Period 5: 1844-1877
As the nation expanded and its population grew, regional tensions,
especially over slavery, led to a civil war — the course and
aftermath of which transformed American society.
Key Concept 1
-The United States became more connected with the world
as it pursued an expansionist foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere and
emerged as the destination for many migrants from other countries.
Key Concept 2
-Intensified by expansion and deepening regional divisions,
debates over slavery and other economic, cultural, and political issues led
the nation into civil war.
Key Concept 3
-The Union victory in the Civil War and the contested
Reconstruction of the South settled the issues of slavery and secession, but
left unresolved many questions about the power of the federal government
and citizenship rights.