Period 5.1-5.6 Flashcards
(26 cards)
Manifest Destiny
phrase that expressed the popular belief that the US had a divine mission to extend its power across North America.
Great American Desert
The Arid region between Mississippi Valley and the Pacific Coast, resulting in the West Coast being settled before the Great Plains.
Gold Rush
Discovery of gold in California which spurred a mass migration to the state, growing its population from 14,000 to 380,000 in 12 years.
54-40 or Fight!
Democratic slogan adopted by James K. Polk that called for the ‘reoccupation’ of Oregon Territory all the way to the border with Russian Alaska.
Mexican-American War
War between the US and Mexico caused by the US’s continued excursions past their borders. Small American armies led against Mexico succeeded in gaining land for the US and its Manifest Destiny.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty ending the Mexican American War that forced Mexico to recognize US claims in California and New Mexico while settling the borders of Texas.
Mexican Cession
The former Mexican provinces of California and New Mexico given up in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Wilmot Proviso
Proposition by David Wilmot that forbid slavery in the territory taken from Mexico. It passed the House but could not make it through the Senate.
Ostend Manifesto
Secret agreement to buy Cuba from Spain under President Pierce that was later leaked and caused an uproar, forcing Pierce to drop the scheme.
Gadsden Purchase
The purchase of a small strip of land from Mexico in order to build a railroad.
Free-Soil Party
Party that opposed the spread of slavery to the West, but were content with it in the South. This is because they sought to keep the West a land of opportunity for Whites only.
Popular-Soverignty
Proposal by Lewis Cass that allowed the citizens of a state to vote on its status as a slave or free state.
Compromise of 1850
Proposal by Henry Clay that would admit California as a free state, divide the Mexican Cession into territories that would use popular sovereignty as a decided, and adopted a new Fugitive Slave Law.
Tammany Hall
New York City’s Democratic organization that was initially closed to Irish immigrants, but after a time was controlled by them in part due to their familiarity with representative government from Britain.
Nativism
Hostility to immigrants in favor of “native” born Americans. Formed a secret anti foreign society.
Fugitive Slave Law
Law introduced as part of the Compromise of 1850 which allowed slaveowners to track down escaped slaves in Northern territory. Also removed fugitive slave cases from state courts.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe that portrayed the cruel treatment of slaves, moving many Northerners and European to abolition.
Impending Crisis of the South
a significant anti-slavery book written by Hinton Rowan Helper, argued that slavery was economically detrimental to the South and posed a threat to the social structure.
Pottawatomie Creek
Attack of a proslavery settlement by abolitionist John Brown and his sons in retaliation for an earlier attack by proslavery forces on Topeka, Kansas.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Act proposed by Stephen A. Douglas as part of his commitment to the construction of a transcontinental railroad. In order to gain the South’s support, he proposed allowing the Nebraska and Kansas territories to hold popular sovereignty elections over the issue of slavery.
Lecompton Constitution
Proslavery state constitution submitted to President Buchanan who urged Congress to support it despite the fact that a majority of Kansas residents opposed it. The constitution did not pass because many Southern Democrats joined the Republicans in voting against it.
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Ruling in which the Supreme Court decided that African Americans were not citizens, that they were property, and therefore Congress cannot take away a person’s slaves. This ruling combined with the inauguration of Buchanan drove many Northern Democrats to vote Republican.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
A series of debates before the presidential election in which Lincoln forced Douglas into a corner, forcing him to be hesitant in his support of the Dred Scott ruling. This angered Southern Democrats and set the stage for a later Lincoln victory in the next election.
Know-Nothing
Evolution of the nativist secret society that was staunchly anti-immigrant and supported legislation such as only allowing “native-born” Americans to hold office.
