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Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was gained by negotiating the Treaty of Paris. The ordinance added five new states to the U.S. This was a success under the Articles of Confederation. It is important because it set a precedent for the creations of new states and how they would enter the Union. It also outlawed slavery which was the first effort on slavery and slave trade by the national government. -
Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory through the Louisana Purchase treaty with France. This added a big chunk of land to the U.S. adding 13 states. Jefferson used a loose interpretation of the elastic clause to purchase this land considering he believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution. This is important because it secured control of the Mississippi river. And the purchase expanded the democracy for the U.S. -
Monroe Doctrine
President Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine to keep European countries from further recolonizing Latin America. The doctrine was enforced by the British navy because the U.S. military was limited. Even though it was ignored future presidents used it. It was important because it played a part in Latin American affairs. -
Missouri Compromise
Missouri wanted to enter the Union as a slave state. This would threaten the balance of the Union. So to settle this problem the government made Maine a free state in order for Missouri to be a slave state. The compromise drew the 36'30" line which was the line for expansion of slavery. -
Nullification Crisis
John Calhoun and the South were fed up with having to pay high protective tariffs so he tried to nullify the tax. Andrew Jackson wanted to maintain the federal government was stronger than the states. But he didn't want to lose his support from the South so he lowered the tariff. It was important because it made the states push for their rights. -
Texas Annexation
Texas declared they were independent of Mexico but was ignored by Mexico. The Union couldn't be admitted because of border disputes with Mexico though. So Texas remained independent for just about a decade. It was important because later on the U.S. purchased it. Annexed by James Polk. -
Oregon Treaty
Oregon territory was a conflict between America and the British. This led to negotiating of the American-British border. America was willing to go to war for the land with newspapers headlining as "54'40" or Fight." It's important because the treaty gave the U.S. control south of the 49th parallel. This also avoided war. -
Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession was made up of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and part of Colorado. The U.S. gained the territory from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This peace treaty ended the Mexican American War. It is important because it completed Manifest Destiny. This land gave the U.S. control of land from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. -
Compromise of 1850
The rapid increase in the population of California led to a compromise. For the compromise, California was admitted as a free state, it brought about popular sovereignty, and the slave trade was forbidden in Washington. The compromise also made a new fugitive slave requiring Northerners to return runaway slaves. This was important because it increased the tension between the North and the South. It also overturned the Missouri Compromise. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act overturned the Missouri Compromise. This allowed for popular sovereignty north of the Mason- Dixon Line. The pro- and antislavery sent supporters to these areas to sway voters. This act formed a new political party which was the Republican Party. The party was created on the differences in slavery. -
Bleeding Kansas
The competition of pro- and antislavery got so serious that the groups turned violent. Because the act allowed popular sovereignty the two groups were eager to sway votes in their favor. The violence then turned into deaths. This was important became it showed how the tension between the anti- and proslavery increased. Increasing the sectionalism. -
Fort Sumter
This was the first battle of the Civil War where the Confederate military fired first. The general of the Union, Garrison, surrendered making it a Confederate win. The battle lasted one day. It is important because throughout the war it depended on economic resources in order to win. -
Battle of the Bull Run
The Battle of the Bull Run was a key battle of the Civil War. It happened outside of the Manassas, Virginia, and was a Confederate win. The general for the Union side was Irwin McDowell and the Confederate side was Thomas Jackson. The people believed the War was going to end quickly which this battle showed them it wasn't. This shook the people. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day of the Civil War. The battle took place in Sharpsburg, Maryland. 2,300 people died during this battle and this was the first Southern invasion in the South Lincoln saw an opportunity to move forward with the Emancipation Proclamation. This was important because it turned the motivation of the war. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle was fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Lee the Confederate general invaded Union territory. This was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. It was important because Lee surrendered making this the last Confederate invasion on the Union. -
Emancipation Proclamation
When Lincoln first announced the Emancipation Proclamation he introduced it as a "military measure." Later in the year, Lincoln gave the South one more chance to rejoin the Union but they refused. The Emancipation Proclamation did not free slaves. This was important because later on, the word got around to the slave population African Americans fled to fight with the Union. It also later help pass the 13th amendment freeing slaves. -
Battle of Vicksburg
This battle was fought in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was a key battle in the Civil War. The Union victory split the Confederacy into two. The victory also gave the Union control of the Mississippi River. This battle was important because it was a key turning point in western land. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a speech made by Abraham Lincoln. It took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The speech was about dedicating the battlefield as a cemetery to the soldiers that died there. This speech was important because Lincoln spoke about why the Civil War was being fought in the first place. The war was just a struggle to fulfill the Declaration of Independence. -
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Presidential Reconstruction
Abraham Lincoln created the 10% Plan requiring the southern voters of the election to take an oath to the Union. After being assassinated Johnson took control of Lincoln's position and continued his work. Congress didn't like this plan though. This was important because the reconstruction focused on preserving the Union. And also made not to punish the South. -
Sherman's March to Sea
William Sherman led his force to the Savannah port. The idea of this was to capture the port. Sherman followed the total war strategy. This was capture would be an important victory for the Union. -
13th Amendment
This amendment ended officially ended slavery. Instead of accepting that African Americans were now free The South still pushed to deny the rights. Such as black codes discriminating and intimidating them. This expanded democracy by protecting the newly freedmen. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment granted that all men be birthright citizenship. Meaning all men that were born in the U.S. were automatically a citizen. This overturned the Dred Scott case. This amendment was very important in history and until this day because there were many ways white people tried to do in order to keep freemen from succeeding. -
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Congressional Reconstruction
This Reconstruction plan's goal was to punish the South rather than the Presidential Reconstruction. This was also known as Radical Republicans. Congress needed Southern states in order to ratify the 14th amendment. The plan also made the military reconstruction act. This military reconstruction act split the former Confederacy putting them under the U.S. army. It was important because it protected the rights of freemen. -
15th Amendment
Before the 15th amendment, only white men were allowed to vote even though African Americans were free and women were citizens too. The amendment allowed for ALL men the right to vote. Sadly this still did not include women. This is important because the Republican Party wanted to come to power in the South with votes from newly freedmen. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Plessy v. Ferguson decision legalized segregation. This case was known as "separate but equal". This brought about more Jim Crow laws. Even though colored people were considered equal as the court decision says it was not for them. Years and still today colored people struggle to get the same equality as whites. This is important because it actually promoted discrimination. Creating sectionalism between colored and white people.
