Vocab 13 Flashcards
General Anonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Who- Mexican General/Dictator
What- Seized power as a dictator in Mexico and led the Mexican army in the fight over the land of Texas. He defeated the Texans at the Alamo but was later forced to surrender at
Where- Mexico (Texas)
When- February 21, 1794 - June 21, 1876
Why- He led the Mexican army in the Texas War, which fought over the Texas land.
Manifest Destiny
Who- People in America
What- The idea that America was by God’s design to keep expanding.
Where- USA
When- 1845
Why- Because of American Nationalism and the Second Great Awakening.
Tejanos
Who- Mexicans that lived in Texas
What- Fought with Texans during the War over Texas but were later kicked out of Texas because Texans feared they were Mexican spies.
Where- Texas
When- 1830’s/1840’s
Why- They helped in the Texas War but were later driven out of the land they fought for.
Texas Annexation
Who- American Texans
What- Texans wanted to join and be a part of the USA but the US government didn’t want that.
Where- USA
When- 1840’s
Why- It became an important political issue in the election of 1844.
Mexican War
Who- James K. Polk
What- The US wanted to claim the land bordering Mexico (modern-day Southern California and New Mexico). The US won. It took a ridiculously long time for this war to end.
Where- USA/Mexico (disputed land)
When- 1840’s
Why- Many thought this war was a waste of resources.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Who- Nicholas Trist, James K. Polk, Mexican gov
What- This Treaty ended the Mexican War. It secured the territories that the US was hoping to gain and nothing more which angered Polk because he was hoping to get more of Mexico.
Where- USA
When- Feb 2, 1848
Why- This ended the Mexican War and established a clear border between the US and Mexico.
Gold Rush
Who- 49ers, people making the journey to the far west of the US
What- When the masses rushed out west with the discovery of gold out there. Many people left their whole lives behind. They created a volatile society. Many people died on the trip. Immigrants came over from Asia to get jobs in California.
Where- California, USA
When- 1840’s
Why- People wanted the money that mining gold could make them.
Popular Sovereignty
Who- James K. Polk
What- Allowed the people of each state to vote on whether or not slavery should be allowed in that state.
Where- USA
When- 19th century
Why- Politicians were discussing slavery and couldn’t decide on whether they should expand the Missouri Compromise or not.
Compromise of 1850
Who- Henry Clay
What- Proposed a more strict fugitive slave law, would make California a none slave state, Made the land that we took from Mexico territory and didn’t mention slavery for them, stoped the slave trade in the District of Columbia.
Where- USA
When- 1849-1850
Why- People wanted to discuss the issue of slavery but many politicians wouldn’t so this compromise was a way to deal with the issue head-on.
Henry Clay
Who- Politician
What- Proposed the Compromise of 1850. His Compromise was eventually overturned though.
Where- USA
When- April 12, 1777 - June 29, 1852
Why- Created a very controversial debate about what to do about new states and slavery.
John C. Calhoun
Who- Politician
What- Was involved in the establishment of Texas. Made radical demands about the state of the country. He wanted two different presidents for the North and the South.
Where- USA
When- March 18, 1782 - March 31, 1850
Why- The ideas he was proposing were radical and borderline secession.
Fugitive Slave Act
Who- Enslaved people, Slave owners
What- Required slaves to be returned to their owners if they had escaped to a free state. It required northern states to help in the recapture of escaped slaves.
Where- USA
When- 1850’s
Why- The Southern States considered it a win because they supported slavery and saw this as a win.
Transcontinental Railroad
Who- People in the US
What- A railroad that connected the west side of the country to the north side of the country.
Where- USA
When- 1850’s
Why- It was important for communication between the East and the West to prevail and trade between the two sides of the nation.
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Who- Stephen A. Douglas
What- Split the Northern territory of the Louisiana Purchase into two states, Kansas and Nebraska. It allowed for the vote of popular sovereignty in those states so they could decide if they wanted slavery or not.
Where- USA
When- 1854
Why- This happened because of the transcontinental railroad. There was an argument over it being in the North or the South so this was an idea to appease both sides.
Free Soil Ideology
Who- People in the US
What- This idea split the region. The idea that the North and South had very different lifestyles and ways of supporting their beliefs.
Where- USA
When- 1850’s
Why- Because of the different regional lifestyles there was this idea that slavery was evil and that it ruined society.
Dred Scott Decision
Who- Supreme Court
What- Ruled that a slave who had been brought to a none slave territory whose master had died was still a slave because he shouldn’t have been able to make the case because he was technically private property and not seen as a citizen.
Where- USA
When- March 6, 1857
Why- This decision was very controversial and split the country based on their opinions on what they thought the ruling of the case should be.
Election of 1860
Who- Abraham Lincoln
What- Was split between four different candidates which is why Lincoln managed to win with only 40% popular vote.
Where- USA
When- 1860
Why- This election led to the Civil War because Lincoln was anti-slavery and had won the election.
Republican Party
Who- Lincoln
What- Were anti-slavery and supported the Union and were the party that Lincoln stemmed from.
Where- USA
When- 1860’s
Why- They played a pivotal role in the lead-up to the Civil War as well as during and after it.
John Brown/Harpers Ferry
Who- John Brown, Robert E. Lee
What- Tried to start a slave insurrection by taking control of a fort in Virginia. He took control of the fort but the slave uprising he was hoping for never occurred and he was soon after taken over by the US military.
Where- Harpers Ferry, Virginia
When- 1859
Why- Caused Southerners to believe they couldn’t live safely in the Union because of the attack on their lifestyle.
