🇺🇸AP US History Unit 4 – American Expansion, 1800–1848

Key Events and Timeline

• Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled the size of the United States and provided control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans
• Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) explored and mapped the newly acquired Louisiana Territory, establishing a U.S. presence in the West
• War of 1812 (1812-1815) ended British interference with American trade and secured U.S. independence
• Adams-Onis Treaty (1819) established the border between the U.S. and Spanish territories, with the U.S. acquiring Florida
• Missouri Compromise (1820) maintained the balance between free and slave states, with Maine admitted as a free state and Missouri as a slave state
• Indian Removal Act (1830) authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes from the Southeast to lands west of the Mississippi River
• Texas Revolution (1835-1836) resulted in Texas gaining independence from Mexico
• Mexican-American War (1846-1848) resulted in the U.S. acquiring vast territories in the Southwest, including California and New Mexico

Territorial Acquisitions

• Louisiana Purchase (1803) acquired from France for $15 million, doubling the size of the United States
  • Included the Mississippi River and New Orleans, crucial for trade and transportation
  • Provided vast lands for westward expansion and settlement
• Florida acquired from Spain through the Adams-Onis Treaty (1819)
  • Secured the southern border of the United States
  • Eliminated a potential base for foreign powers to threaten U.S. interests
• Texas annexed as a state in 1845 after gaining independence from Mexico
  • Added a large, fertile territory to the United States
  • Heightened tensions over the expansion of slavery
• Mexican Cession (1848) acquired as a result of the Mexican-American War
  • Included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming
  • Provided rich natural resources and ports on the Pacific Coast
• Oregon Territory acquired through a treaty with Great Britain (1846)
  • Established the 49th parallel as the northern boundary of the United States
  • Secured access to the Pacific Northwest and its resources

Political Ideologies and Policies

• Manifest Destiny the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent
  • Justified westward expansion as a divine right and moral obligation
  • Fueled support for territorial acquisitions and the displacement of Native Americans
• Jacksonian Democracy emphasized the power of the common man and the importance of individual liberty
  • Supported westward expansion and the removal of Native Americans
  • Opposed the concentration of power in the hands of elites and favored a limited federal government
• Sectionalism the increasing division between the North and South over issues such as slavery, tariffs, and states' rights
  • Led to compromises like the Missouri Compromise (1820) and the Compromise of 1850
  • Contributed to the growing tensions that eventually led to the Civil War
• Monroe Doctrine (1823) declared the Americas closed to further European colonization and interference
  • Asserted U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere
  • Laid the foundation for future U.S. interventions in Latin America
• Wilmot Proviso (1846) proposed banning slavery in any territories acquired from Mexico
  • Reflected the growing opposition to the expansion of slavery in the North
  • Contributed to the increasing sectional tensions over slavery

Economic Factors

• Agricultural expansion the availability of vast, fertile lands in the West fueled the growth of agriculture
  • Cotton became a major cash crop in the South, driven by the invention of the cotton gin and the demand from British textile mills
  • Wheat and other grains became important crops in the Midwest, supplying both domestic and international markets
• Industrial growth the early 19th century saw the beginnings of industrialization in the United States
  • Textile mills in the Northeast used cotton from the South to produce cloth for domestic consumption and export
  • The invention of the steamboat and the construction of canals and railroads improved transportation and facilitated trade
• Slavery the expansion of slavery into new territories was a major economic factor in the South
  • Slave labor was essential to the production of cotton and other cash crops
  • The slave trade itself was a significant economic activity, with slaves being bought and sold as commodities
• Tariffs and trade policies the tariff issue was a source of contention between the North and South
  • The North favored high tariffs to protect its growing industries from foreign competition
  • The South opposed high tariffs, as they raised the cost of imported goods and hurt its export-dependent economy
• Gold Rush the discovery of gold in California (1848) triggered a massive influx of settlers and fortune-seekers
  • Contributed to the rapid population growth and economic development of the West
  • Had significant social and environmental impacts on the region

Social and Cultural Impacts

• Native American displacement the expansion of the United States led to the displacement and removal of many Native American tribes
  • The Indian Removal Act (1830) forced the relocation of tribes from the Southeast to lands west of the Mississippi River
  • The Trail of Tears (1838) resulted in the deaths of thousands of Cherokee during their forced march to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma)
• Immigration the promise of land and opportunity attracted immigrants from Europe and other parts of the world
  • Irish and German immigrants were among the largest groups, settling primarily in the Northeast and Midwest
  • Chinese immigrants played a significant role in the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad
• Religious revivalism the Second Great Awakening (1790s-1830s) was a period of religious revival and reform
  • Emphasized individual salvation and moral responsibility
  • Contributed to the growth of reform movements, such as abolitionism and temperance
• Reform movements the early 19th century saw the rise of various reform movements aimed at improving society
  • The abolitionist movement sought to end slavery and promote racial equality
  • The women's rights movement, led by figures like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, advocated for women's suffrage and legal rights
• Transcendentalism a philosophical and literary movement that emphasized the importance of individual experience and the spiritual connection to nature
  • Key figures included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau
  • Influenced the development of a distinctly American literary tradition

