Unit 5-6 DBQ Prep

Manifest Destiny

Manifest Destiny

Americans believed themselves to have a god given right to possess a nation from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean

Westward Expansion

Allowed access to more natural and mineral resources, more economic opportunities, and religious refuge

Texas

Originally Mexican territory in which many Americans resided. Americans rejected the terms of the land of conversion to Roman Catholicism and outlawing slavery. So Texans revolted, captured the leader of a Mexican troop, and forced him to sign a treaty recognizing the independence of Texas BUT it was unauthorized (it didn’t work). Texans wanted to be a part of the Union but it was rejected because it would mean war with Mexico. President Tyler pushed the annexation of Texas.

Annexation

The incorporation of territory into the territory of another

Mexican-American War

Occurred after Texas was annexed. Debate between the Mexicans (Nueces River) and the Americans (Rio Grande) about the Southern border of Texas. The war began when Polk (A) sent troops.

Wilmot Proviso

An unsuccessful proposal in 1846 to the US Congress to ban slavery in newly acquired lands from the Mexican-American War. Symbolized the growing tension between westward expansion and slavery.

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

Established the southern border of Texas at Rio Grande (A). Granted a huge sum of land known as the Mexican Cession (California & New Mexico) to the US in 1848.

Oregon Territory

Territory dispute between America and Britain. British claimed the land was theirs because they had an established fur trade there BUT relatively few British lived there. Americans claimed the land was theirs because if manifest destiny and many Americans lived there. Polk split territory with Britain at the 49th parallel.

Election of 1844

James Polk (D), a supporter of manifest destiny won. Seen as a mandate of the people to add Texas and Oregon into the Union.

Gold Rush of 1848

On the hills of California. Settlers streamed into the new territories causing a drastic increase in the population.

Southern Position on Slavery

Argued that slavery was a constitutional right. Wanted the line from the Missouri Compromise to be extended all the way to the Pacific.

Free Soil Position on Slavery

Free Soil Party consisted of northern democrats and whigs who wanted all land gained in the west to be free, and abolitionists who wanted to ban slavery everywhere. They didn’t want slavery to spread, they wanted it to stay in the south.

Popular Soverienty on Slavery

Believed that the people living in the territory should decide slavery issues for themselves.

Compromise of 1850

Based on popular sovereignty, the Mexican Cession will be divided into Utah and New Mexico territories. California will be a free state. Slave trade will be outlawed in Washington DC. Enact a stricter fugitive slave act. Tensions about free and slave states increased.

Stricter Fugitive Slave Act

Allows planters to get their slaves back when they go North. North is directly involved, but they disliked it because they believed slavery is for the South.

Underground Railroad

Safe passage from Southern states to the North, fleeing plantations

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Stowe

Exposed the cruelty of slavery, further polarizing the nation

Kansas-Nebraska Act

In 1854, Nebraska territory was divided into Kansas and Nebraska and used popular sovereignty. A lot of opposition because it overturned the Missouri Compromise.

Missouri Compromise

In 1820, slavery was prohibited in western states above the southern border of Missouri

Bleeding Kansas

The fighting between anti and pro-slavery factions. This led to the birth of the Republican party. The main goal was to stop the spread of slavery.

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Dred Scott was a slave in Missouri who was brought to live in Wisconsin, a free state. Scott argued he should be a free man. The majority of Congress ruled against him. This led to two conclusions: slaves are not citizens, so they cannot sue in court, slaves are considered property, contradicted the Constitution and meant that slavery could exist anywhere in the US.

John Brown

A militant abolitionist from Kansas. Led a small group of followers at the raid at Harper’s Ferry stole weapons to arm the Southern slave population and insight a population. The effect was acute. Southerners felt they had discerned the true intentions of the North: to dismantle the South with slave rebellions.

Election of 1860

Douglas (D) vs Lincoln (R). Lincoln made it clear that he did not oppose slavery in the South, he just wanted to stop it from spreading. His goal was to save the union by keeping the border states.

Secession of Southern States

Lincoln won the election without any Southern votes. The South saw that they had no voice in the political future of slavery in US, so some states seceeded. Led to the development of the Confederate States of America.

Confederate States of America

Had a constitution similar to that of the US. BUT they had an enshrinement of slavery, limitation on federal power, and gave most power to the states.

