Manifest Destiny to Reconstruction Study Guide

Question 1

What is Manifest Destiny?

Answer 1

The belief that the United States was destined to spread from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Question 2

What were the three primary trails that were used for westward expansion during the period of Manifest Destiny?

Answer 2

Oregon Trail; Sante Fe Trail; Mormon Trail

Question 3

Who was the founder of the Mormon Church?

Answer 3

Joseph Smith

Question 4

Why was Texas not annexed until the year 1845?

Answer 4

It would have entered the United States as a slave state and upset the balance of power in the Senate in favor of slave (southern) states.

Question 5

What caused the Mexican-American War?

Answer 5

A dispute between the United States and Mexico about the border of Texas with Mexico.

Question 6

What treaty ended the Mexican American War? What were the provisions of the treaty?

Answer 6

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. The United States gained land in the Mexican Cession, which included the future states of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.

Question 7

What were the beliefs of the Free Soil Party?

Answer 7

They believed slavery should not be allowed to spread out of the Deep South.

Question 8

Who was Harriet Beecher Stowe and what role did she play in the abolitionist movement?

Answer 8

She wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” which described the cruelty of slavery in the South. The book became a bestseller and convinced many people to join the abolition movement.

Question 9

Describe the provisions and significance of the Missouri Compromise

Answer 9

Missouri enters union as slave state; Maine enters union as free state; No slavery allowed north of the 36°30’ parallel. The balance of power between free and slave states is maintained in the Senate.

Question 10

Describe the provisions and significance of the Kansas Nebraska Act

Answer 10

Residents of these two territories were allowed to vote on this issue of slavery (popular sovereignty). Both territories were north of the 36°30’ parallel.

Question 11

Describe the provisions and significance of the Compromise of 1850

Answer 11

California enters union as a free state; Fugitive Slave Act is strengthened; Slave trade in Washington DC is ended; Residents of New Mexico and Utah territories get to vote on issue of slavery (popular sovereignty). This marks the last time the North and South are able to compromise on the issue of slavery.

Question 12

What caused the Nullification Crisis and why is it significant?

Answer 12

It was caused by a high tariff which led to a dramatic price increase for imported goods which Southerners relied on much more than Northerners. John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, who was Vice President of the United States at the time, urged South Carolina to “nullify” or ignore the law. Calhoun argued states had the right (states’ rights) to not enforce federal laws that did not benefit them. This showed differences between Northerners and Southerners on more issues than just slavery.

Question 13

Who was Dred Scott and why was the Dred Scott case significant?

Answer 13

Dred Scott was a slave that traveled with his Army doctor master from Missouri to free territories like Wisconsin. When the doctor died, Scott sued for his freedom claiming he had at points in his life lived in free territories and, therefore, was a free man. The case went to the Supreme Court where the Court ruled that Scott was not free and that he did not have the right to file suit because slaves were not citizens and had no rights. Furthermore, the Court ruled the Missouri Compromise to be unconstitutional striking down the “no slavery above the 36°30’ parallel” agreement.

Question 14

What is Habeas Corpus? What was its significance during the Civil War?

Answer 14

Habeas Corpus means the government needs evidence against you in order to arrest you. President Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus during the Civil War in order to silence those who did not agree with the war.

Question 15

Several key events occurred under the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Describe the Gettysburg Address and its significance:

Answer 15

It re-energized the North to continue fighting the Civil War.

Question 16

Several key events occurred under the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Describe the Emancipation Proclamation and its significance:

Answer 16

Changed the focus of the Civil War for the North from preserving the union to ending slavery.

Question 17

Several key events occurred under the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Describe the 2nd Inaugural Address and its significance:

Answer 17

President Lincoln made it clear with his statement, “malice toward none; charity for all” that he intended to make it easy for the Southern states to rejoin the United States after the war ended.

