APUSH Unit 4 Vocabulary

Chapter 13 #1-12
Chapter 14 #13-26
Chapter 15 #27-37
Chapter 16 #38-53
1. Manifest Destiny - A concept that assumed the U.S. had a god-given mission to extend
its christian republic and capitalistic civilization from the atlantic (east) to the pacific
(west). Manifest = “self evident”. Manifest destiny offered a moral justification for
territorial expansion and the expansion of slavery. America was “destined” to claim
native american and mexican lands.
2. Overland Trails - trails that the pioneers moving westward took. Trail routes followed by
wagon trains bearing settlers and trade goods from Missouri to the Oregon country,
California, and New Mexico, beginning in the 1840s
3. Donner Party - Headed by George Donner. Basically a series of unfortunate events for
a group trying to get to California through the overland trails. 47 surviving members of a
group of migrants to california were forced to resort to cannibalism to survive a brutal
winter trapped in a Sierra Nevadas, 1846-1847, highest death toll of any group traveling
the overland trail
4. John C. Fremont - “the pathfinder”. An explorer and surveyor who helped inspire
americans living in California to rebel against the Mexican government and declare
independence.
5. Battle of the Alamo - 1835, Mexican forces attacked Alamo mission near San Antonio
Texas, all texian defenders killed. David crockett was a large killer for texas
6. Texas Revolution - led by Sam Houston, 1835-36. Conflict between texas colonists and
mexican government that resulted in the creation of the separate republic of texas in
1836
7. Battle of San Jacinto - texans defeated Santa Anna (mexican general) and claimed
independence
8. Lone Star Republic - after winning independence from mexico, texas became known as
the lone star republic. In 1836 texans drafted themselves a constitution, legalized
slavery, banned free blacks, named sam houston president and voted for the annexation
to the U.S. they couldn't enter the union due to quarrels over adding a slave state to the
union
9. James K. Polk - “young hickory” (1795-1849) president. Same ideals as jackson -
opposed tariffs, national bank, and federally funded roads. Main concern was american
expansion. He declared war on texas, signed treaty of guadalupe hidalgo
10. Webster-Ashburton Treaty - settlement in 1842 of us - canadian border disputes in
maine, new york, vermont, and in the wisconsin territory (minnesota) also banned slave
trade (on the ocean)
11. Bear Flag Republic - 1846, a group of americans in california captured sonoma from
the mexican army and declared it the republic of california whose flag featured a grizzly
bear.
12. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo - 1848, between mexico and us, ended mexican
american war. Mexico gave california and new mexico, mexico gave up any claims on
texas north of the rio grande river
13. Wilmot Proviso - David wilmot, a democrat from PA, proposed a bill (proviso) that
basically said any NEW territory we gain from mexico can NOT have slaves, but already
existing slave states are just fine. His opposition to slavery in mexican territories
represented his desire to keep Southern political power in congress from expanding.
This amendment passed the house of representatives, but the senate (composed of
southerners) rejected it, so it failed.
14. Popular Sovereignty - doctrine posed by senator (democrat) Lewis Cass under which
the status of slavery in each territory was decide by the voters/citizens/settlers, by the
people. This was meant as a resolution of the crisis of slavery and was supported by
Stephen A Douglass. Did not let african americans decide their own fate, and allowed
whites to take away their right to freedom in this method.
15. Free Soil Party - Anti-slavery in western territories, opposed expansion of slavery into
western territories, “free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men” Calhoun hated this.
Supporters wanted land to be available in the south for people to settle and become
financially independent without having competition from slavery.
16. California Gold Rush - 1849, after gold was discovered in california, there was a mass
migration in search of gold and riches. People who migrated were called “forty niners”
and included mainly gold miners and men but involved all social classes. The discovery
of gold helped the us economy and eventually aided in financing the union military effort
in the civil war. It also spurred construction of railroads and telegraph lines, hastened the
demise of indians, and excited dreams of an american economic empire based in the
pacific.
