Mexico, Texas, and California
The U.S. war with Mexico was partially triggered by lingering tensions over the status of this massive "independent republic"--remember the Alamo!
What was Texas?
This famous Illinois leader, in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, famously declared that "a house divided against itself cannot stand."
Who was Abraham Lincoln?
This infamous Supreme Court decision declared that blacks could never be American citizens.
What was Dred Scott?
This was the first state that seceded from the Union at the end of 1860, in response to the election of Abraham Lincoln
What was South Carolina?
The re-election of this president at the end of 1864 ensured the Union would fight until the end.
Who was Abraham Lincoln?
This was considered the first major year of the Gold Rush--and now a major sports team!
What was 1849?
The disintegration of the old Whig Party inspired anti-slavery northerners to rally around this new political party; it devoted itself to stopping the spread of slavery.
What was the Republican Party?
In the 1858 Illinois Senate election, these two famous leaders had a series of debates all across the state.
Who were Lincoln and Douglas?
The Civil War began with the Confederate attack on this famous fort; only one man was killed in this battle.
What was Fort Sumter?
This amendment officially declared that slavery was now illegal in the United States--in most circumstances, that is.
What was the 13th Amendment?
This 1840's president was famous for achieving everything he promised he would--but was that a good thing?
This compromise seemed to restore peace between the North and the South--but at great cost to fugitive slaves.
What was the Compromise of 1850?
This was the name given to the violence that broke out between abolitionists and slaveowners in Kansas.
What was Bleeding Kansas?
Lincoln issued this famous document on January 1, 1863; he declared he had the power to issue it thanks to his emergency wartime powers.
What was the Emancipation Proclamation?
The fall of this famous Southern city to Union forces helped to ensure the re-election of Abraham Lincoln:
What was Atlanta?
In this famous treaty, the United States officially claimed California, New Mexico, and parts of other future states from Mexico.
What was Guadalupe Hidalgo?
This infamous 1854 act destroyed the brief peace of the 1850's, and played a major role in hurling the nation toward civil war.
What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act?
This anti-slavery Senator from Massachusetts suffered from a horrible caning, courtesy of a South Carolina slaveowner
Who was Charles Sumner?
Who was Grant?
This Confederate president was famously not as effective as Lincoln; he was ill-tempered and held grudges.
Who was Jefferson Davis?
President James Polk was willing to fight Mexico for California; many people were upset he was unwilling to fight Britain for this territory.
What was Oregon?
This famous anti-slavery novel was the biggest selling book of 1800's America.
What was Uncle Tom's Cabin?
Who was John Brown?
These two great victories occurred within days of each other in July 1863, greatly boosting the war prospects of the Union.
What were Gettysburg and Vicksburg?
His philosophy basically said this: war means cruelty, and you cannot soften it.
Who was Sherman?