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.

* **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. 🔥

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. 💥

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. 🚂

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• Stephen Douglas's Idea: He wanted to build a railroad, but his bill repealed the Missouri Compromise and introduced popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska. 🚂
• Why it was a disaster: It opened up territories previously closed to slavery, leading to violence and chaos. 🌪️

Bleeding Kansas: A Preview of the Civil War 🩸

• Border Ruffians: Pro-slavery activists flooded into Kansas to rig elections. 😠
• John Brown: An abolitionist who retaliated with violence, further escalating tensions. ⚔️
• Result: A bloody mess that showed how far apart the North and South had become.

Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

Dred Scott & the Final Straw ⚖️

The Dred Scott Decision (1857) 🏛️

• What happened: The Supreme Court ruled that slaves were not citizens and had no right to sue for freedom, even in free territories.
• Why it mattered: It invalidated the idea of free territories and infuriated the North. 😡
• Republican Party: The decision fueled the rise of the Republican Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery. 🐘

Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858) 🗣️

• Focus: The debates highlighted the issue of slavery and helped propel Lincoln into the national spotlight. 🌟
• Lincoln's Stance: He was not an abolitionist but opposed the expansion of slavery.

The Election of 1860 & Secession: The Point of No Return 🗳️

Lincoln's Victory 🏆

• Result: Lincoln's election led South Carolina and other Southern states to secede from the Union. 💔
• Why? They feared that Lincoln would abolish slavery.

Fort Sumter: The Spark That Ignited the War 💥

• Attack: Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of the Civil War. 💣

The events leading up to the Civil War are a major focus on the AP exam. Make sure you understand the causes, key figures, and major events that led to the conflict.

The Civil War: A Nation Divided 💣

North vs. South: Advantages and Disadvantages ⚔️

• North: Larger population, more industry, better transportation, and Lincoln's leadership. 💲🚂
• South: More experienced generals and the hope for foreign support (King Cotton Diplomacy). 🎖️👑 ☁️

Key Battles 💥

• Antietam: Bloodiest single day in American history, led to the Emancipation Proclamation. 🩸
• Gettysburg: Turning point of the war. 📍
• Vicksburg: Gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy. 🌊
• Appomattox Court House: Lee surrendered to Grant, ending the war. 🏳️

Grant and Lee, Image Courtesy of Wikipedia

Emancipation Proclamation (1863) 📜

• What it did: Freed slaves in rebelling states (not border states).
• Why it mattered: Shifted the war's focus to ending slavery and discouraged foreign intervention. 🕊️

Reconstruction: Rebuilding a Nation 🛠️

Lincoln's Plan: A Gentle Approach 🕊️

• 10% Plan: Allowed states to rejoin the Union when 10% of voters pledged allegiance.
• Goal: Quick and easy reconciliation.

Johnson's Presidency: A Clash with Congress 😠

• Johnson's Plan: Similar to Lincoln's, but he was lenient on ex-Confederates.
• Black Codes: Southern states passed laws limiting the rights of freedmen. 🚫
• Result: Congress clashed with Johnson, leading to his impeachment (but he was acquitted). 🏛️

Congressional Reconstruction: A More Radical Approach 💪

• Reconstruction Act of 1867: Military occupation of the South to enforce laws protecting freedmen. 🪖
• Freedmen's Bureau: Provided social and political support for freed blacks. 🤝

Reconstruction Amendments: A Step Forward 📜

• 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery. 🚫
• 14th Amendment: Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. 🇺🇸
• 15th Amendment: Gave black men the right to vote. ✅

Failures of Reconstruction: A Step Backwards 🏚️

• Black Codes: Undermined the amendments and created a system of forced labor. ⛓️
• Ku Klux Klan: Terrorized black communities. 👻
• Compromise of 1877: Ended Reconstruction, leading to the reversal of many gains made during the period. 💔

Key People & Events: Quick Review 📝

• Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo: Ended the Mexican-American War, led to Mexican Cession.
• Compromise of 1850: Attempt to ease tensions over slavery, included Fugitive Slave Act.
• Fugitive Slave Act: Required the return of escaped slaves, angered the North.
• Popular Sovereignty: Allowed territories to decide on slavery, led to Bleeding Kansas.
• Harriet Beecher Stowe: Wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, increased anti-slavery sentiment.
• Kansas-Nebraska Act: Allowed popular sovereignty in Kansas and Nebraska, led to Bleeding Kansas.
• John Brown's Raid: Abolitionist raid on Harpers Ferry, further inflamed tensions.
• Scalawags: White Southerners who supported Reconstruction.
• Carpetbaggers: Northerners who went South during Reconstruction.

Timeline of Key Events:

• 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
• 1850: Compromise of 1850
• 1852: Uncle Tom's Cabin
• 1854: Kansas-Nebraska Act
• 1856: Bleeding Kansas
• 1857: Dred Scott Case
• 1858: Lincoln-Douglas Debates
• 1859: John Brown's Raid
• 1860: Lincoln's Election
• 1861: Beginning of the Civil War
• 1862: Battle of Antietam
• 1863: Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg, Vicksburg
• 1864: Second Inaugural Address
• 1865: War ends, Lincoln's Assassination
• 1867: Military Reconstruction
• 1868: Grant's Election
• 1877: Compromise of 1877 and Reconstruction ends

Main Themes: The Big Picture 🖼️

• Expansion & Conflict: Westward expansion led to debates over slavery and increased sectionalism.
• Failed Compromises: Political compromises failed to prevent the Civil War.
• Slavery & Sectionalism: Ideological debates over slavery dominated politics and society.
• Reconstruction: The Union victory settled the issue of slavery, but Reconstruction was a contested period.
• Presidential Power: The power of the presidency expanded during the Civil War.
• Technological Advancements: The Civil War led to technological and medical improvements.

Final Exam Focus: What to Prioritize 🎯

• Causes of the Civil War: Understand the events and issues that led to the conflict.
• Key Battles: Know the major battles and their significance.
• Reconstruction: Understand the goals, successes, and failures of Reconstruction.
• Reconstruction Amendments: Know the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
• Impact of Slavery: Understand the impact of slavery on American society and politics.

Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The concept of "popular sovereignty" was most closely associated with which of the following? (A) The abolitionist movement (B) The Compromise of 1850 (C) The Dred Scott decision (D) The Kansas-Nebraska Act

2. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation? (A) To immediately free all slaves in the United States (B) To encourage border states to join the Confederacy (C) To weaken the Confederacy by freeing slaves in rebelling states (D) To establish a plan for Reconstruction

3. Which of the following was a major goal of the Radical Republicans during Reconstruction? (A) To restore the pre-war social order in the South (B) To ensure the quick readmission of Southern states to the Union (C) To guarantee civil rights to freedmen (D) To limit the power of the federal government

Free Response Question

Analyze the causes of the Civil War. In your response, be sure to discuss the political, economic, and social factors that contributed to the conflict.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear, historically defensible thesis that addresses the causes of the Civil War.
• Argument Development (2 points): Provides specific evidence to support the thesis, including political, economic, and social factors. (1 point for each factor)
• Analysis (2 points): Explains how these factors contributed to the conflict. (1 point for each factor)
• Synthesis (1 point): Connects the causes of the Civil War to broader themes in U.S. history.

Alright, you've got this! Go ace that exam! 💪