Us History

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personal-liberty laws- laws passed by several U.S. states in the North to counter the Fugitive Slave Acts of 1793 and 1850. Different laws did this in different ways, including allowing jury trials for escaped slaves and forbidding state authorities from cooperating in their capture and return.

Gadsden Purchase- southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico that the United States purchased via a treaty signed on December 30, 1853, by James Gadsden

Ostend Manifesto- document written in 1854 that described the rationale for the United States to purchase Cuba from Spain while implying that the U.S. should declare war if Spain refused.

Kansas-Nebraska Act- Douglass reformed the bill so that two territories were created, Kansas and Nebraska, to satisfy the southern states knowing this would create conflict in the North, Douglass argued that Kansas was not suited to plantation agriculture and would become a free state

American, or Know-Nothing, Party- anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic movements of the 1840’s and came together in 1850

“Bleeding Kansas”- In 1856, both sides turned to violence Horace Greeley to label the territory “Bleeding Kansas.” Brown declared that abolitionists must, "fight fire with fire” and “strike terror in the hearts of the proslavery people.” The attacks on Lawrence, a free soil state, and Pottawatomie led to a guerilla war in Kansas.

Dred Scott v. Sanford- Scott claimed that residence in a free state and a free territory made him free. Buchanan opposed Scott’s appeal and pressured the two justices from Pennsylvania to side with their southern colleagues, resulting in Scott being declared still a slave

Freeport Doctrine- argued that a territory had the right to exclude slavery despite contrary U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

James K. Polk- Elected President in 1844, on the basis of his support for Manifest Destiny. Also supported annexation of Texas and Orgean Country.

Zachary Taylor- twelfth President of the United States, serving from March 1849 until his death in July 1850. Before his presidency, Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army, rising to the rank of major general.

Lewis Cass- Named father of "popular sovereignty." Ran for president in 1848 but Gen. Taylor won. The north was against Cass because popular sovereignty made it possible for slavery to spread.

Stephen Douglas- Stephen Douglas took over for Henry Clay in the Compromise of 1850. Clay could not get the compromised passed because neither party wanted to pass it as a whole since they would be passing things for the opposite party as well as their own. Douglas split the compromise up to get it passed.

Harriet Beecher Stowe- novelist. wrote uncle tom's cabin, a book about a slave who is treated badly, in 1852. the book persuaded more people, particularly northerners, to become anti-slavery.

John Brown- An abolitionist who attempted to lead a slave revolt by capturing Armories in southern territory and giving weapons to slaves, was hung in Harpers Ferry after capturing an Armory

Abraham Lincoln- helped preserve the United States by leading the defeat of the secessionist Confederacy; an outspoken opponent of the expansion of slavery

Frederick Douglass- Influencial writer. one of the most prominent african american figures in the abolitionist movement. escaped from slavery in maryland. he was a great thinker and speaker. published his own antislavery newspaper called the north star and wrote an autobiography that was published in 1845

Crittenden Compromise- These amendements to the Constitution were designed to appease the south by prohibiting slavery north of 36, 30' but allowed protection south of this line. It also allowed future states to enter with or without slavery regardless of their position north or south.

habeas corpus- In law, an order requiring that a prisoner be brought before a court at a specified time and place in order to determine the legality of the imprisonment.

King Cotton- Expression used by Southern authors and orators before the Civil War to indicate the economic dominance of the Southern cotton industry, and that the North needed the South's cotton. In a speech to the Senate in 1858, James Hammond declared, "You daren't make war against cotton! ...Cotton is king!".

Radical Republicans- Led by Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner. Wanted to disenfranchise large numbers of Southern whites, protect black civil rights, confiscate the property of wealthy whites who aided the confederacy, and distribute the land among the freedmen.

Emancipation Proclamation- issued by Lincoln as a way to broaden the goals of the war and achieve a moral victory, but through its principles it freed absolutely no slaves on the day it was given; changed the purpose of the war and caused Europeans to withdraw from supporting south.

War and Peace Democrats- The Peace Democrats accepted the label, but for them the copper "head" was the likeness of Liberty, which they cut from copper pennies proudly wore as badges.

March to the Sea- This was Sherman's destructive route from Atlanta to Savannah in Georgia. Sherman practiced Total War in this move, and destroyed anything and everything, hoping to demoralize the south.

Jefferson Davis- president of the Confederate States of America 1861-65. He believed in a well-knit central gov't.

Robert E. Lee- Robert E. Lee was the commander of the Confederate Army. He was no where near as cautious as McClellan, and because of that often won battles by suffering as many as twice the casualties as the Union.

George McClellan- McClellan was the leader of the Union Army. He was a very cautious man, and strongly disliked loosing his troops. Because of this, his men loved him, but he was often ridiculed.

Ulysses S. Grant- Was the Union's War hero. He led the Union Army for a time, and undoubtedly helped the Union tremendously. He is arguably the best general the Union had through the war.

William T. Sherman- Was a ruthless northern commander. He captured Atlanta, and then proceeded to destroy 60 miles of Georgia. Sherman practically created "Total War" methods.

Ten Percent Plan- a state could be reintegrated into the Union when 10 percent of the 1860 vote count from that state had taken an oath of allegiance to the U.S. and pledged to abide by emancipation, citizens of former Confederate states