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American Civ.
Test 5/Final
68
History
Undergraduate 2
04/19/2009

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Cards

Term
What is meant by "manifest destiny?"
Definition
People thought it was America's destiny to expand across the entire American continent. (from sea to shining sea)
Term
What was the "Creole" incident?
Definition
Creole was a slave ship that was highjacked by the slaves, and sailed to the Bahamas. The British gov't allowed the slaves to remain in the Bahamas. Americans wanted the slaves back. This increased the tension between America and Britain.
Term
How did American colonization of Texas first come about?
Definition
Mexican gov't said Moses Austin and Stephen Austin could bring American citizens into Texas if they: were loyal to Mexico, did not bring slaves, and coverted to Catholicism.
Term
Why did Mexico start to feel threatened by American settlement?
Definition
Ther Americans who moved into Texas were not loyal to Mexico, they brought slaves with them into Texas, and they did not convert to Catholicism.
Term
How did Mexican policy toward Americans in Texas change in 1830?
Definition
The Mexican gov't said no more Americans could move into Texas, they restricted the local self-gov't that the Americans had in Texas, and they were going to abolish slavery. The Mexican gov't also sent in troops to enforce these policies.
Term
How did Americans in Texas respond to Mexico's change in policy?
Definition
American's rebelled. They declared independence, and set up their own gov't with constitution that allowed slavery. Mexicans sent in troops and Americans retreated to the Alamo and were eventually killed by Mexican troops.
Term
How did Texas achieve its independence?
Definition
Americans started to move back towards the United States, and Mexican troops followed/chased them. Americans turned on the Mexican troops at the right time, and defeated them. Americans captured the Mexican troops leader, Santa Ana, and forced him to sign and grant independence of Texas for Americans.
Term
What did 54 40" or fight mean?
Definition
This was the slogan of the expansionist. Americans wanted all the land in Oregon up to the 54 40" line.
Term
What was the major issue in the election of 1844?
Definition
National Expansion was the major issue in the election of 1844. Polk wanted to make Texas part of the U.S. and take over Oregon. Henry Clay opposed expansion.
Term
What was the significance of the Liberty Party in the election of 1844?
Definition
Anti-slavery party, which was a third party that took enough votes away from Clay to cause him to lose the election.
Term
What were the 3 main goals of the Polk presidency?
Definition
1. Settle the Oregon dispute
2. Acquire Texas
3. Acquire California
Term
How was the question of Oregon country settled?
Definition
America and Britain agree to a compromise to extend the American boundary to the 49th parallel.
Term
Describe the settlement of Utah.
Definition
Mormons settled in Utah to escape persecution. Brigam Young lead them to Utah. They established a theocracy, meaning the church and state combine. They wanted to become a state of the U.S. but were denied because of their polygamy. They eventually gave up their polygamist ways to become a state.
Term
What happened in California were war broke out between U.S. and Mexico in 1846?
Definition
A group of Americans in California, lead by J.C. Fremont, declared California independent from Mexico. They called themselves the Bear Flag Republic.
Term
How did war break out between U.S. and Mexico?
Definition
The war was over the question of the boundary b/w Texas and Mexico. Texans said the boundary was the Rio Grande River, but the Mexicans said the boundary was the Nueces River, which is farther north. President Polk sent troops to the boundary in Texas to provoke an incident with the Mexican soldiers.
Term
What were the terms of the Treaty of Guadeloupe-Hidalgo?
Definition
The Rio Grande River was the official border b/w U.S. and Mexico. U.S. gained California, Arizona, New Mexico, and the land to the north. America paid only $13 million for the land.
Term
Explain the Wilmot Proviso. Why was this important?
Definition
He was a member of the Democratic party, but he opposed slavery. The Wilmot Proviso stated that "No slavery would be allowed in the territory taken from Mexico." There was a very large debate over the Wilmot Proviso. This never passed through Congress. Symbolized the whole issue of slavery that would lead to war.
Term
What was the Gadsden Purchase?
Definition
America bought a small amount of land on the border of New Mexico for $10 million so it could be used for a railroad.
Term
Describe factory conditions brought on by the Industrial Revolution.
Definition
1. Low wages
2. Dangerous
3. Unsanitary
4. Long hours
5. Child labor
6. Trend of hiring women and children in order to pay them lower wages
Term
Describe America's population changes in the pre-Civil War years. Causes? RESULTS?