Question 18

List three advantages for the North going into the Civil War

Answer 18

1. Larger population
2. More industry to produce war materials
3. More railroads for transportation of troops and supplies

Question 19

List three advantages for the South going into the Civil War

Answer 19

1. Excellent military leadership
2. Britain and France seemed more willing to support the South over the North
3. South did not have to militarily defeat the North, only had to keep the war going long enough to make the North tired of fighting so they would quit

Question 20

Describe the military strategies of the North in the Civil War:

Answer 20

Anaconda Plan: 1) blockade Southern ports; 2) control the Mississippi River to cut the South in half; 3) capture Richmond (Confederate capitol)

Question 21

Describe the military strategies of the South in the Civil War:

Answer 21

Offensive Defense: Defend the South aggressively, but invade the North when the opportunity presents itself.

Question 22

Describe the importance of Abraham Lincoln to the Civil War:

Answer 22

President of the United States during the Civil War

Question 23

Describe the importance of Jefferson Davis to the Civil War:

Answer 23

President of the Confederate States during the Civil War

Question 24

Describe the importance of Robert E. Lee to the Civil War:

Answer 24

Leader of the Confederate army

Question 25

Describe the importance of Ulysses S. Grant to the Civil War:

Answer 25

Leader of the Union (United States) army

Question 26

Describe the importance of Stonewall Jackson to the Civil War:

Answer 26

Confederate general who was killed at Chancellorsville

Question 27

Describe the importance of William T. Sherman to the Civil War:

Answer 27

Union general who led the March to the Sea and burned Atlanta

Question 28

Describe the significance of the battle at Fort Sumter

Answer 28

Civil War begins here when the Confederates (South) shell Ft. Sumter.

Question 29

Describe the significance of the battle at Bull Run

Answer 29

First battle of the Civil War, won by the Confederates.

Question 30

Describe the significance of the battle at Antietam

Answer 30

Bloodiest single day of the war. Lincoln decides to issue Emancipation Proclamation after battle. Britain and France decide to remain neutral and not support Confederates.

Question 31

Describe the significance of the battle at Gettysburg

Answer 31

Turning point of the war. Union victory. Last time Confederate army invades the North.

Question 32

Describe the significance of the battle at Vicksburg

Answer 32

Union victory. Gave Union control of entire Mississippi River and cut Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana off from the rest of the Confederate states.

Question 33

Describe the significance of the battle at Appomattox

Answer 33

Where General Lee surrendered to General Grant ending the Civil War.

Question 34

What was Lincoln’s plan for reconstruction before his assassination?

Answer 34

Lincoln wanted 10% of citizens in each former Confederate state to swear allegiance to the United States in order to rejoin the Union (known as Ten Percent Plan), and ratify the 13th Amendment (outlawing slavery).

Question 35

What was Andrew Johnson’s plan for reconstruction?

Answer 35

President Johnson’s plan was simply for the former Confederate States to ratify the 13th Amendment.

Question 36

Why was Andrew Johnson impeached?

Answer 36

He violated the Tenure of Office Act.

Question 37

What was the significance of each of the 13th Amendment?

Answer 37

Officially ended (outlawed) slavery.

Question 38

What was the significance of each of the 14th Amendment?

Answer 38

Made former slaves citizens and gave all citizens due process rights.

Question 39

What was the significance of each of the 15th Amendment?

Answer 39

Gave the right to vote to all males, including former slaves.

Question 40

Describe the system of sharecropping:

Answer 40

Sharecropping involved white land owners renting part of their land to former slaves for a share of the crop produced.

Question 41

Describe the system of crop lien:

Answer 41

Crop lien involved white land owners renting tools, seed, fertilizer, etc. to former slave in exchange for part of the crop produced.

Question 42

What were black codes? Provide at least one example.

Answer 42

Black Codes were laws designed to restrict the freedom of African-Americans. An example is black males could not serve on juries.

Question 43

List three successes of reconstruction:

Answer 43

• Ratification of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
• Black politicians are elected to office for the first time
• Freedman’s Bureau establishes schools for former slaves

Question 44

List three failures of reconstruction:

Answer 44

• Former slaves have little job opportunities and have no choice but to engage in sharecropping.
• Black Codes limit freedom for former slaves.
• Former Confederate leaders regain control of state legislatures in the South

Question 45

What was the compromise of 1877 and why was it important?

Answer 45

The Democrats in Congress agreed to support Republican candidate Hayes for president in return for the end of Reconstruction in the South. Hayes became president and the troops were pulled out of the South ending Reconstruction.