Unit 5: Toward the Civil War and Reconstruction (1844-1877)

Question 1

Whigs

Answer 1

• stood for policy of internal improvements

- believed it was not the government’s place to do anything with newly added land and it should be kept privately

Question 2

Polk’s presidency

Answer 2

won 1844 election

Four goals:

1. restore practice of keeping government funds in treasury (jackson kept them in pet banks)
2. reduce tariffs
3. claim the Southwest from Mexico

Question 3

Context to Oregon treaty

Answer 3

President Tyler proposed annexation of Texas - large, South of Missouri comp line = alarm –> demanded balance by annexing Oregon Country

Question 4

Oregon Treaty

Answer 4

prevented territorial war with Britain

allowed US to peacefully acquire Oregon, Washington, parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and est northern border

Question 5

Mexican-American War (1846)

Answer 5

Polk concentrated on efforts to claim Southwest from Mexico but buying the territory failed, so he challenged Mexican authorities and provoked an attack –> US declared war

-no universal support - Northerners feared new states would be slave, argued Polk had been controlled by powerful slaveholders

Question 6

Slave Power

Answer 6

rich Southerners who allegedly were “pulling the strings”

reinforced with gag rule and Wilmot Proviso

Question 7

Wilmot Provisio

Answer 7

a bill that prohibited the extension of slavery into any territory gained from Mexico - vote fell on sectional lines

–> Democrats became more Southern-dominated

Question 8

Whig party split

Answer 8

• Northern “Conscious Whigs (anti-slavery)

- Southern “Cotton Whigs” - became extinct

Question 9

Free-Soil Party

Answer 9

a regional, single-issue party devoted to the goals of the Wilmot Provisio

opposed expansion of slavery because they didn’t want white settlers to have to compete with slave labor in the new territories

Question 10

End of Mexican-American War

Answer 10

US very successful - easily pushed across Southwest, into California, and invaded Mexico City

Question 11

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Answer 11

Mexico gave US Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, and Utah

US paid $15m for land

Question 12

Problems with Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Answer 12

status of slavery: lands west of Mississippi were not suitable for growing cotton, and tobacco
–> Southerners wanted slavery in whole southeastern quarter of country –> popular sovereignty

Question 13

popular sovereignty

Answer 13

the territories themselves would decide, by vote, whether to allow slavery within their borders

Question 14

Debate over California

Answer 14

Increased population from Gold Rush = wants statehood

already had constitution which prohibited slavery –> South opposed statehood
–> discussed secession

Question 15

Compromise of 1850

Answer 15

presented by Stephen Douglas and Whig Henry Clay:

• admitted CA as free
• enacted stronger fugitive slave law
• created Utah and New Mexico territories - decide if slavery by popular sovereignty
• abolished slave trade

Question 16

Problems with the Compromise of 1850

Answer 16

• vague popular sovereignty = manipulated by South

- fugitive slave law required free states to cooperate in slave retrieval

Question 17

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Answer 17

Damning depictions of plantation life on information provided her by abolitionist friends - played on people’s sympathies
–>increased anti-slavery sentiment

Question 18

Kansas-Nebraska Act

Answer 18

gave government control over lands of Kansas and Nebraska, and construction of continental railroad

promoted by Senator Stephen Douglas who wanted the transcontinental railroad to terminate in Illinois

Question 19

personal liberty laws

Answer 19

passed by Northerners in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act which required trial by jury for all alleged fugitives and guaranteed them the right to a lawyer

Question 20

Republicans

Answer 20

Antislavery Whigs who joined Northern Democrats and Free-Soilers

dedicated to keeping slavery out of the territories

championed further development of national roads, liberal lad distribution of West, and increased protective tariffs

grew quickly

Question 21

The American party / Know-Nothings

Answer 21

met privately and remained secretive about their political agenda

rallied around their hatred of foreigners (nativism)

party self-destructed over disagreement over slavery

Question 22

Bleeding Kansas / Bloody Kansas

Answer 22

The Kansas-Nebraska Act provoked violence in territories:

abolitionists and proslavery groups rushed to form governments - antislavery constitution from Topeka vs proslavery from Lecomptom
–> ratified lecomptom Constitution

