Mexican-American War Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What was one of President Polk's main goals regarding Mexico?

  • To establish diplomatic relations with Canada
  • To negotiate peace treaties with Europe
  • To expand the nation to the Pacific Ocean (correct)
  • To encourage immigration from Mexico

    • The Mexican government agreed to sell California to the United States.

    False

    Who was the general that led the American forces to victory at Buena Vista?

    Zachary Taylor

    The region proclaimed as an independent republic by John C. Frémont was known as the _____.

    <p>Bear Flag Republic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which river did Polk and Slidell claim as the southern border of Texas?

    <p>Rio Grande</p> Signup and view all the answers

    John Slidell was sent as a special envoy to _____ City.

    <p>Mexico</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following generals with their contributions during the Mexican-American War:

    <p>Stephen Kearney = Took New Mexico and southern California Zachary Taylor = Won the Battle of Buena Vista Winfield Scott = Captured Mexico City John C. Frémont = Proclaimed the Bear Flag Republic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Northern Whigs fully supported President Polk's decision to go to war with Mexico.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Republicans call the Dred Scott decision?

    <p>The greatest crime in the annals of the republic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Abraham Lincoln was an abolitionist.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who challenged Stephen Douglas for the U.S. Senate seat in 1858?

    <p>Abraham Lincoln</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Stephen Douglas is often referred to as the _____ Giant.

    <p>Little</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the political figures with their parties in the 1860 election:

    <p>Abraham Lincoln = Republican Party Stephen Douglas = Northern Democratic Party John C. Breckinridge = Southern Democratic Party John Bell = Constitutional Union Party</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main issue that divided the Democratic Party in 1860?

    <p>Slavery</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Lincoln won the majority of the popular vote in the 1860 election.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What doctrine did Douglas propose during the debates that upset Southern Democrats?

    <p>Freeport Doctrine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Constitutional Union Party aimed to preserve the _____ during the 1860 election.

    <p>Union</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the candidates with their electoral platforms:

    <p>Lincoln = Exclusion of slavery from territories Breckinridge = Extension of slavery to the territories Douglas = Popular sovereignty Bell = Enforcement of laws and Constitution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which event did Lincoln deliver his famous 'house-divided' speech?

    <p>Republican nomination acceptance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Lincoln's election results indicated strong support from Southern states.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary concern of Southerners regarding Lincoln's election?

    <p>That the North would dominate the federal government and threaten slavery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which state was the first to secede from the Union in December 1860?

    <p>South Carolina</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Confederacy had a larger population than the Union.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was elected president of the Confederate States of America?

    <p>Jefferson Davis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Civil War resulted in the deaths of approximately _____ people.

    <p>750,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following states to their role in secession:

    <p>South Carolina = First to secede Texas = Last to secede Georgia = Division over secession Mississippi = Joined quickly in secession</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary economic advantage of the Union in the Civil War?

    <p>Manufacturing capabilities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Confederate constitution was nearly identical to the U.S. Constitution.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary goal of the Confederacy during the Civil War?

    <p>Independence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Union's strategy to win the war was known as the _____ Plan.

    <p>Anaconda</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one reason for the Confederacy's economic struggles?

    <p>High inflation from excessive paper money</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Union army worked with a smaller troop count than the Confederate army initially.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many African Americans served in the Union army during the Civil War?

    <p>180,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Confederate government was hampered by _____ rights during the war.

    <p>states</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following leaders to their roles:

    <p>Jefferson Davis = President of the Confederacy Abraham Lincoln = President of the Union Alexander Stephens = Vice President of the Confederacy Winfield Scott = Union General-in-Chief</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary aim of the Free-Soil Party?

    <p>Prevent the extension of slavery</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Gadsden Purchase was made in 1853 for $5 million.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who proposed the idea of popular sovereignty?

    <p>Lewis Cass</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Gadsden Purchase forms parts of present-day ________ and ________.

    <p>New Mexico, Arizona</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following individuals with their positions on slavery expansion:

    <p>Henry Clay = Proposed a compromise to resolve sectional conflicts Daniel Webster = Argued for compromise to save the Union John C. Calhoun = Opposed compromise and supported Southern rights</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which territory was excluded from slavery according to the Wilmot Proviso?

