APUSH Period 5 Timeline

  1. I can explain the idea of Manifest Destiny and how it influenced American policies, including the acquisition of new territory from 1800 - 1848. [Mexican Cession next LT] (KC 5.2 & 5.3)

The idea of Manifest Destiny was based on the belief that the US was a superior nation and that it had a God-given right to expand its territory. This belief was fueled by a number of factors, including the rapid growth of the American population, desire for new land and resources, and the belief that the US was a beacon of democracy and freedom. The acquisition of new territory was a major part of Manifest Destiny. The US acquired the Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803, Florida from Spain in 1819, Texas in 1845, the Oregon Territory from Great Britain in 1846, along with many other states. This acquisition of new territory was significant towards the growth of the US. It provided the country with new land and resources, as well as it helped to extend the American economy and population. 

  1. I can analyze causes and effects of the Mexican-American War, including debates over the acquired territory in regards to slavery. [include the Spot Resolution & terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo] (KC 5.3)

The Spot Resolution was introduced by Abraham Lincoln in 1846, questioning the legality of the Mexican-American War. Lincoln claimed the war was unnecessary and that the US had no right to claim territory in question. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the war and ceded a vast amount of territory to the United States. This treaty included: California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. The debates over slavery in the newly acquired territories were a major source of tension between the North and the South. The South wanted to expand slavery into these territories, while the North opposed it. 

  1. I can describe debates over the true nature of slavery and the role of slavery in southern society and the southern economy. (KC 5.5)

The South argued that slavery was a necessary part of their economy and way of life. They also argued that slavery was a positive institution that benefited both slaves and slave owners. The South's desire to expand slavery into the territories led to a series of compromises that ultimately failed to resolve the issue. The Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott decision all attempted to address the issue of slavery, but they only served to further divide the nation.

  1. I can explain attempts to compromise over the issues of slavery, including the Compromise of 1850, popular sovereignty, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act & evaluate why they ultimately failed. (KC 5.4 & 5.6)

The Compromise of 1850 was an attempt to resolve the issue of slavery in the territories acquired from Mexico. It admitted California as a free state, strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act, and prohibited the slave trade in Washington D.C. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, passed in 1854, allowed for popular sovereignty to decide whether slavery would be allowed in the territories. This led to violence and bloodshed in Kansas, as pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces clashed. Both the Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act failed to resolve the issue of slavery, and instead, they further divided the nation. The Compromise of 1850 was a temporary solution that did not address the underlying issue of slavery. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, on the other hand, was a major step backward, as it allowed for the expansion of slavery into new territories. 




  1. I can describe the views and actions of abolitionists. [include William Lloyd Garrison, Sojourner Truth, Angelina Grimke, Frederick Douglass & Harriett Tubman] (KC 5.5)

William Lloyd Garrison: a leading abolitionist who believed in the immediate emancipation of all enslaved people. He founded the anti-slavery newspaper "The Liberator" in 1831 and co-founded the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833. Garrison's radical views and persistent activism were crucial in advancing the abolitionist movement.

Sojourner Truth: a former enslaved woman who became a prominent abolitionist and women's rights activist. She is best known for her speech "Ain't I a Woman?" delivered in 1851, which challenged societal norms on race and gender. Truth traveled widely, speaking out against slavery and advocating for civil rights and equality.

Angelina Grimké: an abolitionist and women's rights advocate who called for the immediate end of slavery and equality for all. She was one of the first women to speak publicly against slavery and wrote influential works like "An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South." Grimké also linked the abolitionist movement with the fight for women's rights.

Frederick Douglass: a former enslaved person who became a leading abolitionist and orator. He believed in the immediate abolition of slavery and equal rights for all. Douglass wrote influential autobiographies, delivered powerful speeches, and worked tirelessly to end slavery and promote civil rights.

Harriett Tubman: an abolitionist who believed in the freedom and equality of all people. She escaped slavery and then risked her life to lead hundreds of enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Tubman also served as a spy and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War, continuing her fight against slavery and oppression.

  1. I can explain the causes of the Civil War: both long-term and immediate. [include the Fugitive Slave Law, Dred Scott Decision, Uncle Tom’s Cabin & Election of 1860] (KC 5.6 & 5.7)

The Dred Scott decision declared that African Americans were not U.S. citizens and couldn't sue in federal court, deepening the North-South divide. Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" exposed the brutal reality of slavery, boosting the abolitionist movement. The 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed slavery's expansion, led Southern states to secede. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which mandated the return of escaped slaves, further inflamed tensions. These events, among others, culminated in the Civil War, which ultimately abolished slavery and reunified the nation.

  1. I can evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of each side: Union and Confederacy. (KC 5.8 & 5.9)

The Union had a larger population and industrial capacity, more experienced military leadership, a strong navy, and a clear goal of preserving the Union. The Confederacy had the advantage of fighting on their home ground, being more familiar with the terrain, and having a strong belief in their cause. However, the Confederacy had a smaller population and industrial capacity, fewer resources, a less experienced navy, and a lack of a clear strategy for winning the war.

  1. I can describe the major battles and strategies used during the Civil War, including the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg address.  (KC 5.8 & 5.9)

The Battle of Gettysburg (1863) was a turning point in the war. It was a major victory for the Union and marked the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. The Battle of Antietam (1862) was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history. It was a Union victory, but it did not end the war. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be freed. This was a major turning point in the war, as it shifted the focus from preserving the Union to ending slavery. The Gettysburg Address was a speech given by President Lincoln at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery in 1863. In this speech, Lincoln redefined the meaning of the Civil War, arguing that it was a struggle to preserve the Union and to ensure that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."




  1. I can describe the impacts of the Civil War on civilians and soldiers. [include black soldiers and women]  (KC 5.8 & 5.9)

Civilians suffered from food shortages, disease, and displacement. Many were forced to flee their homes, and many died from disease or starvation. Soldiers faced the horrors of battle, and many were killed or wounded. The war also had a profound impact on the lives of black Americans. Many black soldiers fought for the Union, and they played a crucial role in the war effort. After the war, black Americans faced new challenges, including discrimination and violence.

  1. I can describe the achievements and shortcomings of Reconstruction. [include Freedmen’s Bureau, Reconstruction Amendments, Radical Republicans, KKK, Black Codes, Scalawags, Carpetbaggers & Redeemers]  (KC 5.11 & 5.12)

One of the most significant achievements of Reconstruction was the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. These amendments abolished slavery, granted citizenship to African Americans, and guaranteed their right to vote. The Freedmen's Bureau, established by Congress in 1865, provided essential aid and support to formerly enslaved people, including education, healthcare, and legal assistance. However, Reconstruction also faced numerous challenges. The South was devastated by the war, and many white Southerners resisted the changes brought about by Reconstruction. The Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist organization, used violence and intimidation to suppress African American rights. The federal government's commitment to Reconstruction waned over time, and by the end of the 1870s, most Southern states had returned to white supremacy.