American History Exam

Adams-Onís Treaty (1819):

• Who: U.S. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and Spanish Minister to the U.S. Luís de Onís.

• Where: The treaty affected territories in North America, specifically Florida and parts of Texas.

• What:

  • Spain ceded Florida to the U.S.

  • Spain gave up claims to the Oregon Territory.

  • The U.S. gained land, and Spain retained parts of Texas (which would later become a key issue).

  • The northern boundary of California was set by Spain.

• Significance:

  • It clarified borders and ended Spain’s territorial claims in the U.S., while furthering American expansion.

  • It also marked a key moment in the negotiation of borders between the U.S. and European powers.

Missouri Compromise (1820):

• Who: Henry Clay, who proposed the compromise.

• Where: The compromise applied to U.S. territories, especially in the West.

• What:

  • The Missouri Compromise Line was established at the 36°30’ parallel.

  • Territories north of this line were designated as free states.

  • Territories south of this line were designated as slave states.

  • Missouri was admitted as a slave state, and Maine as a free state.

• Significance:

  • It temporarily resolved the debate over the expansion of slavery into new territories but set a precedent for dividing the nation along sectional lines.

  • It postponed the inevitable conflict over slavery until the Civil War.

Monroe Doctrine (1823):

• Who: U.S. President James Monroe and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams.

• Where: The doctrine applied to the Western Hemisphere, including North and South America.

• What:

  • The U.S. declared it would not interfere with existing European colonies in the Americas.

  • However, the U.S. would oppose any new European colonies or interference in the Americas.

• Significance:

  • It marked a shift in U.S. foreign policy, asserting the U.S. as a protector of the Western Hemisphere and preventing European colonization.

  • It became a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy for many years.

Indian Removal Act (1830):

• Who: President Andrew Jackson.

• Where: Affected Native American tribes in the southeastern U.S., specifically the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole tribes.

• What:

  • The act authorized the forced relocation of Native Americans to lands west of the Mississippi River (modern-day Oklahoma).

  • It was part of Jackson’s policy to open up land for white settlers.

  • Some tribes were relocated voluntarily, but many were forcibly moved.

  • By 1837, 46,000 Native Americans had been moved, with many deaths along the way.

• Significance:

  • It disrupted the lives and cultures of Native American tribes, leading to the infamous "Trail of Tears," where thousands died during the forced relocation.

  • It opened vast tracts of land to white settlers and the expansion of slavery.

Santa Anna:

• Who: Antonio López de Santa Anna, President of Mexico.

• Where: Mexico, particularly Texas.

• What:

  • Santa Anna became the president of Mexico in 1833 and later a dictator in 1834.

  • His leadership led to the Texas Revolution, as Americans in Texas rebelled against Mexican authority.

  • In 1836, Santa Anna was captured, and he signed a treaty recognizing Texas' independence (though Mexico did not officially recognize it).

• Significance:

  • Santa Anna's actions contributed to the independence of Texas and the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.

  • His policies and dictatorial rule sparked discontent in Texas, leading to rebellion.

Current Political Parties (1830s-1850s):

• Who: The Democratic Party, the Whig Party, and later the Republican Party.

• Where: United States.

• What:

  • After the Federalist Party faded in the early 1800s, the Democratic-Republican Party split into two main factions: the Democratic Party and the Whig Party.

  • The Whig Party dissolved in the 1850s, with many Northern Whigs forming the Republican Party, while Southern Whigs joined the Democratic Party.

• Significance:

  • This shift in political parties highlighted the increasing division between the North and South over issues like slavery, which would play a major role in the coming Civil War.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848):

• Who: President James K. Polk, U.S. General Winfield Scott, Mexican forces, and President Santa Anna.

• Where: U.S. and Mexican territories, including Texas and Northern Mexico.

• What:

  • The war began over a dispute about the Texas border. The U.S. claimed the Rio Grande as the border, while Mexico claimed the Nueces River.

  • U.S. forces, led by Winfield Scott, invaded Mexico, eventually capturing Mexico City in 1847.

  • The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.

• Significance:

  • The U.S. gained vast territories, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado, effectively expanding its borders to the Pacific Ocean.

  • The war contributed to the sectional tensions over slavery, as new territories were added, reigniting the debate over whether they would be slave or free states.

Texas and Its Entrance to the United States:

• Who: The Republic of Texas, President John Tyler, and the U.S. Congress.

• Where: Texas, the U.S., and Mexico.

• What:

  • After gaining independence from Mexico in 1836, Texas remained a republic for nearly a decade.

  • The U.S. initially hesitated to annex Texas due to concerns about inflaming the slavery issue.

  • In 1845, Texas was admitted as a slave state under President John Tyler.

• Significance:

  • Texas’ annexation led to increased tensions with Mexico, which considered it an act of aggression.

  • It set the stage for the Mexican-American War, which ultimately led to the U.S. gaining much of the Southwest.

Manifest Destiny:

• What: The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

• Significance:

  • Manifest Destiny drove U.S. territorial expansion, including the annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the acquisition of Oregon Territory.

  • It contributed to the displacement of Native Americans and the spread of slavery into new territories.

Guided Readings (from class):

• These are focused on significant events, laws, and treaties that shaped U.S. history, such as the Missouri Compromise, Indian Removal Act, and the Mexican-American War.

• Important individuals like Andrew Jackson, Santa Anna, and President Polk played pivotal roles in these events, and understanding their actions is key to grasping the political dynamics of the time.

Seneca Falls:

• Where: Seneca Falls, New York.

• Who: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and other women’s rights activists.

• What: The first-ever women’s rights convention in 1848.

  • The convention addressed issues like women's suffrage, property rights, and legal equality.

  • The “Declaration of Sentiments,” modeled after the Declaration of Independence, was drafted at this event, outlining the demands for equal rights for women.

• Significance:

  • It marked the beginning of the organized women’s rights movement in the U.S.

  • The event laid the groundwork for future campaigns for women’s suffrage and gender equality.

Declaration of Sentiments:

• What: A document presented at the Seneca Falls Convention.

  • It listed grievances women had against societal norms, especially regarding voting, property, and legal rights.

  • The document was a direct call for women’s equality, demanding rights similar to those of men.

• Significance:

  • It was a crucial moment in the history of the women’s rights movement, serving as a foundational document for the cause.

Age of Reform:

• What: A period in the early to mid-19th century when various social movements gained momentum in the U.S.

  • Key movements included the abolition of slavery, women’s rights, and temperance (alcohol reform).

• Significance:

  • These movements led to significant societal changes and set the stage for the Civil War and other pivotal moments in U.S. history.

Types of Reform:

• Temperance:

  • A social movement to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption due to its perceived negative effects on society, including crime, poverty, and family breakdown.

• Growth of Education:

  • Led by reformers like Horace Mann, the movement aimed to expand public education and make it available to more children, including those from poorer backgrounds.

  • Schools were established, and the quality of education improved, especially in the Northern states.