    <p>California</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Gold Rush of 1849 increased the need for law and order in California.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main compromise proposed by Henry Clay in 1850?

    <p>Admit California as a free state and allow popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant outcome of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

    <p>The United States acquired California and New Mexico.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Wilmot Proviso aimed to allow slavery in all territories acquired from Mexico.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Free-Soil Party used the slogan ‘_____ soil, free labor, and free men.’

    <p>free</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who negotiated the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

    <p>Nicholas Trist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which event created a significant increase in the population of California in 1849?

    <p>The California Gold Rush</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Mexican government recognized the __________ as the southern border of Texas.

    <p>Rio Grande</p> Signup and view all the answers

    President Taylor opposed the immediate admission of California as a free state.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the reaction of some Southerners to the admission of California as a free state?

    <p>They threatened secession.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following figures with their actions or events:

    <p>David Wilmot = Proposed the Wilmot Proviso Franklin Pierce = Adopted pro-Southern policies William Walker = Attempted to take Nicaragua Nicholas Trist = Negotiated the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Southern Democrats desire in relation to the treaty?

    <p>All of Mexico to be acquired by the U.S.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ________ included both Northern Democrats and Whigs who supported the Wilmot Proviso.

    <p>Free-Soil Party</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the political stance of Zachary Taylor during the 1848 election?

    <p>Neutral on the issue of slavery in new territories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty aimed to establish a monopoly on canal construction in Central America.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the aim of the Ostend Manifesto?

    <p>To purchase Cuba from Spain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The United States paid __________ for the territories acquired through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

    <p>15 million dollars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following events or concepts with their significance:

    <p>Wilmot Proviso = Struggle over slavery in new territories Manifest Destiny = Belief in U.S. territorial expansion Ostend Manifesto = Attempt to acquire Cuba Clayton-Bulwer Treaty = Prevented exclusive canal control</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a reason for Northern opposition to the war with Mexico?

    <p>Concern about expansion of slavery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Most Americans at the time were entirely against the expansion of slavery.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did William Walker attempt in Central America?

    <p>He attempted to establish a proslavery empire in Nicaragua.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Many Southerners were dissatisfied with the __________ gains from the Mexican War.

    <p>territorial</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant event occurred on July 4, 1863, regarding Vicksburg?

    <p>The Confederacy's 29,000 soldiers surrendered.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    General Lee successfully captured a major Northern city during the Gettysburg campaign.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was appointed as the commander of all Union armies in early 1864?

    <p>Ulysses S. Grant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sherman's March was primarily aimed at destroying the South's ________ to fight.

    <p>will</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following events with their significance:

    <p>Siege of Vicksburg = Control of the Mississippi River Battle of Gettysburg = Turning point in the Eastern campaign Sherman's March to the Sea = Total warfare strategy Surrender at Appomattox = End of the Civil War</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main strategy employed by Grant in the Civil War?

    <p>War of attrition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main aim of the Republican Party when it was founded?

    <p>To oppose the expansion of slavery in the territories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Union blockade was ineffective in restricting Confederate resources.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Know-Nothing Party gained strength after the civil unrest in Kansas regarding slavery.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was beaten with a cane in the Senate in 1856?

    <p>Charles Sumner</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of the battle fought at Gettysburg?

    <p>The Union army defeated the Confederate army.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ________ Constitution was a proslavery document submitted to Congress during Buchanan's presidency.

    <p>Lecompton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    After the fall of Richmond, Lee's army retreated to ________.

    <p>Appomattox</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following generals with their actions:

    <p>Ulysses S. Grant = Commander of Union armies Robert E. Lee = Leader of the Confederate army William Tecumseh Sherman = Conducted a campaign of total war George Pickett = Led a famous charge at Gettysburg</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following figures with their roles:

    <p>Charles Sumner = Massachusetts Senator attacked in the Senate Preston Brooks = Defended his uncle's honor through violence John C. Frémont = Republican nominee in the Election of 1856 Dred Scott = An enslaved man who sued for his freedom</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which party's platform in 1856 included the call for free homesteads?

