Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny (1844-1876)

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Questions and Answers

What was the name of the event where gold was discovered, and what were the people who came to settle in California seeking gold in 1849 called?

The event where gold was discovered was at Sutter's Mill in 1848. The people who came to settle in California seeking gold in 1849 were called 'Forty-Niners.'

What was the name of the political party that arose in the Northeast and was anti-Catholic and anti-immigration?

The American Party, also known as the Know-Nothing Party, arose in the Northeast during the 1840s and was anti-Catholic and anti-immigration.

What was the name of the political party formed in 1854 that was committed to stopping the expansion of slavery and advocated economic development and improvement?

The Republican Party was formed in 1854 and advocated for ending the expansion of slavery and promoting economic growth.

What was the name of the landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that Dred Scott, an enslaved person, was not a citizen and could not sue for his freedom?

The landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that Dred Scott, an enslaved person, was not a citizen and could not sue for his freedom was Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857). Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the event where John Brown and his followers raided the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia?

The event where John Brown and his followers raided the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, was known as John Brown's Raid (1859). Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the government that seceded from the Union after the election of President Lincoln?

The government that seceded from the Union after the election of President Lincoln in 1860 was known as the Confederacy. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the Union fort that was fired upon by Confederate forces, marking the start of the Civil War?

The Union fort that was fired upon by Confederate forces in April 1861, marking the start of the Civil War, was Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the first major battle of the Civil War, fought on July 21, 1861, near Manassas, Virginia?

The first major battle of the Civil War, fought on July 21, 1861, near Manassas, Virginia, was the First Battle of Bull Run. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the term used by Union general Benjamin Butler to describe enslaved people who had fled to Union lines seeking freedom during the Civil War?

The term used by Union general Benjamin Butler to describe enslaved people who had fled to Union lines seeking freedom during the Civil War was 'contraband'. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the battle fought in Tennessee in April 1862, which was the bloodiest battle in American history up to that point?

The battle fought in Tennessee in April 1862, which was the bloodiest battle in American history up to that point, was the Battle of Shiloh. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the battle fought in Maryland in September 1862, resulting in more than 22,000 deaths, the single bloodiest day in U.S. military history?

The battle fought in Maryland in September 1862, resulting in more than 22,000 deaths, the single bloodiest day in U.S. military history, was the Battle of Antietam. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of President Lincoln's proclamation issued on January 1, 1863, that declared all enslaved people in areas still in rebellion 'forever free'?

President Lincoln's proclamation issued on January 1, 1863, that declared all enslaved people in areas still in rebellion 'forever free' is known as the Emancipation Proclamation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name given to the strategy promoted by General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, which involved destroying civilian crops, livestock, fields, property, and infrastructure to undermine Confederate morale and supply chains?

The strategy promoted by General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, which involved destroying civilian crops, livestock, fields, property, and infrastructure to undermine Confederate morale and supply chains is called 'hard war'. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the three-day battle fought in July 1863, the deadliest of the entire war, that halted the invasion of Pennsylvania by Lee's forces?

The three-day battle fought in July 1863, the deadliest of the entire war, that halted the invasion of Pennsylvania by Lee's forces is known as the Battle of Gettysburg. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the Union military campaign lasting 37 days led by General Sherman across Georgia, from Atlanta to Savannah, in November 1864, employing hard-war tactics and intentionally blazing a wide path of destruction to break the morale of Confederate troops?

The Union military campaign lasting 37 days led by General Sherman across Georgia, from Atlanta to Savannah, in November 1864, employing hard-war tactics and intentionally blazing a wide path of destruction to break the morale of Confederate troops, is known as Sherman's March to the Sea. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the order issued by General William Sherman in January 1865 setting aside more than 400,000 acres of Confederate land to be divided into plots for freedpeople, which was issued in response to pressure from Black American leaders?

The order issued by General William Sherman in January 1865 setting aside more than 400,000 acres of Confederate land to be divided into plots for freedpeople, which was issued in response to pressure from Black American leaders, is known as Field Order Number 15. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name given to the period from 1865 to 1877, during which the eleven ex-Confederate states were subject to federal legislative and constitutional efforts to remake their societies as they were readmitted to the Union?

The period from 1865 to 1877, during which the eleven ex-Confederate states were subject to federal legislative and constitutional efforts to remake their societies as they were readmitted to the Union, is called Reconstruction. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the federal agency created in 1865 to provide freedpeople with economic, educational, and legal resources, which played an active role in shaping Black life in the postwar South through the 1870s?

