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Toward the Civil War & Reconstruction (1848-1877)

Joseph Brown

Joseph Brown

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Next Topic - Contextualizing Period 5

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers the Road to the Civil War and Reconstruction in AP US History. Key topics include Manifest Destiny and its impact, the Mexican-American War, the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act, popular sovereignty and Bleeding Kansas, the Dred Scott Decision, the Election of 1860 and secession, key Civil War battles and the Emancipation Proclamation, and Reconstruction plans, amendments, successes, and failures. It also includes key figures and a timeline of major events.

#AP US History: Road to the Civil War & Reconstruction 🚀

Hey there, future APUSH master! Let's break down this crucial period with a focus on what really matters for the exam. Think of this as your ultimate cheat sheet for tonight. We're going to make sure you're not just memorizing, but understanding the big picture. Let's get started!

#Westward Expansion and the Seeds of Conflict 🌎

#Manifest Destiny: More Than Just a Catchphrase 📜

  • What it was: The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America, spreading democracy and capitalism. 💡
  • Why it mattered: Justified expansion (like the Louisiana Purchase and Mexican-American War) and the displacement of Native Americans.
Key Concept

This idea fueled a lot of the expansionist policies and conflicts of the era.

* **Impact on Slavery:** As the U.S. expanded, the question of whether new territories would be free or slave states became a major point of contention.

#The Mexican-American War & Its Aftermath 🇲🇽

  • Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo: Ended the war, but the resulting Mexican Cession (huge land grab!) ignited fierce debates over slavery's expansion.
  • Wilmot Proviso: Proposed that all land won from Mexico should be free – it failed, but it showed how explosive this issue had become. 🔥
Memory Aid

Think of Manifest Destiny as a self-fulfilling prophecy – the belief in expansion led to actions that caused more expansion and more conflict.

#The Compromise of 1850: A Band-Aid on a Bullet Wound 🩹

#Key Components:

  • Henry Clay's Attempt: Designed to ease tensions, but ultimately failed to address the core issue of slavery. 🤝
  • Fugitive Slave Act: Required the return of escaped slaves, even from free states. This was a huge win for the South, but it enraged the North. 😠
  • Popular Sovereignty: Allowed territories to decide on slavery for themselves. Seemed fair, but it was a recipe for disaster. 💥
Exam Tip

Remember that the Compromise of 1850 was a temporary fix. It didn't resolve the underlying conflict, and it actually made things worse in the long run. Pay attention to the specific provisions, especially the Fugitive Slave Act.

#The Fugitive Slave Act: A Northern Nightmare ⛓️

  • Impact: Forced Northerners to participate in slavery, fueling abolitionist sentiment.
  • Underground Railroad: Harriet Tubman and others risked everything to help slaves escape to freedom. 🚂
Quick Fact

Harriet Tubman was known as the "Moses of her people" for her work on the Underground Railroad.

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#Harriet Tubman, Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

#Popular Sovereignty & the Kansas-Nebraska Act: Lighting the Fuse 🧨

#The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) 📜

  • Stephen Douglas's Idea: He wanted to build a railroad, but his bill repealed the Missouri Compromise and introduced popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska. 🚂
  • ...
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Previous Topic - Causation in Period 4, 1800-1848Next Topic - Contextualizing Period 5

Question 1 of 20

What was the core belief of Manifest Destiny? 🤠

The U.S. should avoid foreign entanglements

The U.S. was destined to expand across North America

Slavery should be abolished

Native Americans should have equal rights