US History Key Terms & Definitions PDF

Topic 5.6: Key Terms and Definitions Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)**: A law that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing the settlers in those territories to determine through popular sovereignty whether they would allow slavery. This act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise,...

Topic 5.6: Key Terms and Definitions Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854)**: A law that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, allowing the settlers in those territories to determine through popular sovereignty whether they would allow slavery. This act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise, which had prohibited slavery in those areas. Stephen Douglas**: A U.S. Senator from Illinois who was a key proponent of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. He advocated for popular sovereignty and was a leading figure in the Democratic Party during the 1850s. Bleeding Kansas**: A term used to describe the violent conflicts that erupted in Kansas between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers following the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The violence was fueled by both sides trying to gain control over the territory. John Brown**: An abolitionist who believed in using violent means to end slavery. He is best known for his raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 and for his role in the Pottawatomie Massacre, where he and his followers killed five pro-slavery settlers in Kansas. Pottawatomie Creek**: The site of a violent incident in May 1856 where John Brown and his followers killed five pro-slavery settlers in retaliation for the sacking of Lawrence, Kansas. This event escalated the violence in the region, contributing to the term "Bleeding Kansas." Sumner-Brooks Incident**: A violent confrontation in 1856 in the U.S. Senate where Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts was attacked by Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina with a cane. Sumner had delivered a speech criticizing pro-slavery forces, and the incident highlighted the intense sectional conflict over slavery. Know Nothing Party**: A nativist political party that emerged in the 1850s, primarily opposing immigration and the influence of Catholics in American society. The party was also anti-slavery but focused more on restricting immigration. Republican Party (creation)**: Formed in 1854 in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Republican Party was composed of former Whigs, Free-Soilers, and anti-slavery Democrats. Its primary goal was to prevent the expansion of slavery into the territories. James Buchanan**: The 15th President of the United States (1857-1861), whose administration was marked by inaction regarding the escalating tensions over slavery. He supported the Lecompton Constitution and was criticized for his handling of the secession crisis. Lecompton Constitution**: A pro-slavery constitution drafted for Kansas in 1857 by pro-slavery advocates. It was submitted to Congress for approval but was rejected due to widespread opposition, including from some Democrats. Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)**: A landmark Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled that African Americans were not U.S. citizens and that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the territories. The decision, delivered by Chief Justice Roger Taney, inflamed sectional tensions. Roger Taney**: The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court who delivered the majority opinion in the Dred Scott case. His ruling stated that African Americans could not be citizens and that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. Abraham Lincoln (pre-presidency)**: Before becoming the 16th President of the United States, Lincoln was a lawyer and politician known for his opposition to the expansion of slavery. He gained national prominence through the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858. Freeport Doctrine**: A principle articulated by Stephen Douglas during the Lincoln-Douglas debates, asserting that territories could effectively exclude slavery by not passing laws to protect it, despite the Dred Scott decision. Lincoln-Douglas Debates**: A series of seven debates in 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas during the Illinois Senate race. The debates focused on the issue of slavery and brought national attention to Lincoln, who argued against the expansion of slavery.