APUSH Spring Vocab Test Review

Great American Desert

The vast, dry region between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, which was largely considered uninhabitable in the 19th century.

Silver Rush

The period of intense migration and mining activity following the discovery of silver, especially in Nevada and Colorado, during the mid-19th century.

Stephen Austin

A key figure in the colonization of Texas who led American settlers into the region in the 1820s and helped establish the first successful colony there.

Santa Anna

Mexican general and president who led Mexico during the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War.

Sam Houston

Leader of the Texian army during the Texas Revolution, later serving as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas.

Alamo

A historic fort in San Antonio where Texian rebels were besieged and defeated by Mexican forces in 1836.

Aroostook War

A conflict between the U.S. and Great Britain over the boundary between Maine and Canada, fought mainly through diplomatic and military posturing in the 1830s.

Webster-Ashburton Treaty

An agreement between the U.S. and Great Britain in 1842 that settled border disputes and established cooperation between the two nations.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The peace treaty signed in 1848 that ended the Mexican-American War, resulting in Mexico ceding large territories to the U.S.

Commodore Matthew C. Perry

A U.S. naval officer who led an expedition to Japan in 1853, forcing Japan to open trade with the West.

John Tyler

The 10th president of the U.S., who assumed office after William Henry Harrison's death.

54 Forty or Fight

A slogan used by expansionists in the 1840s who wanted U.S. control of the Oregon Territory, specifically north to the 54° 40' latitude line.

James K. Polk

The 11th president of the U.S., known for his expansionist policies and the annexation of Texas, as well as leading the nation during the Mexican-American War.

Polk's leadership

Pivotal in fulfilling the Manifest Destiny ideology and significantly expanding U.S. territory.

Wilmot Proviso

A proposal to prohibit slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico during the Mexican-American War, which was not passed by Congress.

Significance of Wilmot Proviso

Although it failed, the Wilmot Proviso intensified sectional tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery in new territories.

Franklin Pierce

14th president of the U.S., whose administration saw the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which escalated tensions over slavery.

Significance of Franklin Pierce

Pierce's support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act led to violence in Kansas and further divided the nation over the issue of slavery.

Mexican-American War

A war between the U.S. and Mexico (1846-1848) over territorial disputes, particularly following the annexation of Texas.

Significance of Mexican-American War

The U.S. victory in the war and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo resulted in the U.S. acquiring vast territories in the West, which contributed to the expansion of the nation and heightened tensions over slavery.

Zachary Taylor

A U.S. general and the 12th president, known for his military leadership in the Mexican-American War, where he became a national hero.

Significance of Zachary Taylor

Taylor's success in the Mexican-American War helped solidify his presidency, but his death early in his term left many issues, particularly slavery, unresolved.

Bear Flag Republic

A short-lived republic established by American settlers in California during the Mexican-American War, before California became part of the U.S.

Significance of Bear Flag Republic

The Bear Flag Republic was an important part of California's transition into statehood, following the acquisition of the territory in the Mexican Cession.

Mexican Cession

The area ceded to the U.S. by Mexico under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which included California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and other territories.

Significance of Mexican Cession

The Mexican Cession greatly expanded U.S. territory, igniting debates over the expansion of slavery and contributing to the tensions leading to the Civil War.

Gadsden Purchase

The 1853 purchase of land from Mexico (now parts of southern Arizona and New Mexico) to facilitate a southern transcontinental railroad.

Significance of Gadsden Purchase

The Gadsden Purchase provided the land necessary for the construction of the southern railroads and resolved lingering border disputes between the U.S. and Mexico.

Kanagawa Treaty

A treaty signed in 1854 between the U.S. and Japan that opened Japanese ports to American ships.

Significance of Kanagawa Treaty

The treaty marked the beginning of U.S.-Japan relations and was a key moment in the U.S. expanding its influence in Asia.

Free Soil Movement

A political movement that opposed the expansion of slavery into western territories.

Significance of Free Soil Movement

Although not abolitionist, it laid the groundwork for the Republican Party and emphasized the moral and economic opposition to slavery's expansion.

Conscience Whigs

Northern Whigs who opposed slavery on moral grounds.

Significance of Conscience Whigs

Their opposition to slavery helped fragment the Whig Party and foster new political coalitions like the Free Soil and later the Republican Party.

Hunker Democrats

A conservative faction of the New York Democratic Party that supported slavery or remained neutral.

Significance of Hunker Democrats

Their division from anti-slavery Barnburners weakened the Democratic Party in New York.

Barnburners

Anti-slavery Democrats in New York who broke with the main party.

Significance of Barnburners

Their defection to the Free Soil Party helped weaken Democratic unity over the slavery issue.

Bleeding Kansas

A series of violent confrontations between pro- and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas.