    <p>Republican Party</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What event marked the start of significant military actions against slavery?

    <p>Confiscation Acts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Lincoln's administration had clear and consistent policies on slavery from the beginning.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford stated that African Americans could be U.S. citizens.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurred as a result of the Dred Scott v. Sandford case?

    <p>The ruling infuriated many Northerners and delighted Southern Democrats.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What action did Lincoln take shortly after Fort Sumter's crisis?

    <p>Called for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the insurrection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The number of soldiers surrendered by the Confederates at Vicksburg was nearly ________.

    <p>29,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Democratic Party became more divided between its Northern and Southern ________ due to tensions over slavery.

    <p>factions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the political parties with their associated platforms:

    <p>Know-Nothing Party = Focused on immigration issues Whig Party = Opposed anti-slavery expansion Republican Party = Opposed the expansion of slavery Democratic Party = Supported popular sovereignty on slavery</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Congress reject related to Kansas in 1858?

    <p>The Lecompton Constitution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    James Buchanan was the first openly anti-slavery president of the United States.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was John C. Frémont known for in the context of the 1856 election?

    <p>He was the Republican nominee and known as the 'Pathfinder.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The election of 1856 foreshadowed the emergence of a powerful ________ party.

    <p>Republican</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who became president after the death of President Taylor in 1850?

    <p>Millard Fillmore</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Compromise of 1850 increased the North's political power by admitting California as a slave state.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the two major political parties involved in the controversy of slavery?

    <p>Democrats and Whigs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ Act of 1854 allowed settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide whether to allow slavery.

    <p>Kansas-Nebraska</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following figures with their contributions to the events of the time:

    <p>Stephen A. Douglas = Sponsor of the Kansas-Nebraska Act John Brown = Abolitionist who led violent actions in Kansas Millard Fillmore = Supported the Compromise of 1850 William H. Seward = Argued for a higher law than the Constitution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant outcome of the Kansas-Nebraska Act?

    <p>It led to violent conflicts known as 'Bleeding Kansas.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Compromise of 1850 included a provision for popular sovereignty.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term is used to describe the conflict between proslavery and antislavery forces in Kansas?

    <p>Bleeding Kansas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ Slave Law was a controversial part of the Compromise of 1850.

    <p>Fugitive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Whig Party focus on during the 1852 election?

    <p>Roads and harbors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Franklin Pierce was a candidate that both Northern and Southern Democrats could agree on.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happened in the town of Lawrence in 1856?

    <p>Proslavery forces attacked and killed two people.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Civil Rights Act of 1875 guarantee?

    <p>Equal accommodations in public places</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ territories were created through the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.

    <p>Kansas and Nebraska</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Reconstruction ended in 1877 with the withdrawal of federal troops from the South.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which two African Americans served in the U.S. Senate during Reconstruction?

    <p>Blanche K. Bruce and Hiram Revels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following legislative actions with their implications:

    <p>Compromise of 1850 = Bought time for the Union Kansas-Nebraska Act = Reordained popular sovereignty Missouri Compromise = Prohibited slavery north of 36°30' Fugitive Slave Law = Required return of escaped slaves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the three large issues dividing the North and South?

    <p>Moral attitudes about slavery, constitutional rights, economic differences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Southern Republicans were often referred to as ______ and new Northern arrivals as ______.

    <p>scalawags, carpetbaggers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following states with the duration of Republican rule during Reconstruction:

    <p>Tennessee = 1 year Florida = 9 years South Carolina = Longest Republican rule Mississippi = 5 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor contributed to the shift away from idealism during the Grant administration?

    <p>Rise of business interests</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The majority of African American legislators during Reconstruction were formerly enslaved individuals.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main reason African Americans sought to establish independent churches after the Civil War?

    <p>To achieve autonomy and self-determination</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Many freedpeople migrated to ______ states in search of new opportunities after the Civil War.

    <p>frontier</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a notable consequence of the poor enforcement of the Civil Rights Act of 1875?

    <p>Continued racial discrimination in public accommodations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Republican Party had full control of state governments in the South after the Civil War.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the result of the First Battle of Bull Run?

