Topics 5.2-5.7

Question 1

Manifest Destiny

Answer 1

The popular belief that the United States had the divine mission to extend its power and civilization across North America

Question 2

“Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!”

Answer 2

• A slogan, meaning that the United States ought to claim all the territory up to the 54° 40’ in the Oregon Territory or fight Britain for it
• Encouraged Manifest Destiny

Question 3

James K. Polk

Answer 3

A “dark horse” candidate for the Democratic Party who won the Election of 1844 and who advocated for Manifest Destiny

Question 4

Alamo

Answer 4

The site of the Texan defeat during the Texan Revolution

Question 5

Webster-Ashburton Treaty (1842)

Answer 5

Disputed US-British territory was resolved - split Maine and British-Canada, and settled the boundary of the Minnesota Territory

Question 6

Mexican-American War

Answer 6

A military dispute between Mexico and the United States, caused by the annexation of Texas and the United States’ desire for California and New Mexico

Question 7

Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago

Answer 7

Mexico ceded 1/3 of its territory to the United States, while the United States paid $15 million to Mexico for such territory

Question 8

Mexican Cession

Answer 8

Under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago, the United States took possession of California and New Mexico, and paid Mexico $15 million for them

Question 9

Wilmot Proviso

Answer 9

A proposed amendment to an appropriations bill that would forbid slavery in any territory acquired by Mexico that did not pass

Question 10

Ostend Manifesto

Answer 10

A scheme for the United States to purchase Cuba from Spain for $120 million

Question 11

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850)

Answer 11

A treaty between the United States and Britain, stating that neither nation would attempt to take control of any future canal route in Central America

Question 12

Gadsen Purchase (1853)

Answer 12

The purchase of a small land strip from Mexico, forming the southern sections of New Mexico and Arizona

Question 13

Free soil movement

Answer 13

Aimed at stopping the expansion of slavery into the western territories, arguing “free men on free soil”

Question 14

Popular sovereignty

Answer 14

Government and policies are based on the consent of the people, or their vote

Question 15

Compromise of 1850

Answer 15

Five laws passed that dealt with the issue of slavery and territorial expansion, including admitting California as a free state and passing the Fugitive Slave Law

Question 16

Panic of 1857

Answer 16

A financial panic caused by the declining international economy and the over-expansion of the domestic economy

Question 17

Nativism

Answer 17

The belief that native-born Americans were superior to foreigners

Question 18

Underground Railroad

Answer 18

A secret network of antislavery Americans who helped fugitive slaves escape to free states

Question 19

Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852)

Answer 19

A novel about the injustices of slavery that fueled the antislavery movements, while spurring Southern opposition

Question 20

“Bleeding Kansas” (1855-1860)

Answer 20

A period of violent conflict in the Kansas Territory, driven by the struggle between pro-slavery and antislavery groups over slavery’s legality in Kansas

Question 21

Lecompton Constitution (1857)

Answer 21

Pro-slavery constitution written for Kansas’ admission into the Union in opposition to the antislavery Topeka Constitution, where Congress eventually rejected it

Question 22

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)

Answer 22

Established the Kansas and Nebraska territories and made it so that popular sovereignty would decide the issue of slavery within these territories

Question 23

Republican Party

Answer 23

A political party formed in 1854 to stop the spread of slavery, joined by antislavery ex-Whigs and Democrats

Question 24

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Answer 24

• Since slaves are property of their masters, they are not granted freedom when moved into a free state/territory
• Slaves are not citizens are therefore have no right to sue

Question 25

Sumner-Brooks Incident (1856)

Answer 25

An incident where Senator Sumner insulted Senator Butler in an abolitionist speech, and Butler’s nephew Senator Brooks responded by beating Sumner into a coma with his cane

Question 26

Harpers Ferry (1859)

Answer 26

John Brown’s slave revolt, where he planned to attack the federal arsenal Harpers Ferry, causing Southern whites to believe the North would use slave revolts to destroy the South

Question 27

Crittenden Compromise (1860)

Answer 27

A proposed constitutional amendment that would protect slavery in all territories south of the 36 30 line.

Question 28

Border states

Answer 28

States in the South that did not secede from the Union - Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri

Question 29

Fort Sumter

Answer 29

The location in South Carolina where Confederate forces fired the first shots of the American Civil War

Question 30

Election of 1860

Answer 30

Abraham Lincoln (Republican) wins the election, resulting in the South seceding from the Union in fear of Lincoln’s power and its threat to slavery