A.P.U.S.H. Period 5 Terms

Slave Narratives

• Autobiographical accounts written by escaped slaves during the 18th-19th centuries, detailing their personal experiences of enslavement. These narratives often served as powerful testimonies in the abolitionist movement, providing insight into the harsh realities of slavery and advocating for its end.

Manifest Destiny

• The belief that it was the United States' divine right and destiny to expand its territory across the entire North American continent, a prominent ideology in the 1840s that justified westward expansion and the annexation of territories.

Oregon Fever

• A term used to describe the surge of enthusiasm and migration to the Oregon Territory in the 1840s, driven by the promise of fertile land and the opportunity for a new life, leading to the establishment of the Oregon Trail as a major route for settlers.

James Polk & 1844 Election

• James K. Polk was the Democratic candidate in the 1844 presidential election who won on a platform advocating for aggressive westward expansion, including the annexation of Texas and the acquisition of the Oregon Territory, aligning with the concept of Manifest Destiny.

Annexation of Texas

• The entry of Texas as the 28th state of the U.S. in 1845, following its independence from Mexico. This annexation heightened tensions regarding the expansion of slavery into new states and territories, playing a significant role in the lead-up to the Civil War.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

• A pivotal autobiography published in 1845 by Frederick Douglass, a former slave, that provides a profound account of his experiences in slavery and his escape to freedom. This work became influential in the abolitionist movement, highlighting the moral and ethical implications of slavery.

Mexican-American War

• A conflict that occurred from 1846 to 1848 between the United States and Mexico. It was primarily sparked by territorial disputes, including the Texas border, and American expansionist goals, ultimately resulting in significant territorial gains for the U.S., including California and New Mexico.

Wilmot Proviso

• An unsuccessful legislative proposal introduced in 1846 that sought to prohibit slavery in all territories acquired from Mexico after the Mexican-American War. Although it did not pass, it significantly intensified sectional tensions between free and slave states.

Free-Soil Party

• A political party that emerged in 1848 with a platform aimed at opposing the expansion of slavery into western territories. It attracted anti-slavery Democrats and Whigs, advocating for free soil for free men as a core principle of its ideology.

Gold Rush

• The massive influx of people to California following the discovery of gold in 1848. This event led to a rapid population boom, the establishment of new settlements, and significant economic growth in the western United States, fundamentally altering its demographic landscape.

Henry David Thoreau

• Known for his 1848 essay "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau argued for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to unjust laws, influencing future movements advocating nonviolent protest against governmental injustices.

Compromise of 1850

• A collection of legislative measures aimed at resolving the contentious issues surrounding slavery in the territories acquired during the Mexican-American War, including the admission of California as a free state and the implementation of a stronger Fugitive Slave Act, which intensified regional tensions.

Uncle Tom's Cabin

• An influential anti-slavery novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and published in 1852, which vividly depicted the harsh realities of slavery, generating empathy and support for the abolitionist cause, while provoking strong reactions from pro-slavery advocates.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

• Enacted in 1854, this law allowed the residents of Kansas and Nebraska to determine for themselves whether to allow slavery within their borders through the principle of popular sovereignty, effectively nullifying the Missouri Compromise and leading to violent conflicts in the region.

Republican Party & Radical Republicans

• The Republican Party was founded in 1854 as an anti-slavery political organization, which later included Radical Republicans who advocated for immediate emancipation and stronger policies during Reconstruction to ensure civil rights for freed slaves.

"Bleeding Kansas"

• This term refers to the violent confrontations that took place between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in Kansas from 1854 to 1861, as both sides sought to influence whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free or slave state, resulting in significant bloodshed and conflict.

Know-Nothing Party

• A political party established in the mid-1850s focused on nativism and opposition to immigration, particularly targeting immigrants and Catholics, reflecting the social tensions and changing demographics of the time.

Walt Whitman

• An influential poet whose collection "Leaves of Grass," published in 1855, celebrated the human spirit, democracy, and the diversity of America, promoting ideas of individualism and nationalism that resonated with the cultural currents of his time.

John Brown

• An ardent abolitionist who led violent raids against pro-slavery settlers in Kansas during the mid-1850s, advocating for armed resistance to end slavery, notably culminating in his infamous raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.

Election of 1856

• The presidential election in which Democratic candidate James Buchanan won against Republican John C. Frémont, with slavery emerging as a central issue, reflecting the deepening national divides over the institution of slavery.

Dred Scott v Sanford

• The significant Supreme Court case decided in 1857, which ruled that African Americans could not be considered citizens and that Congress lacked the authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories, further inflaming sectional tensions in the country.

Lincoln-Douglas Debates

• A series of debates in 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, focusing on the issue of slavery's expansion into the territories. These debates raised Lincoln’s national profile and highlighted the deepening national divide over slavery.

Harpers Ferry

• Site of John Brown's failed raid on a federal armory in 1859, which aimed to incite a slave uprising. The event became a catalyst for national scrutiny and debate over slavery, further polarizing the nation.

Election of 1860

• The election that resulted in Abraham Lincoln's victory as a Republican candidate, leading to the secession of several Southern states who perceived his stance against the expansion of slavery as a direct threat to their way of life.