    <p>The Confederate forces won, causing a retreat of Union troops.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the prominent motivations for Northerners moving to the South during the Reconstruction era?

    <p>Business investments, humanitarian goals, or plundering</p> Signup and view all the answers

    General McClellan led the Union forces into the Second Battle of Bull Run.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    African Americans established ______ such as Howard and Fisk during Reconstruction.

    <p>colleges</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the political figures with their description:

    <p>Thaddeus Stevens = Reformer Roscoe Conkling = Political manipulator Jay Gould = Business financier Hiram Revels = Senator from Mississippi</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who commanded the Confederate forces during the Peninsula Campaign?

    <p>Robert E. Lee</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The bloodiest single day of combat in the Civil War took place at __________.

    <p>Antietam</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a major consequence of the Battle of Antietam?

    <p>It encouraged Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Monitor and the Merrimac marked a turning point in naval warfare by introducing ironclad ships.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What strategy did the Union adopt to blockade Confederate ports?

    <p>The Anaconda Plan</p> Signup and view all the answers

    General __________ replaced McClellan and led the Union army at Fredericksburg.

    <p>Ambrose Burnside</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which battle is considered a draw but vital for the Union?

    <p>Battle of Antietam</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following battles with their outcomes:

    <p>First Battle of Bull Run = Confederate Victory Battle of Antietam = Stalemate Battle of Fredericksburg = Confederate Victory Battle of Shiloh = Union Victory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Union faced overwhelming successes in 1862 with no major losses.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Union's victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson accomplish?

    <p>Opened up the state of Mississippi to Union attack</p> Signup and view all the answers

    After the Peninsular Campaign, General McClellan was replaced by General __________.

    <p>John Pope</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant effect of the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac?

    <p>It changed naval warfare permanently.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was General Lee hoping to achieve by leading his army into Maryland before the Battle of Antietam?

    <p>Convince Britain to recognize and support the Confederacy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main purpose of the Confiscation Acts?

    <p>To empower the Union army to seize enemy property</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Emancipation Proclamation immediately freed all enslaved people in the United States.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Lincoln refer to as a 'military necessity'?

    <p>The decision to free enslaved persons in rebelling states</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ Act of March 1863 required men aged 20 to 45 to serve in the military.

    <p>Conscription</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following battles or events with their outcomes related to the Civil War.

    <p>Battle of Antietam = Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation Draft Riots in New York = Protests against the draft and violence against Black residents Ex Parte Milligan = Supreme Court ruling on military trials for civilians Confiscation Acts = Enabled Union army to seize enemy property</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many African American soldiers served in the Union army and navy?

    <p>200,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Lincoln's suspension of the writ of habeas corpus was well-received by all factions.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one consequence of the Emancipation Proclamation?

    <p>It enlarged the purpose of the war to include fighting against slavery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ Republicans demanded immediate abolition of slavery.

    <p>Radical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the law passed in July 1862 accomplish?

    <p>Freed persons enslaved by individuals in rebellion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During the Civil War, there were few restrictions on the electoral process in the North.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the role of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment?

    <p>An all-Black Union regiment that fought bravely in the Civil War.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation became effective on __________ 1, 1863.

    <p>January</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their descriptions:

    <p>Confederacy = The states that seceded from the Union Union = The northern states that fought against secession Emancipation Proclamation = Declaration freeing enslaved persons in rebelling states Habeas Corpus = Legal right to be informed of charges when arrested</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary scheme involved in the Whiskey Ring scandal?

    <p>Conspiring with the liquor industry to defraud the government</p> Signup and view all the answers

    William Tweed was arrested due to his leadership in the Republican Party.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the presidential candidate chosen by reform-minded Republicans in the election of 1872?

    <p>Horace Greeley</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The economic disaster that began Grant's second term is known as the __________.

    <p>Panic of 1873</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following reforms did the Liberal Republicans NOT advocate for?

    <p>Funding for public education</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The role of women in society decreased during the Civil War.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant movement followed the responsibilities women undertook during the Civil War?

    <p>Women’s Suffrage Movement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Wyoming Territory became the first territory to grant women full __________ rights.