Southern Advantages in the Civil War

Fighting a defensive war with better generals (Lee & Jackson)

Northern Advantages in the Civil War

Larger population, robust army, economic advantages, and a well-established central government (vigorous executive). They won with Southern surrender.

Anaconda Plan (CW)

Unions plan to defeat the Confederacy by blockading Southern ports and controlling the Mississippi River

Confederate Strategy in the Civil War

Receive foreign aid mainly from Britain and France. Felt confident due to King Cotton, Britain and France relied heavily on Southern cotton, but they found cotton elsewhere.

Emancipation Proclamation

In 1862, Lincoln created this as a military strategy to protect the Union. Freed the slaves in the rebellious states. Convinced Britain to not help the South. Empowered blacks to flee their plantations and join the Union (symbolic).

Battle of Vicksburg

Resulted in Union victory with the control of the Mississippi River. Cut the confederacy in half.

Battle of Gettysburg

Turning point in the war. Lincoln tried to unite the country. This portrayed a struggle against fufilling US’s founding ideals in terms of slavery, and emphasized that all men are created equal.

Returning States

Lincoln proposed a test for returning states to test their loyalty. At least 10% of the state needs to swear an oath of allegiance to the Union and the Constitution. Must ratify the 13th amendment.

Radicals

Pushed hard for civil rights for blacks. Wanted to punish the South.

Moderates

Only concerned about economic gains for whites

Civil Rights Act of 1866 (RA)

All blacks are citizens of the US. Overturned the Dred Scott decision. Johnson vetoed but Congress overrode.

14th Amendment (RA)

Established due to the fear that someone can override the Civil Rights Act. All persons born in the US are citizens. No state shall deny a citizen of any race equal protection of the laws.

Reconstruction Acts

1: Divided the South into 5 zones with military occupation, to that end Southernors wouldn’t break the laws imposed on them. 2: Ratified the 14th amendment. 3: Added clauses to the state Consitutions calling for universal male suffrage.

Tenure of Office Act

Used to bait Johnson. President cannot remove a member of his cabinet without his congressional approval.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery

15th Amendment

Protected the voting rights of former slaves

Society in the South

Blacks gained some independece but it was still elusive. Largely agricultural and continued to use blacks as laborers through contracts, deja vu to slavery. White supremacy in the South, KKK.

Sharcropping

System where the landlord allows the a tenant to use the land in exchange for a share of the crop. New type of servitude.

Black Codes

Restriced black people’s rights

Compromise of 1877

Unwritten political deal in the US to settle the dispute over the results of the presidential election. Democrats would oly acknowledge the win if Republicans met their demands.

Industrial Capitalism

Rise of

Railroads

National market for goods. After the Civil War, the number of railroads drastically increased. Connected the eastern and western ends of US and gave Americans the means for westward expansion. Not just a private enterprise, it was government supported (land grants, loan subsidies).

Panic of 1893

Quarter of railroads filed for bankruptcy, so bankers rushed in to control the enterprises. Created regional monopolies.

Bessemer Process

An inexpensive method that enabled manufacturers to produce a large quantity of steel

Vertical Integration (AC)

One company controls the entire manufacturing process

Gospel of Wealth (AC)

Those with wealth had a god given duty to invest their money into society by philanthropic worths

Andrew Carnegie

Steel

John Rockefeller

Standard Oil

Horizontal integration (JR)

Forced competition to sell their buisnesses to him

Laissez-faire

“Let it be” because the government is very hands off the economy. Allowed for horizontal and vertical integration.

Social Darwinism

If wealth is put into the hands of the fittest it is better for everyone

Sherman Anti-trust Act

Not many convictions because of iffy wording BUT it prohibited trusts and monopolies. Promoted economic fairness and competition.

Middle Class

Growing. White collar workers.

Great Railroad Strikes

Cut wages so railroad workers went on strike and shut down 60% of railroads. Resulted in improved wages and working conditions.

Pullman Strike

Wages were cut so Union workers striked BUT they got fired

Eugene v. Debs

Leader of American railroad union. Led the Pullman strike and directed workers to not work on any cars related to pullman cars. Claimed pullman cars were mail cars, so they were jailed for hindering rail traffic of federally supported railroads. Failed.