Abraham Lincoln

• The 16th President of the United States, who served during the Civil War and is best known for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which began the process of freeing enslaved people in the Confederate states.

Jefferson Davis

• The president of the Confederate States of America, elected in February 1861, who played a crucial role in leading the Confederacy during the Civil War, navigating the challenges of governance during a tumultuous period.

Morrill Tariff Act

• Enacted in March 1861, this legislation raised tariffs to protect Northern industry and generate revenue to support the Union war effort as tensions escalated leading into the Civil War.

Anaconda Plan

• A strategic plan developed by Union General Winfield Scott in April 1861, aimed at blockading Southern ports and gaining control of the Mississippi River to suffocate the Confederacy's economic resources.

U.S. Grant

• Appointed the commanding general of the Union Army, Ulysses S. Grant achieved significant victories during the Civil War, starting with his capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson on February 6, 1862.

Legal Tender Act

• Passed on February 25, 1862, this act authorized the issuance of paper currency, known as "greenbacks," to finance the Union war effort, marking a significant shift in American monetary policy.

Robert E. Lee

• General of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, appointed in March 1862, he became one of the most renowned military leaders during the Civil War, known for his tactical brilliance and leadership.

Homestead Act

• Enacted in May 1862, this legislation provided 160 acres of public land to settlers who would improve it by building a dwelling and cultivating crops for at least five years, encouraging westward expansion and settlement.

Antietam

• The battle that took place on September 17, 1862, is known as the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. It marked a pivotal moment in the Civil War, providing President Lincoln the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Emancipation Proclamation

• An executive order issued on January 1, 1863, by President Lincoln that declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory, shifting the war's focus to the issue of ending slavery altogether.

Gettysburg

• Fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, this significant battle marked a turning point in the Civil War, resulting in a major Union victory and significantly diminishing Confederate morale and capability.

Vicksburg

• The capture of this key Confederate stronghold on July 4, 1863, during the Civil War allowed the Union to gain control of the Mississippi River, further dividing the Confederacy and hampering its operations.

Gettysburg Address

• A speech delivered by President Lincoln in November 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, emphasizing the principles of human equality and the purpose of the Civil War as a test of the nation's commitment to liberty and democracy.

Wade-Davis Bill

• Proposed in February 1864, this legislation sought to establish stricter terms for the reconstruction of Southern states following the Civil War, but was ultimately vetoed by President Lincoln, who favored a more lenient approach.

Election of 1864 + Andrew Johnson

• In the election of 1864, President Abraham Lincoln was re-elected alongside Democratic running mate Andrew Johnson, who was chosen for his appeal to Southern voters, while they defeated Democratic nominee George McClellan, who sought to negotiate peace with the Confederacy.

William Tecumseh Sherman and the "March to the Sea"

• This Union Army campaign, beginning November 15, 1864, was led by General Sherman through Georgia, characterized by its scorched-earth tactics aimed at dismantling the Confederate war effort and demoralizing the Southern populace.

Freedmen's Bureau

• Established in March 1865, this federal agency aimed to assist former enslaved people and poor whites in the South by providing food, housing, medical care, and education, as part of the effort to rebuild the South post-Civil War.

Appomattox Court House

• The site of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in April 1865, marking the effective end of the Civil War and paving the way for the reunification of the nation.

Thirteenth Amendment

• Ratified in December 1865, this constitutional amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States, thereby changing the legal and social landscape of the nation permanently.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

• Enacted in April 1866, this legislation aimed to secure citizenship and protect the civil rights of all persons born in the United States, regardless of race, an important step towards racial equality in the post-Civil War era.

Fourteenth Amendment

• Ratified in June 1866, this amendment granted citizenship to all individuals born in the U.S. and guaranteed equal protection of the laws, forming a cornerstone of civil rights legislation moving forward.

Reconstruction Act

• Passed in March 1867, this act divided the former Confederate states into five military districts and established requirements for readmission to the Union, setting the stage for a contentious Reconstruction era.

KKK

• Founded in April 1867, the Ku Klux Klan emerged as a white supremacist organization utilizing violence and intimidation tactics against African Americans and supporters of Reconstruction, significantly hindering civil rights progress.

Impeachment

• In 1868, President Andrew Johnson faced impeachment by the House of Representatives and subsequent trial in the Senate for violating the Tenure of Office Act, reflecting the intense political conflicts of Reconstruction.

Fifteenth Amendment

• Ratified in 1869, this amendment specified that the right to vote could not be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude, aiming to protect the voting rights of African American men.

Sharecropping

• A prevalent agricultural system from 1870 to 1950 where farmers cultivated land owned by others in exchange for a share of the crops produced, often reinforcing cycles of poverty among freed slaves and poor whites.

Election of 1876 and the "Compromise of 1877"

• The highly disputed election that resulted in a compromise agreement to resolve the crisis, leading to the withdrawal of federal troops from the South and effectively ending the Reconstruction era, while allowing Rutherford B. Hayes to become president.

Jim Crow laws and Plessy v. Ferguson

• Enforced from 1877 to 1950 and solidified by the Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, these laws institutionalized racial segregation in the South under the doctrine of "separate but equal," legitimizing discrimination against African Americans.