Conflicts and Controversies

• Slavery the issue of slavery became increasingly divisive as the United States expanded westward
  • The Missouri Compromise (1820) sought to maintain the balance between free and slave states
  • The Wilmot Proviso (1846) and the Compromise of 1850 further highlighted the growing sectional tensions over slavery
• States' rights the debate over the power of the federal government versus the rights of individual states intensified
  • The Nullification Crisis (1832-1833) involved South Carolina's attempt to nullify federal tariffs
  • The concept of states' rights would later be used to justify secession and the formation of the Confederacy
• Native American resistance many Native American tribes resisted the encroachment of American settlers and the policies of the U.S. government
  • The Seminole Wars (1817-1858) in Florida were a series of conflicts between the Seminole tribe and the U.S. government
  • The Black Hawk War (1832) in the Midwest resulted from the resistance of the Sauk and Fox tribes to removal
• Mexican-American War the annexation of Texas and the desire for additional territory led to war with Mexico (1846-1848)
  • The war was controversial, with some viewing it as an unjust land grab and others as a necessary step in the country's expansion
  • The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) ended the war and resulted in the Mexican Cession, a massive transfer of territory to the United States
• Manifest Destiny the concept of Manifest Destiny was used to justify westward expansion, but it also had negative consequences
  • The belief in the superiority of American culture and institutions led to the displacement and mistreatment of Native Americans and Mexicans
  • The rapid expansion of the United States also contributed to the growing sectional tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War

Key Figures and Their Roles

• Thomas Jefferson as president (1801-1809), Jefferson oversaw the Louisiana Purchase and supported westward expansion
  • Believed in an agrarian ideal and saw the West as a means to ensure the survival of the American republic
  • Sent Lewis and Clark on their expedition to explore and map the Louisiana Territory
• Andrew Jackson as president (1829-1837), Jackson supported the removal of Native Americans and the expansion of white settlement
  • Signed the Indian Removal Act (1830) and enforced the removal of tribes from the Southeast
  • His presidency marked the era of Jacksonian Democracy and the rise of the common man
• Henry Clay a prominent politician and the "Great Compromiser," Clay played a key role in crafting compromises to maintain national unity
  • Helped negotiate the Missouri Compromise (1820) and the Compromise of 1850
  • Advocated for the American System, a plan for economic development and national infrastructure
• John C. Calhoun a senator from South Carolina, Calhoun was a strong defender of states' rights and slavery
  • Supported the concept of nullification during the Nullification Crisis (1832-1833)
  • Argued that slavery was a positive good and essential to the Southern way of life
• Frederick Douglass an escaped slave and prominent abolitionist, Douglass was a powerful orator and writer
  • Published his autobiography, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave" (1845)
  • Advocated for the end of slavery and the recognition of African American rights

Legacy and Long-term Effects

• Westward expansion the territorial acquisitions and westward movement of the early 19th century had lasting impacts on the United States
  • The country's size and resources were greatly increased, laying the foundation for future growth and development
  • The displacement of Native Americans and the spread of slavery into new territories had long-term social and political consequences
• Sectional tensions the debates over slavery and states' rights during this period contributed to the growing divide between the North and South
  • The compromises of the era, such as the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850, ultimately failed to resolve these tensions
  • The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and the secession of Southern states led to the outbreak of the Civil War (1861-1865)
• Economic development the expansion of agriculture, industry, and trade during this period laid the groundwork for future economic growth
  • The cotton boom in the South and the growth of manufacturing in the North contributed to the development of distinct regional economies
  • The construction of transportation infrastructure, such as canals and railroads, facilitated the movement of goods and people
• Native American relations the policies and actions of the U.S. government during this period had lasting effects on Native American communities
  • The forced removal and relocation of tribes disrupted traditional ways of life and led to the loss of ancestral lands
  • The legacy of broken treaties and mistreatment continues to impact Native American-U.S. relations to this day
• American identity the events and developments of the early 19th century helped shape the American national identity
  • The concept of Manifest Destiny and the belief in the superiority of American institutions and values became deeply ingrained in the national psyche
  • The experiences of westward expansion, economic growth, and political conflict contributed to the formation of a distinct American culture and character