Ask a New Question
Menu

United States History - Study Guide

1. Western expansion

2. 1860 Election (Secession)

3. Harper's Ferry Raid

4. Bleeding Kansas

5. 13th Amendment

6.14th Amendment

7. 15th Amendment

8. Missouri Compromise 1820

9. Colonist Protest to Stamp Act & Townshend Acts

10. Constitutional Convention (handle slavery)

11. Purpose of Constitutional Amendments

12. Purpose of the Bill of Rights

13. Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854

14. Popular sovereignty (issues over slavery)

15. Abraham Lincoln view on slavery

1 answer

United States History - Study Guide

1. Western Expansion

  • A period in the 19th century where the United States expanded its territory westward.
  • Significant events include the Louisiana Purchase (1803), the annexation of Texas (1845), and the Oregon Trail.
  • Manifest Destiny was the belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America.

2. 1860 Election (Secession)

  • The presidential election that led to the secession of several Southern states.
  • Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, won the presidency without any electoral votes from the South.
  • His election prompted South Carolina to secede from the Union in December 1860, followed by other Southern states.

3. Harper's Ferry Raid

  • A 1859 attempt by abolitionist John Brown to initiate an armed slave revolt by capturing the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.
  • The raid ultimately failed, but it heightened tensions between the North and South and is considered a precursor to the Civil War.

4. Bleeding Kansas

  • A series of violent political confrontations in the Kansas Territory between 1854 and 1859.
  • Resulted from the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed settlers to decide if the territory would be free or slave, leading to conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers.

5. 13th Amendment

  • Ratified in 1865, it abolished slavery throughout the United States.
  • It marked a significant legal and moral turning point in American history.

6. 14th Amendment

  • Ratified in 1868, it granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves.
  • It also prohibited states from denying any person "equal protection of the laws."

7. 15th Amendment

  • Ratified in 1870, it granted African American men the right to vote.
  • It aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in voting.

8. Missouri Compromise 1820

  • A legislative agreement that admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain balance in Congress.
  • It drew a line across the Louisiana Territory establishing the boundary between free and slave regions.

9. Colonist Protest to Stamp Act & Townshend Acts

  • The Stamp Act of 1765 imposed a direct tax on the colonies, leading to widespread protests and the formation of groups like the Sons of Liberty.
  • The Townshend Acts of 1767 imposed duties on imported goods, leading to a boycott of British goods and heightened tensions.

10. Constitutional Convention (handle slavery)

  • The 1787 convention addressed how slavery would be treated in the new Constitution.
  • The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed a state to count three-fifths of its slave population for representation and tax purposes.
  • The slave trade was allowed to continue for twenty years after the Constitution was ratified.

11. Purpose of Constitutional Amendments

  • Amendments provide a mechanism to change the Constitution to reflect evolving societal values and needs.
  • They serve to protect individual rights and adjust governmental powers as necessary.

12. Purpose of the Bill of Rights

  • The first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791.
  • They guarantee specific rights and liberties to individuals, such as freedom of speech, religion, and protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

13. Kansas-Nebraska Act 1854

  • Legislation that created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed for popular sovereignty to decide the issue of slavery.
  • It effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise, leading to increased sectional conflict and violence in Kansas.

14. Popular Sovereignty (issues over slavery)

  • The principle that the authority of the government is created by the consent of its people, particularly concerning the decision on slavery in the territories.
  • It led to controversial and violent outcomes, notably in Kansas.

15. Abraham Lincoln's View on Slavery

  • Lincoln believed slavery was morally wrong but was initially more focused on preventing its expansion rather than outright abolition.
  • His views evolved, and he became a strong advocate for the abolition of slavery, especially evident in his support for the 13th Amendment.

Additional Study Tips

  • Review key events, legislation, and figures in context to understand the causes and effects.
  • Consider the social, political, and economic factors influencing changes in U.S. history.
  • Familiarize yourself with primary documents, such as the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and speeches by key figures, to gain deeper insights into the historical context.