Definition
Growing population due to the large number of immigrants coming from Germany, China, Ireland, Britain to the United States; low and dropping birth rate. Growing population and cities came along with the problems that come along with urban problems, such as crime, sewage, housing, lighting, etc.
Term
How did farming change during this period?
Definition
Farmers expanded westward. Changes include mechanized farming.
Term
Who were some of the leading literary figures of the time?
Definition
Theoreau, Poe, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Whitman, Mellville, Emerson, Cooper.
Term
Describe the classes of white people in the south and their relative size.
Definition
Largest class(75%)- Small farm owners who did not own slaves.
Next largest(22%)- Owned 1 slave or a couple of slaves.
Large planter class(3%)- Owned the most slaves and dominated southern economy and social class.
Term
How did the cotton gin change the demographics of slavery?
Definition
Cotton expanded westward to Alabama and attributed to an increased demand in slavery as well.
Term
Who was Frederick Douglas?
Definition
He was a former slave, and the most famous black abolitionist. He was an author and wrote his autobiography. In his autobiography, he tells of his past and all of his previous slaveowners.
Term
Who was Nat Turner? Results of his actions?
Definition
Slave from Va who became the leader of the most drastic slave revolt in history. 60 white were killed. Turner was executed and reprisals of 200 slaves who had nothing to do with the revolt were killed. This turned the South into a policed state.
Term
Describe southern economy.
Definition
Southern economy was based on agriculture, it was a plantation economy where sugar, tobacco, cotton, etc. were grown. Cotton mad eup 75% of the exports of the nation as a whole.
Term
Who was William Lloyd Garrison? Significance?
Definition
He founded the Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper. It marked the beginning of the anti-slavery movement.
Term
What was the Gag Rule?
Definition
Passed in 1836- called for tabling of petitions pertaining to slavery, meaning the petitions would be put to the side and ignored.
Term
What beliefs about slavery change in he south from the Revolutionary War period to the mid-19th century?
Definition
The feelings went from viewing slavery as a necessary evil, to being a positive good. Slavery is viewed as something good, instead of being evil.
Term
What beliefs supported slavery in the south?
Definition
Most all whitws supported slavery because of: -the belief/dream of small farmers that they may own slaves in the future; -fear of the slaves taking over; -small farmers saw the slaves as a way of perserving their status because they were higher than the slaves.
Term
Summarize the reasons for these changes.
Definition
The changes were like a defensive reaction of the south to the anti-slavery movement, and the north telling the north what to do. The south felt it was under attack.
Term
Explain the issue of slavery in the territories.
Definition
The expansion of slavery to the new territories. There were Northern states coming in as free states and the new territories were being kept as free also.
Term
Explain the theory of popular sovereignty as it applied to slavery. Who was its chief advocate?
Definition
The people of the territory would make the decisions about slavery instead of the politicians deciding . -Stephan Douglas was the chief advocate for popular sovereignty.
Term
What were the terms of the Compromise of 1850? Who introduced it?
Definition
Henry Clay introduced the Compromise of 1850, which called for California to enter as a free state. New Mexicoand Utah would decide for themselves; New Mexico got land; Fed. gov't gave Texas money; no slave trade suns; no money no slave trades un WASHINGTON congess would not interfer with the interstate slave trade; Stronger fugitive slave laws was passed.
Term
Explain the causes for the breakup of the Whig Party .
Definition
Anti-slavery forces were getting stronger, so southern members leave the party; Webster and Clay die, and Whigs can't maintain themselves
Term
What was the situation in the South when Lincoln took office?
Definition
Seccession had taken place; the confederacy had formed; most of the federal posts had fallen; and the upper and border states were undecided.
Term
What was the tone of Lincoln's inaugural address?
Definition
Conciliatory; He proposed an amendment that the fed. gov't would never intefere with slavery in the states.
Term
What action did Lincoln take with regard to Ft. Sumter? What did South Carolina do?
Definition
Lincoln notified the gov't of South Carolina that he would supply the fort but he was not going to send in reinforcements, so South Carolina opened fire on Ft. Sumter and the fort was forced to surrender.
Term
What was the effect of the firing on Ft. Sumter on Nothern public opinion?
Definition
It was seen as an act of war and it united northern public opinion against the south so that when Lincoln asked for volunteers, he got an overwhelming response.
Term
Did all of the slave states join the Conferderacy?
Definition
No, the border states(Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Deleware) stayed with the Union.
Term
In what ways was the Union side military superior?
