Westward Expansion
Describe the westward movement in terms of its impact on industrial development.
- Opened up new markets for manufactured goods.
- Expansion of railroads.
- Resource Extraction (Especially Mining - gold, minerals)
- Agricultural Development (Heightened machinery)
- Urbanization (Rising new, big cities)
- Native American Displacement (Forcing them out)
What was the Kansas Nebraska Act? What did it establish?
- Created the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska
- Repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 (This Compromise admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state).
- Popular Sovereignty: Political doctrine which stated that the people who lived in a region should determine for themselves the nature of their government (whether or not to have slavery).
Describe the major events that take place between 1850 and 1861 that lead to the Civil War.
- Compromise of 1850
- Kansas-Nebraska Act
- Dred Scott Decision
- Bleeding Kansas
- Harper's Ferry Raid
- Lincoln's Election
Describe factors favoring a Union victory.
- The North had plans to invade, occupy, and destroy.
- They were very confident of a victory.
- Preponderance of people and superior economy.
- Believed (incorrectly) secession not popular in South.
- Though the South would lose the will to fight.
Describe the origins and development of American democracy between 1776 and 1865.
- Started with the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence.
- Articles of Confederations and the Constitution.
- The shift of political parties (Federalists, Dem-Reps, Whigs)
- Expansion of suffrage (Voting rights).
- Abolitionist Movement.
- Civil War.
- Reconstruction Era.
Describe the westward movement in terms of its impact on changes in American society since the Jacksonian Era.
- Demographic Changes (Mixing diverse groups/ethnicities)
- Economic Development (New Industries - Mining)
- Native American Displacement (Forcing them out)
- Political Tensions (Between North and South - led to Civil War)
- Manifest Destiny
What was Bleeding Kansas?
- Settlers moving into the Kansas Territory from Missouri brought their slaves with them.
- The New England Emigrant Aid Company began organizing and equipping northern settlers to move to Kansas and oppose slavery.
- Both sides were armed and willing to fight and periods of serious violence ensued.
Explain why the Compromise of 1850 could delay a Civil War but the Crittenden Compromise could not.
The Compromise of 1850 could temporarily delay a Civil War because it addressed the immediate issue of slavery in newly acquired territories, providing a solution that appeased both Northern and Southern factions to a certain extent.
The Crittenden Compromise failed to do so because it was proposed too late and was seen as too favorable to the South and pushed the country closer to war.
Describe factors favoring a Rebel victory.
- The South was ready to defend, fight with determination, and outlast the North.
- They had foreign support due to cotton exports, had highly ranked generals, defended their own soil, and wanted to spare no one.
Discuss how the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the 13th Amendment reflect the development of American democracy.
- The Declaration of Independence outlined the inherent rights of individuals (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness).
- The Constitution created the framework for a representative government based on these principles.
- The 13th Amendment advanced democracy by abolishing slavery.
- All of these led to the progression of inclusivity and just democracy.
Describe the westward movement in terms of its impact on political alignment between regions.
- Manifest Destiny
- Changes in foreign policy.
- Territorial disputes.
- Political debate over the balance between free and slave states.
- Expansion of slavery debates.
Describe the Mexican War and its major impacts and outcomes.
- Conflict between the US and Mexico from 1846 to 1848.
- Began over the dispute of Texas annexation.
- Ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
- US gained control of new territories (CA, NM, TX, AZ, NV, UT, and parts of CO and WY).
- Led to Manifest Destiny, Slavery Expansion, California Gold Rush.
Explain why the Civil War took place and why individual men (and women) fought in the war.
The Civil War erupted due to disagreements between the North and South over issues of slavery; North wanted to abolish, but South wanted to expand.
Individuals (men and women) fought for various reasons; loyalty to their states, beliefs about rights, economic interests, personal motivations, sense of duty.
Women were not outwardly allowed to fight, so many dressed up as men to do so.
Explain the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation.
- Declared freedom for enslaved people in the Confederate states.
- Shifted the focus of the war to abolishing slavery.
Describe the 3 political "party systems" before 1861; their origin, leadership, programs, and relationship to slavery.
1st Party System
- Emerged after the Constitution was ratified.
- Federalists and Democratic Republicans.
- Federalists were neutral on slavery and Dem-Reps defended slavery.
2nd Party System
- Arose in the 1820s after the fracture of the Dem-Rep Party.
- Democratic Party and Whig Party.
Democrats were pro-slavery and the Whigs were divided on the issue.
3rd Party System
- Arose due to the heightened issues of slavery.
- Democratic Party, Republican Party, Know-Nothing Party
- Democrats were pro-slavery, Republicans were opposed to slavery, and the Know-Nothings were more focused on anti-immigration but were generally anti-slavery.
Describe the westward movement in terms of its impact on sectional conflict between the North and South.
- Slavery (Expand? Keep? Abolish?)
- Political Battles (Free State? Slave State? Union? Confederacy?)
- Manifest Destiny (Expand Westward for Slavery or Industry?)
- Economy (Reliant on Slave labor or prospering goods?)
- Led to violence and Reform Movements (Bleeding Kansas, Abolitionist Movements, formed the Republican Party, etc.)
Describe the Compromise of 1850. What were the major highlights?
- Last of the Great Compromises.
- Slave Trade in DC was abolished, but slave ownership continued.
- CA was accepted into the Union as free.
- Governments in NM and UT were organized.
- TX received $10 million in exchange of land it gained during the Mexican War. Set present land boundaries.
Explain Northern and Southern goals in the Civil War.
North: Preserving the Union, Restricting Slavery, Economic Power.
South: Secession and Independence, Protecting Slavery, States' Rights.
Explain the significance of the Battle of Antietam.
- Turning point.
- Halted the Confederate invasion of the North.
- Resulted in the highest single-day casualties.
- Provided Lincoln with enough leverage to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
Describe the nature of and reasons for the territorial expansion of the US.
- Manifest Destiny
- Westward Movement
- Louisiana Purchase
- Government Intervention
- Religious Revival
- Economic Promise
- Railroad Growth
- Discovery of resources
Define Manifest Destiny and explain its justification for the nation's westward expansion.
- The United States had the divine right to expand westward across the continent from "sea to shining sea".
- Justified because it was a "God given right" to settle and civilize.
- Had a lot of expenses, especially of Native Americans.
Describe The Free Soil Party and how it transformed into the Republican Party.
- The Free Soil Party opposed the extension of slavery into the western territories and wanted to stop the expansion of slavery all together.
- The Republican Party was formed by Conscience Whigs, Anti-Slavery Democrats, and Free Soilers and was officially established in 1854.
Explain the significance of the Battle of Gettysburg.
- Considered the turning point of the war that shifted the favor to the Union.
- High Casualties.
- Issued a higher interest of peace with the South.
- Gettysburg Address.
Describe the results of the Civil War.
- Union victory.
- End of Slavery.
- Federal Power increased.
- Economic Impact (South declined, North boomed).
- Reconstruction (Rebuild South and integrate formally enslaved people into society).
- Social Change (civil rights movements to come).
Explain how religion was a major factor throughout American history and how it impacted the Abolitionist Movement.
- Many people drew heavily on Christian teachings about equality nd human dignity to argue against slavery.
- 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings
- Churches and religious communities were important hubs for organizing and spreading abolitionist messages.
- Offered an escape from war and gave hope to the people.