    <p>suffrage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one major consequence of the Panic of 1873?

    <p>Diverted attention from Southern issues</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Lincoln's last speech did not mention the vote for freedmen.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which amendments did some suffragists oppose due to limiting voting rights to men?

    <p>14th and 15th Amendments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The first time sex was mentioned in the Constitution was in the __________ Amendment.

    <p>15th</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a major achievement of the Republican legislators during Reconstruction?

    <p>Establishment of universal male suffrage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The assassination of Lincoln did not impact the Reconstruction process significantly.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group took control of Southern state governments after the decline of Radical Republicanism?

    <p>Redeemers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Ku Klux Klan was formed to promote civil rights for African Americans.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary purpose of the Black Codes?

    <p>To restrict the rights and movements of African Americans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ______ Act of 1872 removed restrictions on ex-Confederates, allowing them to participate in elections.

    <p>Amnesty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a key feature of the sharecropping system?

    <p>Landowners supplied seeds in exchange for part of the harvest.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    All of the ex-Confederate states qualified to re-enter the Union under Johnson’s Reconstruction plan.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who founded the Ku Klux Klan?

    <p>Nathaniel Bedford Forrest</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Force Acts were intended to give federal authorities the power to stop ______ violence.

    <p>Klan</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

    <p>13th Amendment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sharecropping was a system that led to significant land ownership among African Americans.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the primary goals of the redeemers?

    <p>States' rights, reduced taxes, and White supremacy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Many Southern states adopted the Black Codes after the ______ ended.

    <p>Civil War</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which two Southern states remained under federal troop control after Reconstruction ended?

    <p>South Carolina and Louisiana</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    U.S. Annexation of Texas and the Mexican-American War

    • U.S. annexation of Texas led to escalating tensions with Mexico, fueled by Mexican anger and President Polk's westward expansion ambitions.
    • Polk sent Slidell as special envoy to Mexico, aiming to purchase California and New Mexico and settle the border dispute. Slidell's mission failed.
    • Mexico insisted on the Nueces River as the Texas border, while the U.S. claimed the Rio Grande.
    • Polk ordered General Taylor's troops to the Rio Grande, crossing disputed territory.
    • A Mexican attack on an American patrol provided the immediate trigger for war, utilized by Polk to gain congressional support.
    • Northern Whigs opposed the war, questioning Polk's justification. Despite opposition, a congressional majority supported the war.

    Military Campaigns of the War

    • Small American armies fought primarily within Mexican territory.
    • General Kearney captured New Mexico and parts of southern California.
    • Frémont, supported by civilians and a small force, declared California an independent republic (the Bear Flag Republic).
    • Taylor's force defeated the Mexican army in Texas, crossed the Rio Grande, and won at Buena Vista.
    • General Scott led a larger force to central Mexico, capturing Veracruz and Mexico City.

    Consequences and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

    • The war was a military disaster for Mexico, resulting in the loss of northern territories.
    • The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) formally ended the war.
    • Mexico recognized the Rio Grande as the Texas border.
    • The U.S. acquired California and New Mexico (Mexican Cession) for $15 million.

    The Wilmot Proviso and Slavery

    • The issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories intensified sectional tensions.
    • Pennsylvania Congressman David Wilmot proposed the Wilmot Proviso, prohibiting slavery in territories acquired from Mexico.
    • The Wilmot Proviso passed the House but failed in the Senate.
    • The issue of slavery extension continued to be divisive and significantly contributed to later events leading to the Civil War.

    Southern Expansionism

    • Some Southerners sought more territory to expand slavery's reach, especially in Latin America (e.g. Cuba).
    • The Ostend Manifesto (a proposal to acquire Cuba) was leaked, sparking outrage and ultimately failing.
    • William Walker's expeditions to take control of Central American territories failed.

    The Issue of Territories

    • The status of slavery in the newly gained territories remained a significant sectional issue.
    • The Wilmot Proviso attempted to solve this issue, but it failed.

