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Northwest Ordinance
It declared slavery illegal in the Northwest Territory. This is the first effort by the national government to prohibit slavery in the territories. Set the precedent for how new states would enter the union. It is important because this is the first effort by the national government to regulate slavery and the slave trade which is going to set up the conflict that will eventually lead to the civil war. -
Louisiana Purchase
President Thomas Jefferson purchased the territory through the Louisiana Purchase treaty from France. Jefferson sent Lewis & Clark to explore the territory. President Jefferson signed a treaty with France purchasing the territory from Napoleon, who needed money for the revolution. It is important because it secured control of the Mississippi River as a highway for American products through the port of New Orleans to world markets -
Missouri Compromise
In 1819 there were equal free states and slave states. When Missouri applied as a slave state, it threatened that balance. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state.
It also drew the line for the expansion of slavery at the 36’30” line. It is important because without this then the balance of free states and slaves states with be out of order. -
Nullification Crisis
States’ rights- states have the right to declare a federal law (or tax) null and void if it harms that state. The federal government passed a very high protective tariff, which angered the South. John C. Calhoun attempted to nullify the tariff stating South Carolina wouldn’t pay. The issue of states’ rights continued to stew. It is important because A compromise was reached, and the tariff was lowered and South Carolina was forced by a threat to pay the tariff. -
Texas Annexation
If Texas is admitted as a slave state, then even a state admitted as a free state wouldn’t maintain the balance of power because of the Great Compromise. Texas remained an independent republic for almost a decade while the slavery issue was ironed out. It is important because Mexico refused to acknowledge Texas independence, and Texas could not be admitted as a new state because of border disputes. -
Oregon Treaty
Jointly occupied & claimed by the Americans, the British, and the Spanish. Spanish claim to the territory ended after the Adams-Onis treaty was signed. The conflict between the Americans & the British led to the negotiations of a British-American border. It was important because American newspapers headlined 50 40 or Fight!” supporting war with the British over the territory. -
Mexican Cession (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo)
It contained territories that made up most of the rest of the southwestern United States which the US acquired by the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War. It completed Manifest Destiny by giving Americans control of land from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It is important because the peace treaty that ended the war (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo) resulted in the U.S. acquiring land from Mexico including California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and part of Colorado. -
Compromise of 1850
Introduced the principle of popular sovereignty (voters vote on the issue of slavery in-state) to decide the slave question. Slavery question in other Mexican Cession states would be decided by popular sovereignty. California is admitted as a free state. It is important because it replaced the Missouri Compromise. -
Kansas - Nebraska Act
Kansas Nebraska Act overturned the Missouri Compromise, by allowing popular sovereignty north of 36’30”. Both sides sent supporters to sway the votes. It is important because it eventually led to the emergence of a new party "The Republican Party". -
Bleeding (Bloody) Kansas
Competition of pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces turned conflict violent--became known as Bleeding Kansas. Or the Border War was a series of violent civil confrontations in Kansas Territory, United States, between 1854 and 1861 which emerged from a political and ideological debate over the legality of slavery in the proposed state of Kansas. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
when confederate forces fired on the Union-held garrison. The garrison commander surrendered on April 13th and was evacuated the next day. The course and outcome of the Civil War depended upon the economic resources of the North and the South, the geographic factors that influenced strategy, and the military and political leadership that influenced public support. It was important because this was the battle that started the Civil War. -
Battle of Bull Run
Although Union troops had the upper hand in the beginning, the Confederacy was triumphant. Shocked those who hoped the war would end quickly and who were unprepared for the carnage modern warfare would produce. Lincoln replaced McDowell with General George G. McClellan in hopes he would lead the Union to victory. It was important because of the Battle of Bull Run. The Confederate won the battle It showed war was going to be longer and more deadly than thought -
Battle of Antietam
The single bloodiest day of the war. 23,000 soldiers lay dead or wounded. First Southern invasion into North. Although the Union experienced more losses than the Confederacy. Lee retreated to Virginia and Lincoln had found the opportunity he needed to move forward with Emancipation Proclamation. It was important because it turned the motivation of the war from preserving the union to abolishing slavery. First Southern invasion of North. The bloodiest day of the war. It was a tactical draw. -