17. Compromise of 1850 - a package of 5 bills presented to congress by Henry Clay
intended to avoid secession or civil war by reducing tensions between north and south
over the status of slavery. The compromise admitted california as a free state, used the
remainder of the mexican cession area and divided it into Utah and New Mexico with
popular sovereignty determining legality of slavery. It also settled texas and new mexico
border disputes, and slave trade was banned in washington dc but not slavery. Finally
the fugitive slave act was enacted
18. Fugitive Slave Act - 1850, part of the compromise of 1850, a provision that authorized
federal officials to help capture and the return escaped slaves to their owner without trial,
and those who caught them got a reward
19. Uncle Tom’s Cabin - novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, it revealed the brutal
reality of slavery and overall supported the anti-slavery abolitionist movement
20. Kansas-Nebraska Act - legislation created 2 new territories taken from native
americans, kansas and nebraska, where residents would vote to decide whether slavery
would be allowed (popular sovereignty), initially one goal was to facilitate the building of
a transcontinental railroad running west across the south, the act revoked a provision of
the missouri compromise allowing everything above 36 degree 30 to be free (missouri
compromise prohibited slavery north of 36 degree 30)
21. Republican Party - attracted northern whigs opposed to slavery (“conscience whigs”),
anti-slavery democrats, and free-soilers. Party dedicated to the exclusion of slavery in
the west
22. “Bleeding Kansas” - a territorial war emerged from the debate over the legality of
slavery in kansas
23. Dred Scott v. Sandford - scott, a slave, taken by his master to missouri, a slave state,
to illinois, a free state. In illinois and later wisconsin he started a family, so he claimed
that doing so in a free state makes him free. The judge (southern) ruled that scott did not
have the right to citizenship. Ruled further that the missouri compromise was
unconstitutional because congress had no power to prohibit slaves in territories as if
slaves were property (pro slavery)
24. Lincoln-Douglas Debates - in the illinois race between republican abraham lincoln and
democrat stephen a douglass for a seat in the US senate, a series of 7 dramatic debates
focusing on the issue of slavery in territories. Lincoln is against the spread of slavery
25. Harpers Ferry - in VA, location of John Brown’s rebellion of seizing a federal arsenal in
anti-slavery efforts
26. Crittenden Compromise - unsuccessful proposal introduced by John Crittenden, an
attempt to prevent secession of southern states to avoid civil war - failed obviously
27. Fort Sumter - Lincoln tried to resupply this fort but the confederates claimed it to be
their own so they opened fire. This was the opening confrontation of the civil war
28. Anaconda Plan
29. Contrabands
30. Battle of Antietam
31. Emancipation Proclamation
32. New York City Draft Riots
33. Homestead Act
34. Copperhead Democrats
35. Battle of Gettysburg
36. Appomattox
37. 13th Amendment - abolished slavery
38. Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction - issued by lincoln in 1863, saying any
confederate state could recreate a union government once a number equal to 10% of
those who had voted in 1860 swore allegiance to the constitution. They also received a
presidential pardon acquitting them from treason (not guilty) certain groups were denied
pardons. Never took effect!
39. Radical Republicans - argued congress should supervise reconstruction, not the
president. They wanted to grant ex-slaves full citizen rights -> believed all men are
equal. Identified civil war with abolitionist cause. Sought swift emancipation of slaves,
punishment of rebels and tight controls over former confederate states after the war.
40. Wade-Davis Bill - tried to be passed by radicals, unlike lincoln's 10% plan, this bill
required that a majority of white males swear their allegiance to the union before a
confederate state could be readmitted. Lincoln vetoed it - never became a bill
41. Freedmen’s Bureau - 1865, within the war department in congress, to assist directly to
the people rather than through states. Freed slaves benefited -> assistance in education,
jobs, healthcare and landowning
42. Andrew Johnson - became president through assassination of lincoln, racist, appealed
to small farmers (kinda like jackson) democrat for states rights. Against republicans.
Issued new proclamation of amnesty that just excluded ex-confederates and anyone
with property worth more than $20,000. Did not like wealthy southerners in power
43. Johnson’s Restoration Plan - that whole new proclamation like mentioned above with
20,000 and also included the appointment of a unionist governor in each southern state.
Each state had to ratify the 13th amendment ending slavery before the state could be
readmitted into the union. Encouraged black voting rights
44. Black Codes - laws passed in southern states to restrict rights of former slaves. To
combat codes congress passed civil rights act of 1866 and 14th amendment and set up
military government in southern states that refused to ratify the government
45. Fourteenth Amendment - 1866, to ensure legality of civil rights act. Guaranteed
citizenship to anyone born or naturalized in the us, except NA. prohibited efforts to
violate any ones civil rights. Congress gave government responsibility of protecting and
enforcing civil rights of all americans.
46. Military Reconstruction Act - abolished all new governments in the “rebel” states
established under johnson’s lenient policies. Military control placed in thes places to
encourage ratification of 14th amendment guaranteed right to vote for all men (no
women)
47. Fifteenth Amendment - gave voting rights to african americans
48. Carpetbaggers - northerners who rushed to the south with their belongings in cheap
suitcases made of carpet to grab political power
49. Scalawags - southern republicans were called this, hated by the democrats. Supported
reconstruction and republican party. Collaborated with northern republicans for profit
50. Ku Klux Klan - KKK - former confederate soldiers who wore costumes harassing black
and white republicans.
51. Panic of 1873 - nationwide economic depression that weakened republican party,
helped bring reconstruction to an end
52. Redeemers - post civil war democratic leaders who were redeeming the south
53. Compromise of 1877 - resolve that disputed presidential election of 1876. Republican
hayes lost popular vote but was declared winner by south in exchange for withdrawal of
federal troops in south. Marked end of reconstruction