    Three Conflicting Positions on Slavery

    • Free-Soil movement: Northern Democrats and Whigs generally opposed slavery's expansion into new territories; they wanted the West for white settlers, free from competing slave labor. The Free-Soil Party was formed in 1848.
    • Southern positions: Southern plantation owners viewed attempts to restrict slavery as a violation of their constitutional rights; they viewed free-soilers and abolitionists as threats. Moderates attempted to extend the Missouri Compromise line but were divided.
    • Popular Sovereignty: This proposal, suggested by Lewis Cass, permitted settlers in territories to determine the issue through votes.

    The Compromise of 1850

    • Henry Clay proposed a series of compromises to attempt to resolve the sectional tensions.
    • Compromise included California's entrance as a free state, creation of Utah and New Mexico territories to decide on slavery via popular sovereignty, and resolving the Texas/New Mexico border dispute
    • The Compromise bought time but did not fully resolve the underlying conflict, with the Fugitive Slave Act leading to controversy.

    Rise of the Republican Party

    • The Whig Party dissolved.
    • Republicans were formed in 1854 as a response to the Kansas-Nebraska act.
    • The Republican Party's primary goal was to prevent the extension of slavery into the territories; it was a strictly Northern/sectional party.
    • The Kansas-Nebraska Act intensified conflicts over slavery, leading to "Bleeding Kansas".
    • The Caning of Senator Sumner highlighted the growing passions over slavery in Congress.

    Election of 1856

    • The Republicans ran their first presidential candidate, John C. Frémont, and made a significant showing, however, the Democrats won with James Buchanan who was a more moderate candidate.

    Constitutional Issues

    • The Supreme Court's Dred Scott v. Sandford decision further inflamed tensions. The ruling declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional and declared that all territories were open to slavery.
    • This increased Northern suspicions of a conspiracy and induced many Democrats to vote Republican.
    • The Lincoln-Douglas debates further raised the national consciousness of the issues, with Lincoln gaining national attention as a strong Republican opponent.

    Election of 1860

    • The Democrats split over the issue of slavery, nominating both Stephen Douglas and John C. Breckinridge.
    • The Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln.
    • Lincoln's election without any Southern electoral votes led to the secession of Southern states from the Union.

    Secession of the Deep South and the Confederacy

    • Seven Southern states seceded, forming the Confederate States of America.
    • The Confederacy created its own constitution.
    • Lincoln was elected president, resulting in the secession of Southern states from the Union.

    The Civil War (1861-1865)

    • The war was the deadliest American conflict, with immense human cost.
    • The war fundamentally altered American society, accelerating industrialization, modernizing the North, and severely disrupting the South.

    Military and Economic Differences Between the Union and Confederacy

    • Union: Advantages in population, manufacturing, railroad networks, and finance.
    • Confederacy: Advantages in fighting a defensive war, strong military leadership in some areas, and high initial troop morale.

    Union Strategies and Early Battles

    • Winfield Scott's Anaconda Plan (naval blockade, Mississippi control, large army) was the Union's primary strategy.
    • Early battles highlighted inexperienced Union troops, resulting in setbacks.
    • The First Battle of Bull Run demonstrated that the war would be more protracted than initially anticipated.
    • The Peninsula Campaign and the Second Battle of Bull Run highlighted delays and difficulties in the Union's approach in the East and Lee's brilliant tactics.

    The Turning Point of the War (1863)

    • The Union secured control of the Mississippi River at Vicksburg.
    • The Battle of Gettysburg heavily damaged Lee's army, ending his offensives
    • These turning points signaled a crucial shift in the war's momentum towards the Union.

    Grant's Campaign and Sherman's March

    • Lincoln appointed Grant as commander of all Union armies, initiating a war of attrition.
    • Grant's forces fought in the East, sustaining heavy casualties.
    • Sherman's march through Georgia and the Carolinas was a critical tactic in damaging the Confederate economy and will to fight.

    End of the War and Surrender at Appomattox

    • The Confederate army was weakened by attrition.
    • Grant's campaign eventually surrounded, and forced Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House.
    • The Civil War brought about an end to slavery and a fundamental transformation of American society.

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    Test your knowledge on key events and figures from the Mexican-American War. This quiz covers President Polk's goals, major battles, and contributions from notable leaders. Ideal for students studying American history.

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