Knights of Labor

National, open to everyone, and aimed to abolish child labor and destroy trusts

Haymarket Square Riot

Protest against long work hours. Bomb exploded by an anarchist but it was associated with labor unions. Caused them to be viewed as violent and led to a decline in labor unions.

American Federation of Labor

Led by Samuel Gompers. Called for higher wages and better working conditions.

Immigrants

Europeans, Germans, and Irish came to America to escape poverty, overcrowding, and religious persecution. America was a land of oppurtunities. Faced opposition first from labor unions.

Nativists

American Protection Association. Had a policy of protecting those native born.

Social Darwinists

Believed immigrants especially Irish were racially inferior, and thought they would degrade the gene pool

Westward Migration

Pushed westward for self-sufficiency and independence after the Civil War. Cattle in the Great Plains ended due to settlement. In 1890, the US government declared the western frontier was fully settled.

Chinese Exclusion Act

Created because Chinese was a majority of the western population. Restricted further Chinese immigration. First time Congress targetted a specific race.

The Homestead Act

In 1862, accelerated the settlement of the western territory by granting 160 acres of public in exchange for 5 years of residence.

Frederick Jackson Turner

Siginificance of the Frontier in American History. Argued that closing the frontier was bad because westward expansion was a way to express discontent. The frontier was a great class and society leveler.

American Indians

Oklahoma territory given to native americans after the Indian removal process by a treaty, but America broke the treaty and opened up the Oklahoma territory

Reservation System

Indian nations were confined to reservations that had strict boundaries and were much smaller. Many indians refused, and followed the Buffalo.

Indian Appropriation Act

Refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of American Indians and nullified all previous treaties

Ghost Dance Movement

Nationwide. Movement of resistance of the encroachment of Americans on Indian land. Believed ancestors would return and drive Americans off.

Assimilationist Movement

Forced Indians to assimilate into American culture

Dawes Act

In 1887, broke up tribal organizations because Americans believed it kept the from assimilating. Gave American Indians land to live on, and they could have US citizenship is they lived there and americanized themselves.

National Grange Movement

In 1868, it was a social and educational collective aimed at bringing farmers together. Goal was to defend farmers against trusts.

Interstate Commerce Act

Set guidelines for how the railroads could do business

Interstate Commerce Commission

Oversaw the conduct of the railroad industry

Tenements

Poorly ventilated disease riddled housing developments for immigrants

Suburbanization

Mainly middle class and upper class. Abundant and cheap transportation made it possible.

Entertainment

Sensational stories that blurred the line between fact and fiction (New York World), theatre, traveling circus, spectator sports (baseball, football, boxing)

Settlement Houses

Provided social services to the poor to enrich the neighborhood. Largely led by women.

Hull House

Made by Jane Addams in 1889. Taught english to immigrants and pioneered education at an early age.

National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA)

Womens Suffrage Movement led by Stanton and Anthony

Temperance

Women's Christian Temperance Union, anti-Saloon League

Social Gospel

Christian gospels be applied to right societal wrongs. Social justice for their poor. Middle classes to solve urban problems as their christian duties.

Political Machine

Corrupt organization of political bosses and their followers

Tammany Hall

Organized and met the needs of the urban poor. Helped political machines because by handing out favors it would keep them in power come election day.

The New South

Based on economic diversity, industrial growth, and laissez-faire capitalism. Some areas became industrial BUT mainly a racially segregated, agricultural economy.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Made it constitutional to have separate but equal facilities 

Jim Crow Laws

Every public place must be segregated

Republicans

Blacks, middle class businessmen, protestants

Democrats

Big city political machines, immigrants

Patronage

A system in which benefits, including jobs, money, or protection are granted in exchange for political support

Pendleton Act

The federal legislation that created a system in which federal employees were chosen based upon competitive exams

Populist Party

Wanted to curtail the power of the corporate and financial establishment 

Omaha Platform

Direct election of senators, enact the use of initiatives and referendums, unlimited coinage of silver, graduated income tax, 8 hour work day

The American Revolution (1775-1783)

Laid the foundation for American democracy and independence from British rule. The ideals of liberty and equality espoused during this period continued to shape American society and politics well into Period 5.