Significance of Bleeding Kansas

It exposed the failure of popular sovereignty and was a precursor to the Civil War.

Lecompton Constitution

A pro-slavery constitution proposed for Kansas statehood.

Significance of Lecompton Constitution

Rejected by most Kansans, it became a national controversy and further inflamed sectional tensions.

Lewis Cass and Popular Sovereignty

Cass promoted the idea that settlers should vote on slavery in their territory.

Compromise of 1850

A package of laws that attempted to settle the issue of slavery in new territories.

Stephen A. Douglas

Illinois senator who supported popular sovereignty and the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Millard Fillmore

13th president, who supported the Compromise of 1850.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

1854 law allowing popular sovereignty in those territories.

Crittenden Compromise

Last-ditch effort to avoid Civil War by protecting slavery in the South.

Know-Nothing Party

Nativist political party opposed to immigrants and Catholics.

James Buchanan

15th president, largely ineffective during the growing sectional crisis.

Fugitive Slave Law

Law requiring return of escaped slaves to the South.

Dred Scott v. Sanford

Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans were not citizens and that Congress couldn't ban slavery in territories.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

A series of debates during the 1858 Illinois Senate race.

Sumner-Brooks Incident

Senator Charles Sumner was beaten by Rep. Preston Brooks for criticizing slavery.

John Brown and Harpers Ferry

Brown's failed raid to start a slave revolt in Virginia.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe's anti-slavery novel.

Sociology of the South

George Fitzhugh's pro-slavery book defending the institution.

Border States

Slave states that stayed in the Union (e.g., Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland).

Confederate States of America

The 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union.

Jefferson Davis

President of the Confederacy.

Second American Revolution

A term describing the Civil War's massive transformation of U.S. society.

Morrill Land Grant Act

Gave land to states to create agricultural and technical colleges.

Homestead Act

Offered free land in the West to settlers.

Fort Sumter

First battle of the Civil War in Charleston, South Carolina.

Bull Run/Manassas

First major battle of the Civil War.

Winfield Scott's Anaconda Plan

Union strategy to blockade the South and split it via the Mississippi River.

Robert E. Lee

Leading Confederate general.

Antietam

Bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history.

Ulysses S. Grant

Union general who led to victory.

Gettysburg

Turning point battle in 1863.

Appomattox Court House

Where Lee surrendered to Grant in 1865.

Emancipation Proclamation

Lincoln's 1863 order freeing slaves in rebelling states.

Reconstruction Acts

Laws that divided the South into military districts and required states to ratify the 14th Amendment.

54th Massachusetts Regiment

All-Black Union army unit.

Copperheads

Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War.

Laird Rams

British warships built for the Confederacy.

Civil Rights Act of 1875

Law banning racial discrimination in public places.

Civil Rights Cases of 1883

Supreme Court rulings that struck down the 1875 Act.

Jay Gould and Credit Mobilier

Examples of Gilded Age corruption in railroads and politics.

Jay Gould vs. Cornelius Vanderbilt

Competing railroad tycoons.

"Boss" Tweed

Corrupt political boss of New York's Tammany Hall.

Thomas Nast

Political cartoonist who exposed Boss Tweed.

Panic of 1873

Economic depression caused by overinvestment and railroad failures.

Rutherford B. Hayes

President who ended Reconstruction.

Compromise of 1877

Deal that ended Reconstruction in exchange for Hayes' presidency.

Lincoln's 10% Plan

Allowed Southern states back into the Union if 10% of voters swore loyalty.

Radical Republicans

Faction that wanted harsh Reconstruction and full rights for freed slaves.

Wade-Davis Bill

Stricter Reconstruction plan vetoed by Lincoln.

Freedman's Bureau

Agency that helped former slaves with education and jobs.

Black Codes

Southern laws limiting African American rights post-Civil War.

Tenure of Office Act

Law meant to limit President Johnson's power.

Carpetbaggers

Northerners who moved South during Reconstruction.

Scalawags

Southern whites who supported Reconstruction.

Hiram Revels

First African American U.S. senator.

Significance

Symbol of African American political progress during Reconstruction.

Sharecropping

System where freedmen worked land for a share of crops. Created economic dependency and poverty similar to slavery.

Force Acts

Laws to suppress the KKK and protect Black voters. Temporarily reduced Klan violence, but enforcement was weak.

Amnesty Act of 1872

Restored political rights to most former Confederates. Weakened Republican control in the South.

Cornelius Vanderbilt

Railroad tycoon who consolidated rail lines and built a massive transportation empire. Helped create a national economy through efficient railroads and symbolized Gilded Age wealth.

Transcontinental Railroad

Completed in 1869, it connected the East and West coasts by rail. Unified the nation, promoted westward expansion, and boosted trade and migration.