Battle of Vicksburg
Granted the Union control of the entire Mississippi River. Cut the confederacy in half
Compromise of 1850
Lincoln campaigned on halting the expansion of slavery. He won without a single Southern electoral vote, prompting the south to realize they no longer any voice in the future of slavery in america
John Brown
Led a small raid on a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. His goal was to arm the southern slave population and incite a slave rebellion
Dred Scott case
A slave in Missouri was taken to live in free Wisconsin, for two years, and he sued for his freedom. The Supreme Court ruled that slaves aren't citizens, and they are property so nobody can be deprived of their property without due process.
Wilmot Proviso
An amendment to a law in congress that stipulated that any land gained in the Mexican-American war wouldn't be ineligible for the spread of slavery. Symbolized the growing tension over westward expansion and slavery.
Civil rights act of 1866
All African Americans were citizens of the United States
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Anaconda plan
Johnson impeached
Pres. Johnson violated the tenure of office act, and impeachment failed by one vote
Gold rush
Gold was discovered in California, population skyrocketed
Tenure of Office Act
Fighting broke out between the pro and anti-slavery factions
Restricted the civil rights of african americans in the south. Made it harder to vote, own property, even banned them from testifying against white people
Pushed hard for civil rights, wanted to punish the south. Shifted the process of reconstruction from president to congress
Election of 1844
James k. Polk was a big believer in manifest destiny. He got the Oregon territory and started the Mexican-American River.
15th amendment
Protected voting rights of former slaves (in theory)
Free Soil Party
Formed by abolitionists who wanted to ban slavery everywhere
A coalition of free soilers and whigs and northern democrats who's goal was to stop the spread of slavery.
Compromise of 1877
Manifest destiny
Americans believed they had a God-given right to have a nation from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
Kansas-Nebraska act
divided Nebraska territory into 2 sections, Kansas and Nebraska. Put slavery to a vote in each new state. Effectively overturned the Missouri compromise!
Mexican-American war
Disputes over the Texas border sparked the conflict. American troops made it all the way to Mexico city.
Fugitive slave act
Many northerners opposed the expansion of slavery, and abolitionists despised the law. There were often riots when Southerners would try to bring back a runaway slave.
White supremacy
White supremacy continued to dominate. Secret societies continued to terrorize African Americans (and Catholics, jews, and immigrants)
Reconstruction acts
Positions on expansion of slavery
Texan independence
Americans had been settling in Texas since the 1820s. The southerners outnumbered actual Mexicans and had brought their slaves. The Mexican government outlawed slavery and mandated catholicism.
