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Monroe Doctrine
opposed European Colonialism
policy would not meddle in European affairs
Significance- warned European powers not to interfere in Western Hemisphere affairs -
Battle of the Alamo
Texas wanted independence from Mexico
seized Fort of San Antonio
Significance- Texans were fighting for independence from Mexico -
Panic of 1837
financial crisis
lasted until the 1840's
major recession
Significance- changes were made to the banking system by Andrew Jackson -
Trail of Tears
Cherokee Nation forced to give up land
relocated to what is now currently Oklahoma
Tribes from Southern Eastern U.S. were relocated West
Significance- devastating effects for Cherokee people- disease, hunger and relocation against their will -
Sutter's Fort
agricultural and trade colony
built in 1839
built by John Sutter
Significance- trade colony, many historical people visited, later gold was discovered -
Pre-Emption Act
squatters be allowed to preempt lands
pioneer often settled on public land before they were auctioned by the government
Significance- pioneers were settling on land that had not been auctioned by government -
Bear Flag Revolt
rebelled against Mexican Government
declared California an independent government
Significance- government of California independent from Mexico -
U.S.- Mexican War
armed conflict between U.S. and Mexico
annexation of Texas
Significance- ended war and Texas became part of U.S. -
Fugitive Slave Law
slaves who left their masters were given a penalty
slaves were caught and returned to owner
slaves started fleeing out of U.S.
Significance- compelled citizens capture slaves that had escaped -
Compromise of 1850
Compromise was drafted by the Whig Party
California was admitted as a free state
Texas surrendered claim to New Mexico
Slave Trade Banned from D.C. -
Gadsden Purchase
present day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico
reconciled border issues between U.S. and Mexico
Significance- US purchased 29,000 acres, land was set aside to expand the Transcontinental Railroad -
Missouri Compromise
repealed by the Kansas Nebraska Act
Missouri was admitted as a slave state and Maine was admitted as a free state
Significance- Congress did not have authority to prohibit slavery in the territories. Slavery and Anti-Slavery states were balanced by Missouri and Maine -
Bleeding Kansas
some people say it was the first battle of the Civil War
battle slavery vs. anti-slavery
Significance- first battle of the Civil War. Kansas was able to decide if it was a free state under Popular Sovereignty -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott unsuccessfully sued for freedom
gave slave owners the right to take their slaves into western territories
Significance- Supreme Court decided that owners could take slaves west with them -
Harper's Ferry
raid in Virginia attempting to start an armed slave revolt goal was to destroy the institution on slavery
Significance- It was an attempt to start an armed slave revolt -
States that Seceded from the U.S. in order
South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee
1860-1861
effort to keep slavery in their state by separating from the Union
slavery was crucial to their economy (crops etc.) -
Civil War Start
Northern and Southern States began battle over slavery, trade, tariffs, and state's rights.
started in Fort Sumter
Significance- decades of tension between North and South between slavery and western expansion -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's most famous speech
about 2 minutes long memorializing the fallen soldiers of Gettysburg Battle
reminded crowd of that All Men should be created equally under the Founding Father's of the United States 87 years before the speech
Significance- inspired north to continue their fight against abolishing slavery -
Emancipation Proclamation
declared that all slaves in the rebellious states were free now and forever
Significance- It declared the Civil War as a battle for Human Freedom. The preservation of the Union was also a goal. -
Gettysburg
site of the turning point of the Civil War, Pennsylvania,
After the Battle of Gettysburg roughly 50,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured, or missing
Significance- more than 50,000 men died, it was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War -
Civil War End
bloodiest 4 years of American History
Robert Lee and the last Confederate Army surrendered
The Union won and slavery was abolished
Significance- slavery ended -
13th Amendment
abolishment of slavery and involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime
Significance- slavery banned in all American States -
14th Amendment
Citizens born in the U.S.A. are granted citizenship
included former slaves recently freed
Significance- citizens were granted equal protection of the laws -
15th Amendment
African American Men were given the right to vote
regardless of previous servitude
Significance- African Americans were given the right to vote and were elected into office