The federal agency created in 1865 to provide freedpeople with economic, educational, and legal resources, which played an active role in shaping Black life in the postwar South through the 1870s, was the Freedmen's Bureau. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 proclamation that established the basic parameters of his approach to Reconstruction, which would have readmitted the South to the Union on relatively lenient terms?

President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 proclamation that established the basic parameters of his approach to Reconstruction, which would have readmitted the South to the Union on relatively lenient terms, is the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the 1864 bill that created higher barriers for the Confederate states to be readmitted to the Union and granted freedmen the right to vote, which was vetoed by President Lincoln?

The 1864 bill that created higher barriers for the Confederate states to be readmitted to the Union and granted freedmen the right to vote, which was vetoed by President Lincoln, is the Wade-Davis Bill. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name given to the racial laws passed by southern legislatures in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War that aimed to keep freedpeople in a condition as close to slavery as possible?

The racial laws passed by southern legislatures in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War that aimed to keep freedpeople in a condition as close to slavery as possible are known as Black Codes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the constitutional amendment ratified in 1868, granting citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law to all persons born in the United States, which aimed at protecting the rights of freedpeople?

The constitutional amendment ratified in 1868, granting citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law to all persons born in the United States, which aimed at protecting the rights of freedpeople, is the Fourteenth Amendment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the 1867 law passed by Congress that prevented the president from firing appointed officials confirmed by the Senate without Senate approval, which President Johnson was impeached, but not convicted, for violating?

The 1867 law passed by Congress that prevented the president from firing appointed officials confirmed by the Senate without Senate approval, which President Johnson was impeached, but not convicted, for violating, is called the Tenure of Office Act. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the constitutional amendment ratified in 1870 that forbids state voting restrictions based on 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude'?

The constitutional amendment ratified in 1870 that forbids state voting restrictions based on 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude' is the Fifteenth Amendment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the group formed in 1866 to promote gender and racial equality, which split in 1869 over divided support for the Fifteenth Amendment?

The group formed in 1866 to promote gender and racial equality, which split in 1869 over divided support for the Fifteenth Amendment, is the American Equal Rights Association. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the organization organized in 1869 following the Civil War, which sought voting rights for women and later merged with the American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association?

The organization organized in 1869 following the Civil War, which sought voting rights for women and later merged with the American Woman Suffrage Association to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association, is the National Woman Suffrage Association. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name given to the white, conservative Democrats who challenged and overthrew Republican rule in the South during Reconstruction, hoping to restore pre–Civil War racial norms?

The white, conservative Democrats who challenged and overthrew Republican rule in the South during Reconstruction, hoping to restore pre–Civil War racial norms, are called Redeemers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the 1873 Supreme Court decision that was one of the first tests of the Fourteenth Amendment, which decided that, although the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed federal protection for Black people that protection did not extend to civil or property rights, which were to be determined by the states?

The 1873 Supreme Court decision that was one of the first tests of the Fourteenth Amendment, which decided that, although the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed federal protection for Black people that protection did not extend to civil or property rights, which were to be determined by the states, is known as the Slaughterhouse Cases. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the 1876 Supreme Court ruling that further defined and limited the federal powers under the Fourteenth Amendment after the 1873 Slaughterhouse Cases ruling, which protected Black people against abuses only by state officials and agencies but exempted private groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan?

The 1876 Supreme Court ruling that further defined and limited the federal powers under the Fourteenth Amendment after the 1873 Slaughterhouse Cases ruling, which protected Black people against abuses only by state officials and agencies but exempted private groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, was United States v. Cruikshank. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the compromise between Republicans and southern Democrats in 1877, which resulted in the election of Rutherford B. Hayes, and where southern Democrats agreed to support Hayes in exchange for his promise to end Reconstruction?

The compromise between Republicans and southern Democrats in 1877, which resulted in the election of Rutherford B. Hayes, and where southern Democrats agreed to support Hayes in exchange for his promise to end Reconstruction, is known as the Compromise of 1877. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name given to the system of agricultural labor in the South during Reconstruction, in which sharecroppers, often poor Black and white people, rented tools and supplies from landowners in exchange for a share of the eventual harvest, frequently resulting in a system of forced labor due to high interest rates and low crop prices?

