Period 5 Overview
Period 5 in American history is marked by several key events and ideologies that shaped the nation's expansion and internal conflicts, leading up to the Civil War and its aftermath. Here are the main themes and events covered:
Manifest Destiny
- Manifest Destiny was coined by journalist John O'Sullivan, embodying the belief that America had a God-given duty to expand across the continent.
- James K. Polk, the Manifest Destiny President, promoted expansion, particularly emphasizing the acquisition of Oregon territory and encouraging the migration to the West following the discovery of gold in California in 1848.
Annexation of Texas and the Mexican-American War
- Texas annexation in 1845 sparked debates over the balance between slave and free states.
- The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, expanding America’s borders west to the Pacific and south to the Rio Grande.
Slavery and Sectional Tensions
- The Wilmot Proviso and the Compromise of 1850 highlighted growing tensions about slavery in new territories.
- The Kansas-Nebraska Act and the violent "Bleeding Kansas" underscored the sectional conflict over slavery’s expansion.
The Road to Civil War
- The emergence of the Republican Party, Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad, and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin further fueled anti-slavery sentiments.
- The Dred Scott decision and John Brown's raid at Harper’s Ferry exacerbated tensions.
Civil War
- Key events: Fort Sumter, Antietam, Gettysburg, the Atlanta Campaign, and the surrender at Appomattox.
- Lincoln’s leadership and measures such as the Emancipation Proclamation helped define the war’s purpose and the Union’s eventual victory.
Reconstruction
- Plans varied from Lincoln’s 10% Plan to Johnson’s moderate approach and the Radical Republicans' harsher measures.
- Successes include the Freedman's Bureau and the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments; failures include the rise of Jim Crow laws and the compromise of 1877, which ended Reconstruction.
Exam Tips
- Possible exam topics include the causes and effects of Manifest Destiny, reasons for the rise in anti-slavery sentiments, differences between the Union and Confederacy, and impacts of Reconstruction on American society.