AP U.S. History Unit 5 Review Flashcards heilmer

Manifest Destiny

• Dominant ideology of the time.

• Belief that Americans had a God-given right to possess the land from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.

• This idea was rooted in a sense of cultural and racial superiority, with many Americans believing they were destined to spread their values and institutions.

• Reasons for embracing Manifest Destiny:

  • Access to natural and mineral resources, which could fuel economic growth and industrialization.

  • Economic opportunities for settlers, including farming, ranching, and mining.

  • Religious refuge, as some groups sought to escape persecution and establish their own communities.

Westward Expansion: Texas

• American settlement in Texas began in the 1820s when it was still Mexican territory. The Mexican government initially encouraged American settlement to develop the sparsely populated region.

• By 1830, Americans outnumbered Mexicans in Texas by three to one.

• Most American settlers were Southern, Protestant, and brought slavery with them, despite its prohibition by the Mexican government.

• Mexican government actions that caused tension:

  • Mandated conversion to Roman Catholicism, which clashed with the settlers' Protestant beliefs.

  • Outlawed slavery in 1829, leading to significant resistance from slaveholding settlers.

  • Closed the border to further American immigration, which was largely ignored by continued influx of settlers.

• Texan Revolt (1835):

  • Texans captured the leader of the Mexican troops and forced him to sign a treaty recognizing Texan independence. This occurred after the Battle of San Jacinto, where Sam Houston's forces decisively defeated the Mexican army.

  • The Mexican government refused to recognize the treaty's legitimacy, leading to continued conflict.

• Texas applied for US statehood but was initially rejected due to the potential for war with Mexico and concerns over the expansion of slavery.

Westward Expansion: Oregon Territory

• Both the British and Americans claimed rights to the Oregon Territory, leading to a period of joint occupation.

• The British had a profitable fur trade but few settlers, primarily through the Hudson's Bay Company.

• American settlers, mainly missionaries and farmers, were more numerous, drawn by fertile land and economic opportunities.

• Americans justified their claim through manifest destiny, asserting their right to the land and its resources.

Election of 1844 & Annexation

• James K. Polk, a strong believer in manifest destiny, won the election. His victory was largely attributed to his expansionist platform.

• Polk campaigned on annexing Texas and Oregon, and acquiring California, reflecting the public's desire for territorial expansion.

• Outgoing President John Tyler annexed Texas just before leaving office, setting the stage for further conflict with Mexico.

• Polk split the Oregon Territory with the British at the 49th Parallel, resolving the boundary dispute peacefully through negotiation.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

• Conflict triggered by the annexation of Texas and a dispute over the southern border. Mexico had never formally recognized Texas independence and viewed annexation as an act of aggression.

• The US claimed the border was the Rio Grande, while Mexico claimed it was the Nueces River, about 100 miles further north.

• President Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to advance troops toward the Rio Grande, leading to a clash and the death of 11 Americans. This incident was used as a justification to declare war on Mexico.

• American troops captured Mexico City in 1847, forcing the Mexican government to negotiate a peace treaty.

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848):

  • Established the Rio Grande as the southern border of the United States.

  • Granted the US the Mexican Cession, including California and New Mexico, in exchange for $15 million.

Wilmot Proviso

• Proposed amendment during the Mexican-American War that stipulated any land gained from Mexico would be ineligible for the spread of slavery. This was introduced by David Wilmot, a Democratic Representative from Pennsylvania.

• It was struck down in the Senate, but it symbolized the growing tension over westward expansion and slavery. The proviso highlighted the divisive issue of slavery and its potential expansion into new territories.

California Gold Rush

• Gold discovered in California in 1848 led to a massive influx of settlers. This event dramatically altered California's demographics and economy.

• California's population exploded from about 14,000 in 1848 to nearly 400,000 by 1860. This rapid population growth led to California quickly seeking statehood.

Debate over the Expansion of Slavery

• Southern Position:

  • Slavery was a constitutional right, protected by the Fifth Amendment, which prevents the government from depriving citizens of property without due process.

  • The Missouri Compromise line should extend to the Pacific, allowing slavery in the southern portions of newly acquired territories.