Definition
Better transportation in regards to RR; Industry that could be converted to the war effort; Money-it was easier for the North to get money to support the war; Better leadership (Lincoln)
Term
What factors were to the South's advantage?
Definition
Better superior officers; home-land advantage- they were fighting on home ground; Easier to be supplied; they thought they could exchange cotton for foreign help or at least foreign manufactured goods.
Term
How did the Confederate gov't affect the South's war effort?
Definition
They were so concerned with state's rights that did not give enough power to their own gov't to operate effectively.
Term
Copare the positions of the Radical Republicans and the Regular Republicans.
Definition
Radical Rep.- wanted to ban slavery
Reg. Rep.- wanted to stop the war and bring the union back together, even if it meant allowing slavery.
Term
Did Lincoln ever act unconstitutionally?
Definition
Yes, he enlarged the military w/o congressional approval and he violated rights by acting w/o warrants.
Term
Why did Britain never help the Confederay?
Definition
Britain had a surplus of cotton when the war first broke out and when they were running short the Emancipation Proclamation had turned British opinion against the South.
Term
What was the Trent affair?
Definition
The Trent was a British ship carrying 2 confederate diplomates. It was stopped by a Union war ship that took the 2 confederate diplomates as prisoners. Since it was a British Ship, the Union war ship violated the rights of a neutral country. Britain protested and Lincoln released the prisoners.
Term
Why was it easier for the north to finance the war than the south?
Definition
Income taxes were imposed in the north, the north made money from tariffs, and selling gov't bonds. The Union blockaded ships from reaching the south.
Term
How did the war affect economy in the north?
Definition
Gov't buying lead to prosperity in the north.
Term
How did the war affect economy in the north?
Definition
Gov't buying of manufactured goods lead to prosperity in the north.
Term
How did the war affect economy in the north?
Definition
Gov't buying of manufactured goods lead to prosperity in the north.
Term
How did the war affect economy in the north?
Definition
Gov't buying of manufactured goods lead to prosperity in the north.
Term
How did the war affect economy in the north?
Definition
Gov't buying of manufactured goods lead to prosperity in the north.
Term
What were the terms of draft laws in the north? Results?
Definition
Allowed men to escape military service by hiring a replacement or by paying $300. Led to riots against the draft laws; seen as "a rich man's war and a poor mans fight." Rich gained money and poor were forced to fight and die.
Term
What was the north's strategy in the war?
Definition
Blockade southern ports; Take Mississippi River; Capture Richmond(Confederate capital)
Term
What happened at the first Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas)?
Definition
The norht thought it would be extremely easy, they were over confident and ended up retreating. This led to southern over confidence.
Term
What was General McClellan's flaw?
Definition
Northern general; He was a very catious and reluctant to risk troops in battle.
Term
What happened in the Peninsular campaign?
Definition
McClellan choose to attack Richmond through the Youk peninsula, he delayed, he split his army and that gave the south the oppurtunity to move in and push them back to sea.
Term
What were the Monitor and the Merrimack?
Definition
iron clad ships or iron platted ships that fought to a draw; the southe latter destroyed the Merrimack to keep the Union from getting it.
Term
What was the Emacipation Proclamation? Evaluate.
Definition
Lincoln issued this after the Battle of Antietam. The Emancipation Proclamation only applied to the slaves still in states that were in rebellion. It did not have much of an affect on slaves, this was mainly a way to get foriegn support.
Term
What was the significance of the Battle of Vicksburg?
Definition
Union victory; the union gained control of the Mississippi River, which split the confederacy in half and the south could no longer trad with the west.
Term
What was the significance of the Battle of Antietam?
Definition
Turning point of the war b/c after this battle, Britain and France decided not to get involved.
Term
What happened when Lee decided to move north into the Pennsylvannia?
Definition
They ran into union troops close to Gettysburg and fought. Both sides lost many men, but the south lost more. Considered a northern victory. Lee and his troops were allowed to retreat.
Term
What nothern general won the war in the west?
Definition
Ulysseus S. Grant
Term
Describe Sherman's march to sea. What was its purpose?
Definition
Sherman first destroyed Atlanta, then he decided to march to the Georgia coast, destroying everything on the way. The purpose was to supply Sherman's army and destroy civilian morale, and they hoped they would deliver a decisive blow to the south.
Term
What happened to Appomattox Courthouse?
Definition
April 9th, 1865, Lee surrenders southern forces to the Union. End of the Civil War.
Term
How did Lincoln's assassination affect the South?
Definition
South lost their chance for good treatment after the war.
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