Contextualizing Period 5
Joseph Brown
9 min read
Listen to this study note
Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers Period 5 (1844-1877) of AP US History, focusing on Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion, the Market Revolution, and Antebellum Reform Movements (Temperance, Women's Rights, Abolitionism, Utopian Communities, and Public Schools). It also examines the resulting sectionalism, expansionist foreign policies, growing North-South divisions, and the road to the Civil War. Finally, it provides exam tips, practice questions (multiple-choice and free response), and a scoring breakdown.
#AP US History Study Guide: Period 5 (1844-1877)
Hey! Let's get you prepped for the APUSH exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially the night before the big day. We'll break down the key concepts, make connections, and get you feeling confident. Let's do this!
#🚀 The Big Picture: Expansion, Reform, and Division
Period 5 is all about the dramatic changes that transformed the US, setting the stage for the Civil War. We're talking westward expansion, social reforms, and growing tensions between the North and South. It's a wild ride!
#🗽 Manifest Destiny & Westward Expansion
Manifest Destiny wasn't just about land; it was a belief that the US was destined by God to expand its influence across the continent. This idea fueled westward expansion but also led to conflict with Native Americans and Mexico.
- What it was: The idea that the US was divinely ordained to expand across North America. 🗺️
- Impact: Justified territorial acquisition like the Mexican-American War and the annexation of Texas.
- Consequences: Forced relocation of Native Americans, like the Trail of Tears, and increased sectional tensions over slavery.
Think of Manifest Destiny as the US saying, "We're going to expand because God said so!" It's a simplified (and problematic) way to remember the core idea.
#🚂 The Market Revolution
The Market Revolution is HUGE! It transformed the US economy from local to national, thanks to new tech and transportation. This led to urbanization, a new working class, and the widening gap between rich and poor.
- What it was: A shift from local, agrarian economies to a national, industrial one. 🏭
- Key Innovations:
- Transportation: Canals, roads, and especially railroads. 🚆
- Communication: Telegraph.
- Technology: Cotton gin, steam engine.
- Effects:
- Growth of cities and a new urban working class.
- Increased economic opportunities for some, displacement for others.
- Environmental impact: deforestation and pollution.
Source: The American Yawp
Remember the Market Revolution as T.I.C. - Transportation, Innovation, Commerce. These three things fueled the economic transformation.
#😠 Antebellum Reform Movements
The Antebellum Reform Movements were a response to the social changes brought by the Market Revolution and the Second Great Awakening. They aimed to improve society through Temperance, Women's Rights, and Abolitionism. </hig...
How are we doing?
Give us your feedback and let us know how we can improve