  • Any attempt to curtail slavery was seen as a move towards its destruction, threatening the Southern way of life and economy.

• Free Soil Position:

  • Northern Democrats and Whigs wanted all land gained in the West to be free territory for white opportunity and prosperity, preventing competition from slave labor.

  • Abolitionists wanted to ban slavery everywhere, viewing it as a moral wrong and advocating for its complete eradication.

  • The Free Soil Party was formed with the goal of stopping the spread of slavery, attracting support from those who opposed slavery for both moral and economic reasons.

• Popular Sovereignty:

  • The people living in the territories should decide for themselves whether their state would be a free or slave state, allowing for local self-determination.

Compromise of 1850

• Proposed by Henry Clay to address the question of admitting California and New Mexico. This was an attempt to find a middle ground and prevent further division between the North and South.

• Key Provisions:

  • The Mexican Cession would be divided into the Utah and New Mexico territories, and each would decide the slavery question by popular sovereignty.

  • California would be admitted as a free state, upsetting the balance between free and slave states in the Senate.

  • The slave trade would be outlawed in Washington, D. C., a symbolic gesture aimed at curbing the visible aspects of slavery.

  • Congress would pass a stricter Fugitive Slave Act, requiring Northerners to assist in the capture and return of runaway slaves.

• The Fugitive Slave Act caused serious problems as it required Northerners to report runaway slaves and facilitate their return, angering abolitionists and increasing tensions between the North and South.

Increasing Tension

• The Underground Railroad helped Southern slaves escape to the North. This informal network of safe houses and routes assisted thousands of slaves in their quest for freedom.

• Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin exposed the brutal nature of slavery and fueled abolitionist sentiments in the North. The book had a profound impact on public opinion and further polarized the North and South.

• Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854):

  • It divided the Nebraska Territory into Kansas and Nebraska and allowed them to decide the slavery question by popular sovereignty. This effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise, which had previously prohibited slavery in these territories.

  • This effectively overturned the Missouri Compromise, leading to violence in Kansas. Pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers rushed into the territory to influence the vote, resulting in armed conflict.

  • Pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions fought, resulting in "Bleeding Kansas." This period of violence demonstrated the failure of popular sovereignty to peacefully resolve the issue of slavery.

• The Republican Party was formed as a coalition of free soilers and anti-slavery advocates, with the main goal of stopping the spread of slavery. Abraham Lincoln's rise to prominence within the Republican Party reflected the growing anti-slavery sentiment in the North.

Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)

• Dred Scott, a slave who lived in a free state, sued for his freedom. Scott argued that his residence in a free state entitled him to emancipation.

• Chief Justice Roger Taney ruled against Scott, stating:

  • Slaves are not citizens and cannot sue in federal court. This denied slaves any legal recourse to challenge their enslavement.

  • Slaves are property, and the Constitution protects property rights. This affirmed the legality of slavery and its protection under the Constitution.

  • Slavery could exist anywhere in the United States. This effectively opened all territories to slavery, further inflaming tensions between the North and South.

John Brown's Raid

• In 1859, John Brown led a raid on the Federal Arsenal at Harpers Ferry to arm slaves and incite an uprising. Brown hoped to trigger a widespread slave rebellion that would dismantle the institution of slavery.

• The rebellion was quickly suppressed, and Brown was hanged. His execution further polarized the nation, with many in the North viewing him as a martyr and Southerners seeing him as a terrorist.

• The event led Southerners to believe that the North intended to dismantle the South with slave rebellions. This fear contributed to the growing sentiment for secession.

Election of 1860

• The Northern Democrats nominated Stephen Douglas, and the Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln. The Democratic Party was deeply divided over the issue of slavery, leading to the nomination of two candidates.

• Lincoln won the election without a single Southern electoral vote. His victory signaled the end of Southern political dominance and fueled fears of federal intervention in the issue of slavery.

• Southern states seceded from the Union, fearing they had no voice in the country's political future regarding slavery. This marked the beginning of the Civil War and the dissolution of the United States.

Secession and the Confederacy

• South Carolina was the first state to secede in December 1860. South Carolina had a long history of advocating for states' rights and opposition to federal authority.

• Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana followed suit. These states were heavily reliant on slave labor and feared federal interference with their way of life.

• The secessionist states formed the Confederate States of America. They elected Jefferson Davis as their president and established a separate government based on the principles of states' rights and the protection of slavery.

• The Confederate Constitution limited federal power and enshrined slavery as a perpetual institution. This constitution explicitly protected the institution of slavery and emphasized the sovereignty of individual states.

The Civil War

• The war began with the attack on Fort Sumter. Confederate forces fired on the federal fort in Charleston, South Carolina, marking the start of the armed conflict.

• Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas joined the Confederacy. These states were initially hesitant to secede but ultimately joined the Confederacy after Lincoln called for troops to suppress the rebellion.

• Delaware, Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland were slave states but remained in the Union. These states were strategically important to the Union and were kept in the Union through a combination of political maneuvering and military pressure.

• Lincoln's initial goal was to save the Union, but the war eventually became about ending slavery as well. The Emancipation Proclamation transformed the war into a moral crusade against slavery.

• Both the North and the South had distinct advantages. For the South they were, fighting a defensive war and better generals. The North had the advatages of population, a robust navy, home to much of the nation's manufacturing, held about 70% of the nation's railroads, and a well established central government and a very vigorous executive.

• Union strategy:

  • Anaconda Plan: a naval blockade of Southern seaports and control of the Mississippi River. This strategy aimed to strangle the South economically and divide the Confederacy.

• Confederate strategy relied on help from foreign countries using cotton diplomacy. The South hoped that European powers, particularly Great Britain and France, would recognize the Confederacy and provide military and economic assistance in order to secure continued access to Southern cotton.

Emancipation Proclamation

• Issued on 09/22/1862, it declared that all enslaved people in the rebellious territories would be free on January 1 of the next year. Lincoln issued the proclamation as a military necessity, hoping to weaken the Confederacy and bolster the Union war effort.

• Slavery remained legal in the border states that were still in the Union. Lincoln feared that emancipating slaves in the border states would push them to secede.

• The proclamation enlarged the purpose and scope of the war to include the abolishment of slavery. This transformed the war into a struggle for human freedom and equality.

• The proclamation convinced Britain not to send aid to the South. Britain had already abolished slavery and was reluctant to support a nation that relied on slave labor.

• The proclamation also empowered enslaved blacks to flee their plantations and join the Union army. This provided the Union army with a new source of manpower and further weakened the Confederacy.

Turning Points of the War

• Union victory in the Battle of Vicksburg granted the North control over the entire Mississippi River. This effectively split the Confederacy in two and opened up new avenues for Union troop movements.

• After the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. This short speech eloquently articulated the Union's war aims and the importance of preserving democracy.

• Ulysses S. Grant became the commanding general of the Union army. Grant's aggressive and relentless tactics ultimately led to the defeat of the Confederacy.

• General William Tecumseh Sherman invaded Georgia and marched to the sea, devastating the land. Sherman's march was intended to break the will of the Southern people and hasten the end of the war.

• General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House on 04/09/1865. This marked the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction.

Reconstruction

• The chief question was whether the South should be treated with leniency or as conquered foes. This debate shaped the course of Reconstruction and had long-lasting consequences for the South.

• Lincoln favored leniency and believed the South had never actually left the Union. He sought to reintegrate the Southern states quickly and painlessly.

• Lincoln's Plan:

  • 10% of the population swore an oath of allegiance to the Union and the Constitution, then those states could re establish their state governments. This was intended to make it easier for Southern states to rejoin the Union.

  • Each state ratified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery. This was a condition for readmission to the Union.

Andrew Johnson and Radical Republicans

• Andrew Johnson became president after Lincoln's assassination and attempted to carry out Lincoln's plan for Reconstruction. Johnson, a Southern Democrat, held views that were often at odds with the Radical Republicans in Congress.

• Johnson clashed with the Radical Republicans in Congress, who wanted to punish the South and secure civil rights for blacks. The Radical Republicans believed that the South should be fundamentally transformed and that the federal government had a responsibility to protect the rights of African Americans.

