APUSH Period 5 Speed Review

Period 5 Overview

• Period 5 covers the expansion of the U.S. and the events leading up to the Civil War.

Manifest Destiny

• Definition: Coined by journalist John O'Sullivan, it refers to the belief that it was America's God-given duty to expand across the continent.

• Promoter: James K. Polk, in his 1844 election campaign.

• Slogan: "54-40 or fight," promising to acquire Oregon territory from Britain.

• Gold Discovery: The 1848 discovery of gold in California heightened desires for westward expansion.

• Westward Trails: Many Americans traveled the Oregon, Santa Fe, and Mormon trails, seeking economic opportunities despite hardships.

Texas Annexation

• Background: After Texas gained independence, it sought admission to the Union.

• Congressional Concerns: Fears over upsetting the balance between free and slave states post-Missouri Compromise.

• Annexation: Texas was annexed in 1845 under President Polk, provoking a border dispute with Mexico.

Mexican-American War

• Border Dispute: Conflict ensued over the Rio Grande boundary.

• Key Event: Fighting led to the Mexican-American War.

• Wilmot Proviso: Proposed to ban slavery in territories gained from Mexico; showcased sectional tensions and Southern fears of abolition.

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848): Ended the war, expanding U.S. territory to the Pacific and solidifying the Rio Grande as the southern boundary.

Compromise of 1850

• Background: Tensions rose over whether to allow slavery in new territories.

• Provisions:

  • California admitted as a free state.

  • Popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico.

  • Banned the slave trade in Washington, D.C.

  • Strengthened the Fugitive Slave Law, upsetting Northerners.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

• Impact: Allowed for popular sovereignty, nullifying the 36-30 line from the Missouri Compromise.

• Bleeding Kansas: Violence erupted between pro- and anti-slavery factions in the struggle for territory.

• Formation of the Republican Party: Unified opposition against the expansion of slavery.

Abolitionist Movement

• Key Figures:

  • Harriet Tubman: Helped 300 slaves escape via the Underground Railroad.

  • Harriet Beecher Stowe: Authored "Uncle Tom's Cabin," illustrating slavery's brutality.

• Southern Defense: George Fitzhugh claimed Northern labor conditions were worse than slavery.

Dred Scott Case (1857)

• Supreme Court Decision: Declared African Americans could not sue for citizenship; made the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

• Implications: Setback for abolitionists and heightened sectional tensions.

John Brown's Raid

• Harper's Ferry (1859): Aimed at inciting a slave rebellion; considered a martyr by some, increasing Southern fears.

Economic and Social Differences

• North: Diverse economy based on manufacturing and trade.

• South: Relied heavily on plantation agriculture, advocating for states' rights regarding slavery.

• Tariff Debates: Favored Northern industry, harmed Southern cotton sales.

1860 Presidential Election

• Candidates: Four candidates, split Democratic ticket led to Abraham Lincoln's election without Southern votes.

• Southern Secession: South Carolina seceded, followed by six other states forming the Confederate States of America, led by Jefferson Davis.

Civil War Overview

• Northern Advantages: Larger population, Navy control, financial resources, infrastructure, farmland.

• Southern Resilience: Motivated to maintain slavery, had strong military leadership (e.g., Robert E. Lee).

Key Civil War Events

• Fort Sumter: War's official start.

• Antietam: Prevented foreign intervention; Union victory.

• Gettysburg: Turning point, halted Southern invasion.

• Atlanta Campaign: Sherman’s total war strategy undermined Southern morale.

• Appomattox: Where the Confederacy surrendered.

Lincoln’s Leadership

• Civil Liberties: Restricted during the war (habeas corpus suspension).

• Emancipation Proclamation: Freed slaves in rebelling states, redefined war's purpose.

• Gettysburg Address: Reinforced equality and freedom as war goals.

Reconstruction Era

• Lincoln’s Plan: Quick restoration requiring 10% allegiance.

• Johnson’s Plan: Required Southern states to revoke secession and abolish slavery; pardoned many leaders.

• Radical Republicans: Advocated for full citizenship rights for freedmen; used military force for implementation.

Achievements

• Freedmen's Bureau: Provided essentials and education for freedmen.

• Reconstruction Amendments:

  • 13th: Abolished slavery.

  • 14th: Defined citizenship.

  • 15th: Granted voting rights regardless of race.

Challenges and Failures

• Jim Crow Laws: Instituted segregation and disenfranchisement.

• Increased Racial Violence: Rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

• End of Reconstruction: Compromise of 1877; Hayes became president in exchange for withdrawal of federal troops.

Exam Preparation

• Causation Questions: Causes and effects of Manifest Destiny and Civil War sentiments.

• Comparison Questions: Union vs. Confederacy, including strengths and strategies.

• Change and Continuity: Analyze how Reconstruction changed or failed to change American society.