The system of agricultural labor in the South during Reconstruction, in which sharecroppers, often poor Black and white people, rented tools and supplies from landowners in exchange for a share of the eventual harvest, frequently resulting in a system of forced labor due to high interest rates and low crop prices, is known as sharecropping. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name given to the Black Americans who migrated from the South to Kansas in 1879 seeking land, economic opportunity, and a better way of life?

Black Americans who migrated from the South to Kansas in 1879 seeking land, economic opportunity, and a better way of life, are called Exodusters. Signup and view all the answers

The Civil War was, in a sense, 'a rich man's war and a poor man's fight.' Explain this statement.

The statement 'a rich man's war and a poor man's fight,' refers to the disparate experiences during the Civil War. Wealthy men in the South, especially planters, were able to avoid fighting by paying for substitutes or using their influence to get exemptions. Poor whites in the South were forced to enlist and fight in the war. Similarly, in the North, wealthy men could pay for substitutes to avoid being drafted, while poorer men had no such option. Signup and view all the answers

What is the "Anaconda Plan"?

The Anaconda Plan was a Union military strategy during the Civil War, aiming to blockade Confederate ports and control the Mississippi River to suffocate the South's economy and military resources. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the significance of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States, except as a punishment for a crime. It was passed in 1865 and represented a monumental achievement for the abolitionist movement. This amendment fundamentally changed the fabric of American society, ending the institution of slavery that had been the foundation of the South's economy and social order. Signup and view all the answers

What were the "Black Codes"?

Black Codes were laws passed by Southern states after the Civil War aimed at limiting the freedom of Black people and maintaining a system similar to slavery. They restricted Black people's rights to vote, own property, travel, and assemble. These laws were often thinly veiled attempts to reimpose control over Black people and prevent them from fully realizing their freedom. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the "Scalawags"?

Scalawags were white Southerners who cooperated with the federal government and supported Reconstruction efforts after the Civil War. They often worked alongside Black politicians to create new state governments and improve social and economic conditions for Black people. However, they faced strong opposition from many white Southerners, being viewed as traitors and collaborators. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the "Carpetbaggers"?

Carpetbaggers were white Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction, often seeking political and/or economic opportunities. Some were genuinely committed to helping Black Southerners, while others were seen as exploiting the South for their own gain. This label was often used as a derogatory term by Southerners to discredit Northerners and their influence in Reconstruction. Signup and view all the answers

The "Compromise of 1877" effectively ended Reconstruction and led to a period of disenfranchisement for Black Americans in the South.

True Signup and view all the answers

Why did the "Anaconda Plan" aim to control the Mississippi River?

The Anaconda Plan aimed to control the Mississippi River to cut off communication and supplies between the eastern and western parts of the Confederacy, effectively isolating and weakening the South. Controlling the river would hamper the Confederacy's ability to transport troops, supplies, and resources, hindering their war efforts. Signup and view all the answers

Briefly describe the economic system known as "sharecropping" that emerged in the South after the Civil War.

Sharecropping involved tenant farmers, often Black and white, renting land from landowners in exchange for a share of the crops they harvested. However, high interest rates for borrowed supplies and low crop prices frequently left sharecroppers trapped in a cycle of debt and dependency, resembling a form of forced labor. Signup and view all the answers

What were the "Exodusters"?

The "Exodusters" were a group of Black Americans who migrated from the South to Kansas in 1879, seeking a better life free from oppression and discrimination. Many were looking for economic opportunity, political equality, and a chance to rebuild their lives in a new land. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Westward Expansion and Context (1844-1876)

Westward expansion fueled debates about slavery in newly acquired territories.
Manifest Destiny, the belief in westward expansion as a divine right, played a significant role.
California Gold Rush, Oregon Trail, and the annexation of Texas were major events.
Mexican-American War resulted in US territorial gains.
Conflicts with Native Americans persisted.
Antislavery movements and the Underground Railroad grew.
The Dred Scott case challenged the legal status of enslaved people.
Anti-immigration policies targeted Chinese and Asian immigrants.
Lincoln's election in 1860 triggered secession of Southern states.
Civil War resulted in Union victory and subsequent Reconstruction.
13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were adopted.
Violence against Black Americans persisted during Reconstruction.

