Manifest Destiny and Sectionalism

These flashcards focus on vocabulary related to Manifest Destiny, the Antebellum Era, sectionalism, and the impacts of westward expansion leading up to the Civil War.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century doctrine that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

Antebellum Era

The period of American history before the Civil War, from 1800 to 1860.

American Nationalism

A sense of pride in one's nation, which increased in the early Antebellum period.

King Cotton

Term used to describe the dominant cotton industry in the southern economy.

Sectionalism

Loyalty to a region rather than the entire country, leading to divisions between North and South.

Texas Annexation

The incorporation of the Republic of Texas into the United States in 1845.

Oregon Trail

A major route westward for thousands of settlers seeking new opportunities in Oregon.

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

The treaty that ended the Mexican-American War in 1848, resulting in the U.S. acquiring the Mexican Cession.

Wilmot Proviso

A proposed amendment aimed at banning slavery in territories acquired from Mexico, highlighting sectional tensions.

California Gold Rush

The mass migration of people to California in 1849 after gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill.

Sutter's Mill

The site in California where gold was first discovered in 1848, leading to the Gold Rush.

Fugitive Slave Law

Laws that allowed for the capture and return of runaway slaves to their owners, creating tension between North and South.

Compromise of 1850

A series of laws intended to settle the territorial and slavery controversies arising from the Mexican-American War.

Bleeding Kansas

A series of violent events involving abolitionists and pro-Slavery elements that took place in Kansas-Nebraska Territory.

Dred Scott v. Sanford

The 1857 Supreme Court case that ruled African Americans were not citizens and Congress could not restrict slavery in the territories.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

The 1854 act that allowed territories to decide if they wanted to allow slavery through popular sovereignty.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

John Brown's Raid

An 1859 attempt by abolitionist John Brown to initiate an armed slave revolt by capturing an arsenal at Harpers Ferry.

American Anti-Slavery Society

An organization founded in 1833 to advocate for the abolition of slavery in the United States.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

A novel published by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852 that depicted the brutal realities of slavery.

Northern Abolitionism

A movement in the North advocating for the end of slavery, growing stronger as sectional tensions increased.

Transcontinental Railroad

A railroad connecting the eastern U.S. with the Pacific coast, facilitating westward expansion.

Mormon Trail

The route taken by Mormons to escape persecution and settle in Utah during the 1840s.

Indian Removal Act

A law signed by Andrew Jackson in 1830 that authorized the removal of Native American tribes from their lands.

Black Hawk War

A conflict between the United States and Native Americans led by Black Hawk in 1832 over land in Illinois.

Gadsden Purchase

The 1853 acquisition by the United States of land from Mexico that facilitated a southern transcontinental railroad.

Louisiana Purchase

The 1803 acquisition of the vast territory from France that doubled the size of the U.S.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

An expedition from 1804 to 1806 that explored the newly acquired western portion of the United States.

Pioneer Spirit

A mindset characterized by courage, optimism, and a willingness to face challenges, typical of those who moved west.

Cession

The formal giving up of rights, property, or territory by a state; often through treaty.

Economic Opportunities

The potential for individuals to improve their financial situation through new jobs or business ventures.

Settler Societies

Communities formed by immigrants and pioneers in the West, often characterized by agriculture and land exploitation.

Trail of Tears

The forced removal of Cherokee and other tribes from their homelands, resulting in significant suffering and death.

Anti-Catholic Sentiment

Prejudice against Catholics that influenced politics and immigration during the 19th century.

Railroad Expansion

The growth of rail networks in America during the 19th century, facilitating trade and travel.

Fifty-Four Forty or Fight

A slogan used by expansionists who wanted the U.S. to control all of the Oregon Territory up to latitude 54°40′.

Treaty of Fort Laramie

An 1851 treaty recognizing Native American land rights in the Great Plains, which was often ignored.

Slave Codes

Laws that defined the status of slaves and the rights of masters, often severely restricting the freedoms of African Americans.

Industrial Revolution

A transition to new manufacturing processes in the late 18th and early 19th centuries that changed economies and societies.

Free Soil Party

A political party formed in 1848 that opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories.

Petitioning

The act of making a formal request to an authority, often seen in abolitionist efforts against slavery.

Seward's Folly

The purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, considered initially a mistake by some.

Oregon Settlers

Individuals who migrated to Oregon for land and opportunity during the westward expansion.

Expansionism

A policy of territorial or economic expansion that drove American policies in the 19th century.

Economic Discontent

Frustration among citizens regarding economic instability, often leading to social and political movements.

Demographic Changes

Changes in the population structure of a region, often influenced by migration.

Migrant Trails

Routes taken by people moving to new regions, particularly during westward expansion in the U.S.

Western Diplomacy

The strategies and negotiations used to establish U.S. authority and relationships in newly acquired territories.

Cultural Conflicts

Disputes arising from differences in cultural values, particularly observed between settlers and Native Americans.

Political Compromise

Agreements made between differing parties to resolve issues, often used in the context of slavery and state admission.

Demographic Expansion

Significant increases in population due to migration, particularly during the westward movement in the 19th century.

Missionary Efforts

Religious activities aimed at converting individuals in new territories, often tied to westward expansion.

Settler Colonialism

A form of colonialism in which settlers move into an area and establish control over the land and its inhabitants.