APUSH Period 5⁚ Overview
AP US History Period 5 spans 1844-1877, a transformative era. This period covers westward expansion, the escalating slavery issue, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Focus on key concepts and essential questions for effective review.
Key Dates⁚ 1844-1877
The APUSH Period 5 timeline is anchored by several pivotal events within these years. 1844 marks the start of significant expansionist policies. The Mexican-American War concludes in 1848, resulting in the Mexican Cession, which then reopens the slavery debate. The Compromise of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 are attempts to address this issue, but they ultimately increased tensions. The Dred Scott decision came in 1857, and the election of 1860 led to Southern secession, marking the start of the Civil War (1861-1865). Finally, the Reconstruction period follows from 1865-1877. These dates frame the major political, social, and economic changes of the era.
Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny
Westward expansion, fueled by Manifest Destiny, drove American migration. This included desires for resources, economic opportunities, and religious refuge, increasing settlement in the West.
Motivations for Expansion
Motivations for westward expansion were multifaceted, including the desire for access to natural resources and minerals. Many settlers sought economic opportunities, hoping to improve their financial situations. Some groups were driven by the pursuit of religious refuge, seeking freedom to practice their beliefs without persecution. The concept of Manifest Destiny, the belief that American expansion was both inevitable and divinely ordained, further fueled these ambitions. This ideology promoted the idea of American superiority and the need to spread American institutions across the continent, driving westward expansion through various means.
Impact of the Mexican Cession
The Mexican Cession, acquired after the Mexican-American War, significantly impacted the United States. This vast territory acquisition ignited intense debates over the expansion of slavery into new lands. The question of whether these territories would be free or slave states led to heightened sectional tensions. The issue dominated political discussions in the 1850s, ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War. Attempts to resolve this issue through compromises, like popular sovereignty, proved unsuccessful and increased conflict. The Cession also reshaped the political landscape and directly influenced the course of the nation’s history.
The Issue of Slavery
Slavery dominated political discussions in the 1850s, particularly regarding its expansion into new territories. This issue fueled sectional tensions, leading to major legislative attempts at compromise and ultimately, the Civil War.
Debates over Slavery in New Territories
The Mexican Cession ignited intense debates about slavery’s expansion. The Wilmot Proviso, though unsuccessful, aimed to ban slavery in these newly acquired lands. Popular sovereignty, allowing residents to decide, emerged as a proposed solution. This concept, however, fueled conflict, particularly in Kansas. The Missouri Compromise sought to balance free and slave states, but the issue remained a major point of contention. Northern abolitionists largely opposed popular sovereignty, fearing the spread of slavery. These debates became a major cause of sectionalism and division, setting the stage for further conflict and the road to civil war.
Key Legislation⁚ Compromise of 1850, Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Compromise of 1850 aimed to quell sectional tensions with measures like admitting California as a free state, enacting a stricter Fugitive Slave Law, and implementing popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico. However, the Fugitive Slave Law angered Northerners. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 further inflamed passions by allowing popular sovereignty to decide slavery in those territories, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise. This act led to “Bleeding Kansas,” violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. Both legislative attempts failed to resolve the underlying issue of slavery, instead exacerbating existing divisions and pushing the nation closer to civil war.
The Dred Scott Decision
The 1857 Dred Scott Supreme Court decision significantly impacted the slavery debate. The court ruled that enslaved people were not citizens and had no right to sue in federal court. It also declared that Congress had no power to prohibit slavery in US territories, rendering the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional. This decision inflamed abolitionists and further deepened the divide between the North and South, as it seemed to guarantee the spread of slavery. The ruling was seen as a major victory for the pro-slavery faction and contributed to the increasing tensions that led to the Civil War.
The Road to Civil War
Sectionalism intensified due to slavery, impacting political parties. Events like John Brown’s Raid and the 1860 election heightened tensions, ultimately leading to the outbreak of the Civil War.
Political Parties and Sectionalism
The issue of slavery dramatically reshaped American political parties during this period. The Whig party declined, and new parties like the Republican and Know-Nothing parties emerged, reflecting growing sectional tensions. The Democrats struggled to maintain unity amidst the slavery debate. Regional interests and values increasingly dominated politics, leading to deep divisions between the North and South. The rise of abolitionism and pro-slavery sentiments further polarized the nation, making compromise increasingly difficult. These divisions led to political instability and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War. The failure of political institutions to address the fundamental issue of slavery ultimately shattered the fragile peace.
