery Missourians and anti-slavery settlers established separate governments in Kansas, with the Lecompton Constitution aiming to make Kansas a slave state.
Dred Scott Case
In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled that Dred Scott, a slave, was not entitled to freedom, reinforcing pro-slavery sentiments in the South and angering anti-slavery factions in the North.
Panic of 1857
A financial crisis that impacted the North and Midwest, leading to economic struggles and reinforcing the divide between the plantation economy of the South and the industrial economy of the North.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Series of debates in 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, focusing on slavery and popular sovereignty, influencing public opinion and Lincoln's political career.
John Brown’s Raid at Harpers Ferry
In 1859, John Brown's failed attempt to start a slave uprising in Virginia heightened tensions between North and South, with Brown becoming a symbol for anti-slavery sentiments.
Election of 1860
Marked by the Democratic Party breakup, Lincoln's victory as a Republican candidate, and the subsequent secession of the Deep South states due to fears of anti-slavery policies.
Secession
The act of formally withdrawing from a political union or alliance, as demonstrated by Southern states like South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas seceding from the Union in 1860-1861.
Crittenden Compromise
A proposed constitutional amendment by Senator John Crittenden from Kentucky in 1861, aiming to guarantee the right to hold slaves in territories south of the 3630 latitude line, which was rejected by President Lincoln due to conflicting with Republican principles against slavery extension.
Confederate States of America
Formed in 1861 by Southern states that seceded from the Union, the Confederacy drafted a constitution similar to the US Constitution but without restrictions on tariffs and slavery, electing Jefferson Davis as president and Alexander Stephens as vice president.
Emancipation Proclamation
Issued by President Lincoln during the Civil War, it reframed the war's purpose by freeing slaves in Confederate territories, attracting African Americans to join the Union Army and preventing full diplomatic support for the Confederacy from European powers.
Border States
Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, and Kentucky, slaveholding states that remained in the Union during the Civil War, were crucial for Lincoln's military and political strategy, as their secession would have significantly strengthened the Confederacy.
Union & Confederate Economies
The Union's industrial and population advantages, along with Lincoln's strategic decisions like the Emancipation Proclamation, contributed to its victory, while the Confederacy faced economic challenges, relying on cotton exports and foreign recognition that ultimately failed.
Homefront Opposition
Both the North and the South faced opposition to the war, with the Confederacy struggling due to economic troubles and the Union benefiting from an established central government and experienced politicians, leading to different outcomes in the conflict.
Union Army Strategy
The Union's strategy during the Civil War, devised by General Winfield Scott, involved blockading Southern ports, controlling the Mississippi River, and raising a large army to capture Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital.
Foreign Recognition of the Confederacy
The Confederacy sought foreign recognition, particularly from Britain, to gain financial aid and alliances, but failed due to inability to sustain dependence and lack of consecutive victories, impacting their war effort and the Union's advantage.
Battle of Antietam
A one-day battle in Maryland during the Civil War, known as one of the bloodiest conflicts, where the Union intercepted the Confederates, resulting in 22,000 soldiers killed or wounded.
Emancipation Proclamation
A decree issued by President Lincoln in 1862, freeing slaves in Confederate states outside Union control, aiming to weaken the Confederacy and encourage border states to consider emancipation.
13th Amendment
Ratified in December 1864, this constitutional amendment abolished slavery in the United States, marking a significant victory for abolitionists and ending the legitimacy of slavery.
Sherman's March to the Sea
Led by General Sherman, this aggressive campaign aimed to destroy the state of Georgia and parts of South Carolina, significantly impacting the Confederacy's morale and will to fight.
General Grant
Appointed by Lincoln as the commander of all Union armies, Grant's strategy of attrition and relentless pursuit of Confederate forces played a crucial role in ending the Civil War.
Union Victory Reasons
The Union's victory was attributed to factors such as the blockade, Sherman's destructive march, Grant's strategic warfare, weakening of the Confederate South, and the fall of Richmond in 1865.
Assassination of President Lincoln
President Lincoln's assassination by John Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, had a profound impact on the nation, leading to outrage and affecting the post-war reconstruction era.
