U.S. History Lecture on the Compromise of 1850 and its Context

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the events and figures discussed in the U.S. History lecture focusing on the Compromise of 1850 and related topics.

Wilmot Proviso

A proposed bill that aimed to prevent the expansion of slavery into the Mexican Cession.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that allowed citizens of each state to decide whether they would allow slavery.

Free Soil Party

A political party that opposed the expansion of slavery, primarily to protect the interests of poor farmers.

Zachary Taylor

The 12th President of the United States, known for his military leadership and opposition to the extension of slavery.

Compromise of 1850

A series of laws aimed at resolving disputes over slavery and territorial expansion.

California Gold Rush

A mass migration to California following the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848.

Boomtown

A rapidly growing community that often sprung up near mineral discoveries.

Vigilance Committees

Groups formed in boomtowns to provide law enforcement and exact justice.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

A novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe that portrayed the harsh realities of slavery and influenced public opinion.

Fugitive Slave Act

A law that required citizens to aid in the capture of runaway slaves and penalized those who did not.

Filibuster

An individual who engages in unauthorized military expeditions to conquer foreign lands.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

An author whose book 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' helped galvanize anti-slavery sentiment.

Seventh of March Speech

A speech by Daniel Webster advocating for compromise regarding the extension of slavery.

Impending Crisis of the South

A book by Hinton Helper that argued that non-slaveholding whites were the true victims of slavery.

Austin Manifesto

A document outlining U.S. plans to acquire Cuba and expand slavery, which was ultimately abandoned.