• Johnson vetoed legislation aimed at both economic gains for whites and civil rights for blacks, alienating both Radical and Moderate Republicans. His vetoes demonstrated his opposition to the Radical Republicans' agenda and further widened the divide between the executive and legislative branches.

• The Radical Republicans successfully shifted the process of Reconstruction from a presidential one to a congressional one. This gave Congress greater control over Reconstruction policy and allowed them to pursue their goals more effectively.

Key Legislation of Radical Reconstruction

• Civil Rights Act of 1866:

  • Declared all blacks citizens of the United States. This granted African Americans the same rights and privileges as white citizens.

  • Overturned the Dred Scott decision. This invalidated the Supreme Court's ruling that African Americans were not citizens and had no right to sue in federal court.

  • Johnson vetoed, but Congress overrode his veto. This demonstrated the Radical Republicans' determination to protect the rights of African Americans, even in the face of presidential opposition.

• Fourteenth Amendment:

  • All persons born or naturalized in the United States were citizens. This constitutionalized the principles of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and provided a legal basis for protecting the rights of African Americans.

  • No state could deny a citizen of any race equal protection of the laws. This guaranteed equal treatment under the law for all citizens, regardless of race.

• Reconstruction Act:

  • Divided the South into five zones subject to military occupation. This was intended to ensure that Southern states complied with federal Reconstruction policies.

  • Increased requirements for states rejoining the Union, including ratifying the Fourteenth Amendment and adding clauses in their state constitutions providing for universal male suffrage. This aimed to establish a more democratic and egalitarian society in the South.

Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

• Impeachment = the trial and the process to remove someone from office- NOT the removal itself.

• Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act in 1867, preventing the president from removing a cabinet member without congressional approval. This was designed to protect Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, a Radical Republican, from being fired by Johnson.

• Johnson violated the act by firing his Secretary of War. This provided the Radical Republicans with a pretext to impeach Johnson.

• Congress impeached Johnson but failed to remove him from office by one vote. This marked a significant moment in American history and demonstrated the limits of presidential power.

Fifteenth Amendment

• Ratified in 1870; protected the voting rights of former slaves.

Reconstruction Amendments

• Thirteenth Amendment: Abolished slavery.

• Fourteenth Amendment: Made all persons born or naturalized in the United States citizens and guaranteed them equal protection of the laws.

• Fifteenth Amendment: Protected the voting rights of former slaves.

Society in the South During Reconstruction

• Newly freed blacks established black schools and institutions of higher learning. These institutions provided educational opportunities for African Americans who had been denied education under slavery.

• Some blacks were elected to political office. This marked a significant shift in Southern politics and gave African Americans a voice in their own governance.

• Black schools emerged like Morehouse and Howard Colleges.

• Black independence from white control proved elusive. African Americans continued to face discrimination and oppression in the South.

• Sharecropping:

  • Landlords provided seed and farm supplies in exchange for a share in the harvest. This system perpetuated a cycle of debt and dependence for many African American farmers.

  • Many sharecroppers remained indebted to landowners, creating a new form of servitude. This system often resembled slavery in its exploitative nature.

White Supremacy

• The notion of white supremacy continued to dominate many in the South. This ideology justified the oppression and exploitation of African Americans.

• The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was formed in 1867 to terrorize blacks into submission and gain control over local politics. The KKK used violence and intimidation to suppress African American voting rights and maintain white supremacy.

• Southern legislatures adopted black codes, which prevented blacks from borrowing money to buy land, owning land, testifying against whites in court, and basically established the racial segregation of Southern society. These codes aimed to restrict the freedom and rights of African Americans and maintain a system of racial hierarchy.

End of Reconstruction

• By 1877, most federal troops had been withdrawn from the South. This marked the end of federal efforts to protect the rights of African Americans in the South.

• The election of 1877 between Rutherford B. Hayes (Republican) and Samuel J. Tilden (Democrat) was contested. The election was highly controversial, with both candidates claiming victory.

• The Compromise of 1877 allowed Hayes to have the presidency in return for the removal of all federal troops from the South. This effectively ended Reconstruction and allowed Southern states to govern themselves without federal intervention.