Political Power Shift
The Civil War led to a shift in political power, with Republicans dominating Congress and the government, while Democrats and copperheads opposed Lincoln's war conduct.
Suppression of Civil Liberties
During the war, the government focused on prosecuting the war, leading to the suspension of habeas corpus, arrests without trial, and challenges to citizens' constitutional rights.
Economic Impact - Greenbacks
The financing of the Civil War involved issuing greenbacks, paper currency not redeemable in gold, which led to inflation and economic challenges in the North.
Northern Economy during the Civil War
The northern economy during the Civil War experienced both positive and negative impacts, with industrial growth and low worker wages due to inflation.
Homestead Act, 1862
This act promoted the settlement of the Great Plains by offering 168 acres of public land free to those who would farm it for at least 5 years.
Morrill Land Grant Act, 1862
Encouraged states to establish Agricultural and Technical colleges through federal land grants, leading to increased education opportunities.
Pacific Railway Act, 1862
Authorized the building of Transcontinental railroads along the northern route to boost economic ties between California and the Eastern states.
Impact of the Civil War on Women
The absence of men from regular occupations during the war led to women taking on roles in factories and labor, impacting their fight for freedom and equality.
Impact of the Civil War on Slavery
The Civil War, mainly about slavery, led to the 13th Amendment freeing 4 million slaves, but challenges persisted in economic hardships and political oppression.
Reconstruction Key Concepts
The Union victory settled slavery and secession issues but raised questions about federal power and citizenship rights, leading to debates over new definitions of citizenship.
Freedmen's Bureau
Established in 1865, it provided aid to freed slaves, including food, shelter, and education, teaching over 200,000 African Americans to read before federal funding ceased in 1870.
13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
The 13th abolished slavery, the 14th granted citizenship and equal protection, and the 15th prohibited voting discrimination based on race, color, or previous servitude.
Voting Rights and Education
Despite amendments granting rights, African Americans faced challenges in voting due to discriminatory laws, and education remained segregated, leading to inequalities.
African American Legislators
During Reconstruction, African Americans held elective offices, challenging traditional power structures and facing opposition from ex-Confederates.
President Johnson vs
Conflict arose between President Johnson's lenient Reconstruction plan and Congress's stricter approach, leading to Southern resistance and the failure of Johnson's policies.
Federal Government in Reconstruction
The federal government assumed more power, passing laws like the 14th Amendment to redefine citizenship and protect civil rights, reshaping the relationship between state and federal governments.
Women's Rights Movement
The movement became divided over the 14th and 15th Amendments, as some suffragists opposed them for granting rights to African-American men but not women.
Scalawags & Carpetbaggers
Scalawags were Southern whites supporting Reconstruction, while Carpetbaggers were Northerners moving South post-Civil War, often viewed with suspicion by locals.
Redeemer Democrats
Southern Democrats seeking to regain political control post-Reconstruction, aiming to reinstate white supremacy through measures like literacy tests and poll taxes.
Successes of Reconstruction
Abolition of slavery, civil rights advances through amendments, establishment of public education, and political empowerment of African Americans.
Failures of Reconstruction
Inadequate protection of African-American rights, economic disparities, rise of segregation, political corruption, loss of Northern support, and violence against African Americans.
Sharecropping
A system where landless farmers, often African Americans, worked on land owned by white landowners in exchange for a share of the crops produced, leading to economic instability and dependence on cash crops.
Ku Klux Klan (KKK)
A white supremacist hate group originating in the Southern United States after the Civil War, known for promoting racism, white nationalism, and using violence against African Americans and other minority groups.
Compromise of 1877
An informal agreement between Democrats and Republicans in the US Congress that resolved the disputed presidential election of 1876, leading to the end of Reconstruction by withdrawing federal troops from the South.
Reasons for the end of Reconstruction in the South
Factors include the Compromise of 1877, violence and intimidation by groups like the KKK, rise of Redeemer Democrats disenfranchising African Americans, legal challenges weakening civil rights legislation, and federal enforcement issues.
Southern resistance to Reconstruction and African American equality
Resistance included the implementation of Black Codes, violent reactions like lynchings, the sharecropping system maintaining servitude, denial of voting rights through literacy tests, and discriminatory questioning to prevent African Americans from voting.
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