Emancipation Proclamation
When emancipation was announced he promoted it as a “military measure” against the Confederacy. Was an important turning point in the war. This document did not free the slaves. Under the Emancipation Proclamation, African Americans enlisted in the US army. Freed slaves in states still in rebellion as of Jan. 1, 1863. Did not actually free any. Military measures to end British support of the South by making war about slavery. Authorized AA in Union military (faced much discrimination). -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln visits the Gettysburg battlefield to dedicate a cemetery for the fallen soldiers. He describes the Civil War as a struggle to fulfill the Declaration of Independence and preserve a nation “dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal". It was important because Lincoln, the purpose of war preserves Union/democracy. -
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Presidential Reconstruction
The first plan for reconstruction was known as Presidential Reconstruction or the 10% plan. This plan, proposed by Lincoln prior to his assassination, stated that only 10% of southern voters from the 1860 election needed to swear an oath to the Union and accept the terms of emancipating their slaves. Lincoln excluded high ranking Confederate military leaders and officials from this process. It is important because Congress required Southern states to ratify the 14th amendment. -
Battle of Vicksburg
Grant lays siege against Vicksburg after multiple attempts to capture the city. Lincoln believes the capture of Vicksburg is key to bringing an end to the war. The surrender of Vicksburg, and Port Hudson, Louisiana days later, split the Confederacy in two at the Mississippi River and gave the Union control of the river. It was important because it was the key turning point in the western theatre and Splits the Confederacy in 2. The Union took control of the Mississippi River -
Battle of Gettysburg
Lee set off to Pennsylvania to take some Union ground. Although the Confederates seemed victorious as night fell on the first night of the battle, swift thinking and action on the part of the Union put them at an advantage. Lee retreats to Virginia. Nearly ⅓ of his fighting force was dead or wounded. It is important because it is the Second and last attempt of the South to invade the North. -
Sherman’s March to the Sea
William Tecumseh Sherman also followed the total war strategy. He led his forces on a march to the sea from the Tennessee-Georgia border, utilizing scorched earth methods. His main objective to capture the port at Savannah, Georgia. It is important because the union won the port of Savannah Georgia. -
13th amendment
Black codes demonstrated southerners not willing to recognize the rights of freedmen. The 13th Amendment after the war formally legalized freedom for all slaves. Congress, with Lincoln’s support, proposes the 13th Amendment. Southern states had to recognize the 13th Amendment before they could form governments. It is important because It ending slavery. -
14th Amendment
In response to Southern actions, opposition to the Freedmen’s Bureau, & later to the 14th Amendment, the role of the federal govt changed. Congress refused to admit Southern officials to Congress. Negated equal protection provisions of the 14th Amendment and brought more Jim Crow laws. It is important because it Granted all men birthright citizenship (if you were born here). -
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Congressional Reconstruction
Goal: Punish the South. Addition to the Presidential plan must also ratify the 14th amendment. Allow African Americans to vote. Military Reconstruction ActCongress gained control of Reconstruction due to weakening Johnson (impeachment and election of 1866 gave Republicans veto-proof majority). It is important because congress was able to pass a Congressional Reconstruction plan and take control of finishing up Reconstruction. -
15th amendment
Protected by the federal government during the reconstruction period were gradually taken away as southern democrats regained control of southern governments. The rights promised to the African Americans in the 14th & 15th Amendments and protected by the national government. During Reconstruction, it was gradually rescinded (taken away) by Southern State Governments. It is important because it Allows all MEN to vote. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
Supreme Court upheld/legalized segregation and discrimination-govt abandons protecting rights. Negated equal protection provisions of the 14th Amendment and brought more Jim Crow laws. The 1896 case Plessy v. Ferguson upheld that segregation was legal as long as facilities were deemed “equal". It is important because the Supreme Court upheld/legalized segregation and discrimination-govt abandons protecting rights. Segregation and discrimination widespread, including in north -
Monroe Doctrine
Wars of liberation in South America in the early 19th century ended South America’s mercantilist relationship with Spain. The restored European Kings and Queens wanted to restore their previous colonial holdings in Latin America. This worries Great Britain, who wants to protect lucrative trade relationships. It is important because Europe DO NOT colonize Latin and South America - backed by the British Navy, but Europe basically ignores us.