APUSH Period 5 Speed Review

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive overview of key events in U.S. history, from Manifest Destiny to the Civil War and Reconstruction. It covers the expansion of American territory, debates over slavery, and the tensions leading to the Civil War. The video also discusses the struggles of Reconstruction, including the successes and failures of the Freedmen's Bureau, and the resistance faced by African-Americans. Key moments like the Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address, and the rise of Jim Crow laws are highlighted, offering a detailed look at the challenges and changes that shaped the nation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Manifest Destiny was the belief that it was America's divine duty to expand across the continent, promoted by President James K. Polk and fueled by economic opportunities like the California Gold Rush.
• 😀 The annexation of Texas in 1845 led to a border dispute with Mexico, which eventually resulted in the Mexican-American War.
• 😀 The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 expanded U.S. territory, but the question of slavery in these new lands heightened tensions between the North and South.
• 😀 The Compromise of 1850 attempted to balance the interests of free and slave states, including the Fugitive Slave Act, which angered Northerners.
• 😀 The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 led to violent conflict known as 'Bleeding Kansas' and contributed to the rise of the Republican Party.
• 😀 Abolitionists like Harriet Tubman and Harriet Beecher Stowe played key roles in opposing slavery, while Southern defenders of slavery, like George Fitzhugh, argued that Northern labor was worse.
• 😀 The Dred Scott case of 1857 declared that African Americans were not citizens and further fueled tensions leading up to the Civil War.
• 😀 John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859 intensified Southern fears of a slave rebellion and increased sectional conflict.
• 😀 The Civil War began with the Battle of Fort Sumter and saw key events such as the Battle of Antietam, Gettysburg, and the Atlanta Campaign, leading to Union victory.
• 😀 Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address reframed the war as a fight for freedom and equality, motivating both soldiers and civilians to continue the war effort.
• 😀 Reconstruction faced significant challenges, with successes like the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments but failures due to resistance from Southern whites and the rise of segregation and racial violence.
• 😀 The end of Reconstruction came with the Compromise of 1877, marking a period of limited progress for African American rights in the South.

Q & A

What was the concept of Manifest Destiny, and who coined the term?

Manifest Destiny was the belief that it was America's divine duty to expand westward across the continent. The term was coined by journalist John O'Sullivan.

What was the significance of James K. Polk's 1844 election campaign regarding Manifest Destiny?

James K. Polk promoted the idea of Manifest Destiny during his 1844 election campaign, notably advocating for the annexation of the Oregon Territory and the expansion of U.S. borders to the Pacific Ocean.

How did the discovery of gold in California contribute to Manifest Destiny?

The discovery of gold in California in 1848 led many Americans to migrate westward, hoping for economic opportunities and a brighter future, thus further fueling the idea of Manifest Destiny.

What was the primary reason behind the annexation of Texas in 1845?

Texas sought to join the Union, but there were concerns about upsetting the balance between slave and free states. Despite this, Texas was annexed in 1845 under President James K. Polk.

What were the causes and consequences of the Mexican-American War?

The Mexican-American War was triggered by a border dispute between the U.S. and Mexico, particularly over the Rio Grande. It resulted in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which significantly expanded U.S. territory.

What was the Wilmot Proviso, and what did it reveal about the tensions over slavery?

The Wilmot Proviso was a proposal to ban slavery in any territories gained from the Mexican-American War. Though it failed, it highlighted the growing sectional tensions over the expansion of slavery.

How did the Compromise of 1850 address the issue of slavery?

The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a free state, allowed popular sovereignty in Utah and New Mexico, banned the slave trade in Washington D.C., and strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act.

What were the effects of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed for popular sovereignty to decide the slavery issue in those territories, which led to violent conflicts known as 'Bleeding Kansas' and further intensified the national debate over slavery.

What role did Harriet Tubman and Harriet Beecher Stowe play in the abolitionist movement?

Harriet Tubman helped over 300 enslaved people escape via the Underground Railroad, and Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' a novel that highlighted the cruelty of slavery and increased anti-slavery sentiment in the North.

What was the significance of the Dred Scott decision in 1857?

The Dred Scott decision ruled that African Americans were not U.S. citizens and could not sue in court, which declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional and dealt a significant blow to the abolitionist cause.

How did the election of 1860 contribute to the secession of Southern states?

Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, despite receiving no Southern votes, led to the secession of South Carolina and six other Southern states, ultimately forming the Confederate States of America.

What were the advantages and disadvantages of the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War?

The Union had advantages such as a larger population, more industrial resources, and control of the navy, while the Confederacy had experienced military leadership and a strong commitment to preserving slavery.

What was the Emancipation Proclamation, and how did it change the Civil War?

Issued by Abraham Lincoln in 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved individuals in Confederate states and made the war officially about ending slavery, allowing African Americans to join the Union Army.

What were the main goals of Reconstruction after the Civil War?

Reconstruction aimed to reunite the nation, rebuild the South, and extend civil rights to freed slaves, including through the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.

What were the successes and failures of Reconstruction?

Successes of Reconstruction included the establishment of the Freedmen's Bureau and the passage of the Reconstruction Amendments. Failures included the resistance in the South through Jim Crow laws and the rise of white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

How did the Compromise of 1877 bring an end to Reconstruction?

The Compromise of 1877 ended Reconstruction by resolving the disputed 1876 election, resulting in Rutherford B. Hayes becoming president in exchange for the removal of federal troops from the South.