After independence, the United States experienced a war that divided the nation over slavery. After overcoming this conflict, the United States grew into the world’s leading industrial nation by the end of the 19th century.
Basic Knowledge
In the 19th century, the United States promoted westward expansion. In 1803, it purchased Louisiana from France; in 1819, it acquired Florida from Spain; in the Mexican-American War of 1846–48, it acquired California and Texas among other territories; and in 1867, it purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. Under the name of Manifest Destiny, Native Americans (Indians) were expelled, including in the Trail of Tears in 1838. The discovery of gold in California in 1848 led to the Gold Rush. Meanwhile, conflict deepened between Northern industry and the Southern slave-based plantation system (cotton). When Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, the 11 Southern states seceded from the Union, and the Civil War broke out in April 1861.
1803 Louisiana Purchase (Napoleon of France)
1823 Monroe Doctrine (isolationism・noninterference between the United States and Europe)
1846-48 Mexican-American War→acquisition of California and other territories
1861-65 Civil War
1863 Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg Address
April 1865 Confederate surrender, assassination of Lincoln
1867 Alaska Purchase
1869 Completion of the transcontinental railroad
1898 Spanish-American War→transformation into an overseas empire
Further Study (Background and Effects)
On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation (applying only to enslaved people in the rebelling states). In the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, the Union Army won. In his November address honoring the war dead, Lincoln called for “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Lee surrendered, and five days later Lincoln was assassinated. After the war, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (abolition of slavery), the 14th Amendment (citizenship), and the 15th Amendment (voting rights) were enacted. From 1865 onward, the United States rapidly industrialized and became the world’s leading industrial nation in 1894. Immigration also increased from Ireland・Germany・Eastern Europe・China・Japan, and the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869. At the end of the 19th century, monopoly capital emerged through figures such as Carnegie (steel), Rockefeller (oil), and Morgan (finance).
- Civil War＝1861-65, President Lincoln
- Emancipation Proclamation＝January 1, 1863
- Gettysburg Address＝November 1863, “government of the people, by the people, for the people”
- End of the Civil War＝April 1865, General Lee’s surrender, Lincoln’s assassination
- 13th Amendment to the Constitution＝abolition of slavery
- Transcontinental railroad＝1869
- Monroe Doctrine＝1823, noninterference between the United States and Europe
- Spanish-American War＝1898, U.S. overseas expansion
Points of Caution (Easily Confused)
① The Civil War was a conflict between the North (free states・industry・protective tariffs・Republican Party and Lincoln) and the South (slave states・agriculture・free trade・Democratic Party). The North won. ② Distinguish the Emancipation Proclamation (1863・presidential executive order) from the 13th Amendment (1865・constitutional amendment). ③ The phrase “government of the people, by the people, for the people” in the Gettysburg Address was not coined by Lincoln; it was inherited from the religious reformer John Wycliffe. ④ The United States expanded under the pretext of Manifest Destiny in the 1840s.
Practice
- What was the name of the proclamation issued on January 1, 1863, during the Civil War?
- Which speech stated “government of the people, by the people, for the people”?
- In what year did the Civil War end and slavery become illegal throughout the United States?