John Brown’s Raid
John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 was a pivotal event that inflamed sectional tensions. Brown, a radical abolitionist, aimed to incite a slave rebellion by seizing a federal arsenal. Although the raid failed, it had profound consequences. Many in the North viewed Brown as a martyr for the abolitionist cause, while Southerners saw him as a symbol of Northern aggression and a threat to their way of life. The raid deepened the divide between the North and South, further solidifying the perception that compromise was impossible. Brown’s actions intensified fears and mistrust, pushing the nation closer to civil war. The event became a potent symbol of the irreconcilable differences.
The Election of 1860
The election of 1860 was a watershed moment in American history, marked by deep sectional divisions. The Democratic Party splintered, fielding two candidates, while the newly formed Republican Party nominated Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln’s victory, achieved without a single electoral vote from the South, triggered the secession of South Carolina and other Southern states. The election was a direct result of the escalating tensions over slavery and states’ rights. The outcome demonstrated the deep political polarization of the nation and the failure of compromise. The election’s immediate aftermath was the formation of the Confederate States of America and the beginning of the Civil War. It solidified the nation’s split.
The Civil War
The Civil War, a conflict fought between 1861 and 1865, was a culmination of sectional tensions. The Union and Confederacy clashed over slavery and states’ rights, dramatically reshaping the nation.
Union and Confederate Advantages
The Union possessed significant advantages, including a larger population, greater industrial capacity, and a more extensive railroad network. This allowed for better resource mobilization and troop movement. The Union also had a functioning navy. Conversely, the Confederacy benefited from fighting a defensive war on familiar terrain, possessing skilled military leaders, and a strong military tradition. The Confederate Army also had a strong motivation to protect their homeland and way of life, particularly the institution of slavery. The South initially had an advantage in cotton exports, hoping to gain foreign support, but that was not enough to overcome the North’s industrial output.
Key Battles and Turning Points
Several battles significantly shaped the Civil War’s outcome. Fort Sumter marked the war’s beginning, while the First Battle of Bull Run revealed the conflict’s potential length. Antietam, the single bloodiest day in American history, prompted the Emancipation Proclamation. Gettysburg, a Union victory, is often seen as the war’s turning point. Vicksburg’s capture gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy. Sherman’s March to the Sea devastated the South’s infrastructure and morale. These key battles and turning points reshaped the war’s direction and ultimately led to the Union victory, ending slavery and securing the nation.
Reconstruction
Reconstruction addressed the nation’s reunification after the Civil War. It involved complex political and social changes, particularly concerning the rights of newly freed African Americans and the rebuilding of the South.
Presidential vs. Congressional Reconstruction
Presidential Reconstruction, led by Lincoln and Johnson, aimed for a swift and lenient reintegration of the South. They favored readmitting states quickly with minimal changes, focusing on loyalty oaths. However, this approach allowed former Confederate leaders to regain power, sparking concern in the North. In contrast, Congressional Reconstruction, dominated by Radical Republicans, sought a more transformative approach. They aimed to protect the rights of freedmen and punish the South for secession; Congress implemented military control, demanded guarantees of Black suffrage, and passed legislation to reshape Southern society, creating significant conflict with the President’s aims. This struggle over control defined the early Reconstruction era.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865, formally abolished slavery throughout the United States, marking a monumental shift in the nation’s history. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves, and guaranteed equal protection under the law. This amendment also addressed due process. The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibited denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. These Reconstruction Amendments aimed to secure fundamental rights for African Americans, reshaping citizenship and voting rights, but their full enforcement faced significant resistance and was not always guaranteed.
End of Reconstruction
Reconstruction’s end is marked by the Compromise of 1877, a deal that resolved the disputed presidential election of 1876. Federal troops were withdrawn from the South, effectively ending federal oversight of the region. This withdrawal allowed white Southern Democrats to regain control of state governments, leading to the implementation of Jim Crow laws that severely limited African American rights and freedoms. The end of Reconstruction resulted in a long period of racial segregation and discrimination, setting the stage for the Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century. The promises of equality enshrined in the Reconstruction Amendments were largely undermined;