Manifest Destiny and the Gold Rush

Westward journeys typically began in St. Louis.
California Gold Rush (1848-49) attracted thousands from around the world.
Settlers' interactions with Californios (Mexican Californians) led to cultural exchanges.
Many Forty-Niners were men.
Exploitation of women, Chinese, and indigenous women occurred during the Gold Rush.
Levi Strauss, a German Jewish immigrant, capitalized on the Gold Rush demand with pants.
The election of 1844 focused on westward expansion, challenging British and Mexican claims.
The concept of Manifest Destiny, popularized by John L. O’Sullivan, justified expansion.
The US expanded westward, including trade with Japan (1846).
Matthew Perry forcibly opened trade with Japan.

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

The US sought to acquire Mexican territory, including California.
Polk's administration pushed for expansion.
Border dispute between the US and Mexico over the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers led to conflicts.
"American blood on American soil" was the justification for war.
The US won several battles, leading to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848).
This treaty ceded vast territories to the US.
Native Americans faced displacement and conflict due to expansion.
Thousands of natives died due to illness and conflict.

Compromise of 1850

The acquisition of new territories from the Mexican-American War revived the slavery issue.
The Wilmot Proviso, though unsuccessful, highlighted the division.
Free-soilers opposed the spread of slavery for economic reasons, not necessarily for abolition itself.
Popular sovereignty, the idea that residents of a territory decide the issue of slavery, emerged as a compromise.
The Compromise of 1850 addressed several key issues.
California was admitted as a free state.
The Fugitive Slave Act became a much stricter law.
The slave trade was abolished in Washington D.C.
Texas's debt became a federal responsibility.
Parts of the Compromise were passed gradually.

Regional Differences and Failure of Compromise

The Fugitive Slave Act created tension by requiring states to return runaway slaves.
The Underground Railroad provided a path for slaves to freedom.
Antislavery books like Uncle Tom's Cabin increased the emotional divide over slavery.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowing popular sovereignty to determine slavery.
Popular sovereignty led to violence and conflict, known as "Bleeding Kansas."
The Kansas-Nebraska Act and "Bleeding Kansas" severely weakened the Whig party.
The American / Know-Nothing party and Republican party emerged as new political forces.
The Dred Scott Supreme Court decision overturned the Missouri Compromise.
Lincoln-Douglas debates helped define the issue of slavery's expansion.
John Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry increased tensions.

Election of 1860 and Secession

The Democratic party split over slavery, creating an opportunity for the Republicans.
Lincoln's victory triggered several Southern states to secede.
South Carolina seceded first, followed by others.
The Confederacy was formed with Jefferson Davis as President.
Lincoln's decision to send supplies to Fort Sumter (despite Buchanan's order) led to the start of the Civil War in April 1861.

Military Conflict in the Civil War

The Union had advantages in population and resources.
The Confederate advantage was initial military leadership, and knowledge of terrain
Battles of Bull Run, Wilson's Creek and Fredericksburg saw Confederate victories.
The Union enacted a blockade of Southern ports.
Enslaved people sought freedom and joined the Union army.
The Confiscation Act allowed for the liberation of enslaved people.
The Second Confiscation Act proclaimed the liberation of Confederate-owned slaves.
Black Americans served in the Union forces, like in the First South Carolina Volunteers and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.
The Battles of Antietam and Shiloh were crucial.
The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) declared all enslaved persons in rebel states free.
The Gettysburg and Vicksburg battles turned the war.
The North implemented "hard war" tactics to diminish the Confederacy's morale and supplies.

Government Policies During the Civil War

The Union shifted to a war of attrition.
Lincoln's re-election solidified Union support and the war effort.
The 13th amendment was passed, abolishing slavery.
The Union victory at Appomattox Court House (1865) marked the war's end.

Reconstruction

Reconstruction aimed to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved people into society.
Lincoln and Johnson favored a lenient approach.
Congressional Republicans advocated for full rights for Black Americans.
The Freedmen's Bureau provided resources to formerly enslaved people.
Black Codes were established to limit the rights of newly freed people.
The 14th & 15th Amendments granted citizenship and voting rights.
The South resisted Reconstruction efforts, using violence and intimidation tactics (like by the KKK).
Economic factors like sharecropping perpetuated poverty and cycles of debt among formerly enslaved people.
The compromise of 1877 signaled the end of Reconstruction, marking the withdrawal of federal troops.

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Description

Explore the pivotal events and debates surrounding Westward Expansion in America from 1844 to 1876. This quiz covers key topics like the California Gold Rush, Manifest Destiny, and the impacts on slavery, Native Americans, and immigration. Test your knowledge on the critical developments that shaped this era of American history.