Unit 6 APUSH Quizlet

Key Terms and Concepts

Antebellum Era (1820-1860)

• A period of territorial expansion, economic growth, and social change in the United States

Second Great Awakening

• A religious revival movement that swept the United States in the early 19th century
• Emphasized emotionalism and personal experience in religion
• Led to the formation of new Protestant denominations

Manifest Destiny

• A belief that the United States was destined to expand westward across the North American continent
• Justified the acquisition of new territories, including Texas, Oregon, and California

Indian Removal Act of 1830

• A law that authorized the federal government to relocate Native American tribes from the eastern United States to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma)
• Led to the forcible removal of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands

Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

• A war between the United States and Mexico over the disputed territory of Texas
• Resulted in the United States’ acquisition of California, New Mexico, and Arizona

Economic and Social Developments

Industrial Revolution

• A period of rapid technological and economic change that began in Great Britain in the late 18th century
• Led to the development of new industries, the rise of factories, and the growth of cities
• In the United States, the Industrial Revolution began in the 1820s and 1830s

Cotton Gin

• A machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1793
• Revolutionized the cotton industry by making it possible to separate cotton fibers from seeds more efficiently
• Led to the expansion of cotton production in the South and the growth of slavery

Transportation Revolution

• A period of rapid improvement in transportation technology in the early 19th century
• Included the development of steamboats, railroads, and canals
• Facilitated the movement of people and goods across the country and spurred economic growth

Immigration

• A large number of people from Europe migrated to the United States in the 19th century
• Fueled by economic opportunity, political instability, and religious persecution
• Most immigrants settled in urban areas, where they worked in factories and helped to build the American workforce

Urbanization

• The growth of cities in the United States in the 19th century
• Led to overcrowding, pollution, and social problems
• Also created opportunities for economic advancement and social mobility

Political and Sectional Tensions

Election of 1828

• Andrew Jackson, a Democratic-Republican from Tennessee, was elected president
• Jackson’s victory marked the rise of the “common man” in American politics
• He appealed to voters who felt left behind by the economic and social changes of the time

Nullification Crisis

• A political crisis in the early 1830s over the issue of tariffs
• South Carolina threatened to secede from the Union if the federal government did not lower tariffs
• The crisis was resolved when Congress passed a compromise tariff in 1833

Panic of 1837

• A financial crisis that began in the United States in 1837
• Caused by overspeculation in land and the collapse of the credit system
• Led to a severe recession that lasted several years

Abolitionist Movement

• A movement that grew in the North in the 1830s and 1840s
• Advocated for the immediate and unconditional emancipation of slaves
• Led by figures such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass

Compromise of 1850

• A series of laws passed by Congress in 1850
• Aimed to resolve the issue of slavery in the newly acquired territories
• Included the Fugitive Slave Act, which required all free states to return escaped slaves to their owners

Tables

Table 1: Key Events in the Antebellum Era

Table 2: Economic and Social Developments in the Antebellum Era

Table 3: Political and Sectional Tensions in the Antebellum Era

Table 4: Key Terms and Concepts in the Antebellum Era