–> proslavery forces took opportunity to expel free-soilers –> raided city of Lawrence –> John Brown led raid –> gangs

Question 23

Border Ruffians

Answer 23

proslavery Missourians who temporarily relocated to Kansas

Question 24

John Brown

Answer 24

after attack on city of Lawrence, the radical abolitionist led a raid on a proslavery camp and murdered five

Question 25

effects of Kansas in the government

Answer 25

``` Preston Brooks (nephew of proslavery Senator Andrew Butler) beat abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner on the head with a cane for a speech in which Sumner attacked the South and Butler --> Dems chose James Buchanan as 1856 candidate ```

Question 26

James Buchanan

Answer 26

won 1856 election tried to maintain status quo - enforced fugitive slave act, opposed abolitionist activism in South and West, no solution to slavery

Question 27

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Answer 27

Scott, a former slave who was taken to free territory, declared himself free and sued for freedom --> to Supreme Court but lost Chief Justice Roger Taney declared slaves were property and that no black person could ever be a citizen = could not sue in federal courts ruled Congress could not regulate slavery in the territories - nullified Missouri Compromise and Kansas-Nebraska Act

Question 28

Dred Scott decision

Answer 28

slavery could go anywhere - major Southern victory | --> Northern opposition

Question 29

Lincoln - Douglas debate (1858)

Answer 29

Douglas (Democrat) vs Abraham Lincoln (Whig who opposed Kansas-Nebraska Act) for Illinois Senate seat -Lincoln's "House Divided" speech

Question 30

Freeport Doctrine

Answer 30

Douglas's attempt to defend popular sovereignty that destroyed his political career - said voters and residents of a territory could exclude slavery simply by not protecting a man's "property"

Question 31

John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry (1859)

Answer 31

Brown hoped to spark a slave revolt but failed --> executed --> evidence Northern abolitionists had given him financial backing --> Brown became a martyr

Question 32

Election of 1860

Answer 32

country divided --> Lincoln won

Question 33

Crittendon Compromise

Answer 33

proposed by Southerners who wanted to maintain Union and negotiate after the election of 1860 --> Lincoln refused to soften to Republican demands to not extend slavery to the territories

Question 34

Confederate States of America

Answer 34

South Carolina first seceded in December 1860 --> six more states joined led by Jefferson Davis

Question 35

Fort Sumter

Answer 35

Lincoln maintained control of federal forts in the South --> South attacked and captured Fort Sumter = first battle of the Civil War

Question 36

Purpose of Civil War

Answer 36

not about slavery - protected by the constitution: - North fighting to preserve Union - South fighting for states' rights - -> slavery caused argument over states' rights to escalate to war

Question 37

Border States

Answer 37

Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware - slave states that fought for the Union

Question 38

Battle of Antietam (Sept 1862)

Answer 38

first battle fought in the east where the the Union wasn't completely defeated - forced Confederacy to retreat and claimed victory --> gave Lincoln platform to announce Emancipation Proclamation

Question 39

Battle of Gettysburg

Answer 39

Fought in Pennsylvania - most Northern point Confederacy had reached --> Lee forced to retreat = North confidence boost

Question 40

Gettysburg Address

Answer 40

given after the Battle of Gettysburg - redefined the war as a struggle to preserve the union and for human equality

Question 41

Civil War and the Confederacy

Answer 41

fighting for states' rights, but under great control from Davis : weak, poorly organized state govt = Davis control over economy (taxes, control of railroads and commercial shipping, large bureaucracy) - -> Davis suspended writ of habeas corpus when opposed - ->rapid industrial growth but still lagged behind + inflation

Question 42

habeas corpus

Answer 42

traditional protection against improper imprisonment

Question 43

conscription in the Confederacy

Answer 43

- increased poverty -- farms couldn't survive without the men - class conflict - wealthy hired surrogates and did not need to serve if they had 20 slaves = only poor had to serve - -> desertions and resistance

Question 44

Civil War and the Union

Answer 44

- economic boom from demand for war-related goods --> war profiteering and corruption - inflation - formed unions --> businesses violent opposition (supported by Republicans) - increase central government power

