apush period 5
I. The Road to War (1844–1861)
1. Expansion Fever: “Manifest Destiny”
The story begins with America obsessed with expanding westward. Many Americans believed it was their God-given mission—their manifest destiny—to spread across the continent.
This desire for land immediately created one huge issue:
Would new territories become free states or slave states?
2. Election of 1844 – Polk + Expansion
James K. Polk ran on the promise of expanding into Texas, Oregon, and California.
When Polk won, it was basically a green light for expansion.
3. Texas Annexation (1845) → Mexican-American War (1846–1848)
The U.S. annexed Texas, angering Mexico.
Border disputes flared.
Polk sent troops; shots were fired.
The Mexican-American War began.
This war was important because:
The U.S. won huge land: the Mexican Cession (1848) — today’s CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM, and more.
But again, the same question erupted louder:
Will this new land allow slavery?
4. Wilmot Proviso (1846)
A northern attempt to ban slavery in all land gained from Mexico.
It failed…
…but it showed the nation’s divide crystal clearly.
5. Gold Rush (1848) → California wants to be a state
Suddenly, tons of settlers rushed into California. CA wanted to join as a free state.
This threatened the balance of power between free and slave states.
6. Compromise of 1850
To avoid war for now, Henry Clay and Stephen Douglas crafted the compromise:
CA = free state
Slave trade banned in D.C.
Popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico
Fugitive Slave Act strengthened → northerners became furious seeing free Black people kidnapped into slavery
This compromise delayed conflict but didn’t fix anything—actually, it made both sides angrier.
II. The Nation Unravels (1850s)
1. Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book exposed slavery’s brutality.
Southerners claimed it was “lies.”
Northerners became more anti-slavery than ever.
This increased moral outrage.
2. Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)
Stephen Douglas wanted a railroad and needed Kansas/Nebraska organized.
His proposal:
Repeal the Missouri Compromise line
Let settlers vote (popular sovereignty)
But this destroyed decades of peace.
Everyone flooded into Kansas to sway the vote → “Bleeding Kansas” (1854–1856):
murders
riots
two rival governments
This proved that popular sovereignty didn’t work.
3. Birth of the Republican Party (1854)
Formed by northern Whigs + Free Soilers.
Platform: STOP the spread of slavery.
This terrified the South.
4. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
Supreme Court ruled:
African Americans aren’t citizens
Congress cannot ban slavery in any territory
This basically made slavery legal everywhere, and the North lost its mind.
5. Lincoln–Douglas Debates (1858)
Lincoln argued slavery was morally wrong.
Douglas defended popular sovereignty.
This made Lincoln a national figure.
6. John Brown’s Raid (1859)
A white abolitionist tried to start a slave revolt by raiding Harper’s Ferry.
He failed, but the South became convinced the North wanted to destroy them.
7. Election of 1860
Lincoln won — without winning a single southern state.
To the South, this meant:
They had lost political power forever
Their slavery system was now in danger
So…
8. Southern Secession (1860–1861)
South Carolina seceded first.
Others followed, forming the Confederate States of America.
The country was officially broken.
III. The Civil War (1861–1865)
1. Fort Sumter (April 1861)
Confederates fired on a U.S. fort in South Carolina.
Lincoln called for troops.
The Civil War began.
2. Early Goals
Lincoln said the war’s goal was to preserve the Union, not end slavery.
But…
3. Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
After the Union victory at Antietam, Lincoln issued the proclamation:
Freed enslaved people in rebelling states
Made the war about ending slavery
Prevented Europe from helping the Confederacy
Allowed Black men to join the Union Army
4. Turning Points
Gettysburg (1863): Confederacy’s last major invasion of the North
Vicksburg (1863): Union gains control of the Mississippi River
Sherman's March (1864): Total war → destroys Southern morale
5. Surrender (April 1865)
Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House.
The Union was saved.
Slavery was effectively dead.
6. Lincoln’s Assassination
Just days later, Lincoln was killed by John Wilkes Booth.
This changed Reconstruction dramatically.
IV. Reconstruction (1865–1877)
After the war, the question became:
How do we rebuild the South and integrate 4 million freedmen?
1. Presidential Reconstruction (1865–1867)
President Andrew Johnson was lenient:
Allowed ex-Confederates back into politics
Didn’t protect freedpeople
Southern states created Black Codes:
Restrict movement
Force labor contracts
Essentially re-create slavery
Congress was furious.
2. Congressional (Radical) Reconstruction (1867–1877)
Radical Republicans took over:
Divided the South into military districts
Forced states to ratify the 14th Amendment (citizenship + equal protection)
Guaranteed Black men the vote via 15th Amendment
3. Freedmen’s Bureau (1865–1872)
Helped freedpeople with:
Schools
Food
Labor contracts
Huge step for Black education.
4. Southern Backlash
White supremacist groups (e.g., KKK) used violence and intimidation.
Sharecropping developed:
Freedpeople farmed land for a share of crops
Kept them economically trapped
5. Reconstruction Falls Apart
Why?
North grew tired
Economic panic of 1873 distracted the country
Southern “Redeemers” regained control
6. Election of 1876 → Compromise of 1877
A disputed election led to a deal:
Republicans get the presidency (Rutherford B. Hayes)
Troops removed from the South → Reconstruction ends
The South quickly passed Jim Crow laws once federal protection disappeared.
📚 Period 5 Big Themes
Expansion caused conflict over slavery
Repeated compromises delayed war but couldn’t stop it
Civil War centered on preserving the Union → ended slavery
Reconstruction tried to rebuild but ultimately failed to protect Black rights long-term