Question 45

war profiteering

Answer 45

entrepreneurs who became wealthy from the war who overcharged the government for services and products - sold the worst products

Question 46

Lincoln's power growth during the war

Answer 46

- economic programs without approval - government loans and grants - raised tariffs - suspended writ of habeas corpus - initiated national currency and green-backs

Question 47

Radical Republicans

Answer 47

wanted immediate emancipation of slaves (more progressive Congress than Lincoln was expecting)

Question 48

confiscation acts

Answer 48

introduced by the Radical Republicans: 1. Gave govt right to seize any slaves used for "insurrectionary purposes" 2. allowed govt to liberate any slave owened by someone who supported the rebellion -- gave Union right to free all slaves - -> Lincoln refused to enforce

Question 49

Lincoln's change in opinion on slavery

Answer 49

slaves indirectly supported the South (grew crops, cooked, etc) = strategies must include capturing slaves but only option is to then free them - -> would prevent Britain and France from being Southern allies, and would give North more troops - -> Lincoln took action after Antietam victory

Question 50

Emancipation Proclamation

Answer 50

issued after Northern victory at Antietam: -didn't actually freed slaves -- govt liberates all slaves in states "in rebellion" (not in border states or Southern countries states Union control - Lincoln did not have the power to) -allowed South to rejoin without giving up slavery declared war against slavery

Question 51

Thirteenth Amenment

Answer 51

prohibited slavery

Question 52

Hampton Roads Confederence

Answer 52

Lincoln tried to negotiate the Thirteenth Amendment with Southerners rejoining the Union: - offered 5 year delay of amendment and $400m compensation - -> Davis refused compromise

Question 53

Election of 1862

Answer 53

majority opposed war: - few Southerners actually owned slaves = resentment for Confederacy - "War Democrats" -- believed war necessary to preserve Union -- vs Copperheads -- accused Lincoln of instigating war as disguised attempt to destroy South - immigrant opposition

Question 54

Immigrant opposition to the war

Answer 54

poor, already faced nativism = resentment to draft and fear that freed slaves would compete with their jobs

Question 55

Freedman's Bureau

Answer 55

first federal social Welfare program in the US - helped newly liberated blacks est a place in postwar society (food, housing, schools, etc)

Question 56

End of Civil War

Answer 56

Confederate Leaders surrendered April 1865 5 days later Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth serious casualties and debts, increased government power

Question 57

Sherman's March from Atlanta to the sea

Answer 57

Union burned everything in its wake to deplete the South's materials

Question 58

Reconstruction

Answer 58

1. What conditions would South be readmitted? 2. What is status of blacks? 3. What should be done with the rebels? 4. How to rebuild South?

Question 59

Ten-Percent Plan

Answer 59

Lincoln's painless plan to readmit South: required 10% of voters to swear oath of allegiance to Union and accept emancipation

Question 60

Wade-Davis Bill

Answer 60

Congress's readmittance plan - Radical Republicans viewed South as "conquered territory" and believed Congress had control, not Lincoln, over the situation: -former Confederate states be ruled by military govt required 50% of electorate to sear oath of allegiance -organize state convention to repeal their secession and abolish slavery --> Lincoln pocket-vetoed

Question 61

Andrew Johnson

Answer 61

assumed presidency after Lincoln's assassination - had complete control over Reconstruction because Congress was in recess Southern Democrat, opposed secession

Question 62

Johnson's Reconstruction Plan

Answer 62

- creation of provisional military governments to run the states until they were readmitted to the Union - required Southern loyalty oath before being pardoned -- barred former Southern elite - provisional govts have to make new constitutions eliminating slavery and renouncing secession (did not require black suffrage)

Question 63

Failure of Johnson's Reconstruction Plan

Answer 63

- Johnson pardoned many of the Southern elite - former Confederate leaders still took power - only made slight revisions to previous constitutions - passed black codes - Congress reconvened -- included Confederate leaders --> voted out

Question 64

General Sherman's Special Field Order No. 15

Answer 64

land seized from the Confederates was to be redistributed among the new freedmen --> Johnson rescinded

Question 65

Johnson's refusal to compromise

Answer 65

claimed Reconstruction was over because Congress wanted to modify his plan --> vetoed extension of Freedman's Bureau and uniform civil rights code --> Congress overrode = increased tensions

Question 66

Congressional Reconstruction

Answer 66

Response to Johnson's ending of Reconstruction - Fourteenth amendment: 1. if you are born in US you are a citizen 2. prohibits states from depriving citizen of "life, liberty, or property without due process of " 3. prevented states from denying "equal protection of the law" 4. states choice to give freedmen suffrage 5. barred prominent Confederates from holding political office 6. excused Confederacy's war debt

Question 67

Swing Around the Circle public speaking tour

Answer 67

Johnson campaigned against the 14th Amendment and lost

Question 68

Military Reconstruction Act of 1867

Answer 68

- imposed martial law on South - state constitutional conventions that forced states to allow blacks to vote for convention delegates - states must ratify 14th Amendment - laws to limit president's power so Johnson couldn't veto

Question 69

Impeachment of Johnson

Answer 69

for violating the Tenure of Office Act but really because he was getting in the war of Reconstruction

Question 70

Ulysses S. Grant

Answer 70

elected after Johnson's impeachment - victory due to black votes

Question 71

Fifteenth Amendment

Answer 71

required states to enfranchise black men

Question 72

Successes of Reconstruction

Answer 72

- officially allowed blacks to vote - replaced appointed govt positions with elected - public schools, orphanages, and reform in South - industrial and rail development in South - blacks serving in Southern govts

Question 73

Failure of Reconstruction

Answer 73

- costly = high taxes and hostile public and opposition - corruption during Gilded Age and Grant's admin -- little political experience so appointed friends to govt positions - began war of intimidation - did not redistribute Southern wealth and alter power structure -- would return to previous state with North left

Question 74

Scalawags and Carpetbaggers

Answer 74

names given by Southerners to Northerners in South running Reconstruction programs - many were corrupt

Question 75

Scandals during Reconstruction (do not need to memorize but should be familiar)

Answer 75

- Black Friday - Credit Mobilier Scandal - New York Custom House ring - Star Routine frauds - Sanborn incident - Pratt and Boyd scandal - Whiskey Ring - Delano affair - Trading post scandal - Alexander Cattell and Co. scandal - Safe burglary - -> diverted public attention from post-war conditions of South

Question 76

War of intimidation

Answer 76

Klu Klux Klan (murdering freedmen) and the White League (murdered Republicans)

Question 77

Enforcement Acts

Answer 77

allowed Grant to send federal troops to oppose the Klan and limit their violence

Question 78

Declining Reconstruction *

Answer 78

Supreme Court restricted scope of 14th and 15th amendments: - Slaughter-House cases -- ruled 14th only applied to fed govt - US vs Reese -- "grandfather clauses" (restrictions on voting privelages)

Question 79

Liberal Republicans *

Answer 79

During 1872 election they abandoned coalition that supported Reconstruction: supported candidate Horace Greeley who lost to Grant

Question 80

Amnesty Act of 1872 *

Answer 80

pardoned many rebels = reentry to public life

Question 81

Panic of 1873 *

Answer 81

drew Nation's attention from Reconstruction

Question 82

Election of 1876

Answer 82

both political parties accusing the other of fraud: Samuel J. Tilden (Boss Tweed) -- Republicans challenged his support --> Congress resolved by creating special bipartisan commission

Question 83

"Boss" Tweed

Answer 83

notorious political boss

Question 84

Compromise of 1877

Answer 84

agreed that if Rutherford B. Hayes won presidential election, he would end military reconstruction and pull federal troops out of South Carolina and Louisiana --> ended Reconstruction

Question 85

Southern Blacks during and after Reconstruction

Answer 85

- thrust into ambiguous state of freedom -- reacted cautiously by remaining on plantations and sharecroppers or searching for family - helped by Freedman's Bureau -- underfunded = end - govt would not redistribute land - preferred sharecropping -- worked initially but became means to keep them in a near state of slavery and debt - Mississippi became progressive -- Hiram Revels and Blanche K. Bruce in Senate and Robert Smalls in House